September 17, 2008
For Immediate Release:
Contacts: Brett VandenHeuvel, Columbia Riverkeeper: (503) 348-2436
Dan Serres, Columbia Riverkeeper: (503) 890-2441
PRESS RELEASE
NorthernStar LNG Project Gets Hit With Double Blows from Clatsop County Voters and Oregon State Lands Official
Astoria, OR. Opponents of LNG terminals on the Columbia River celebrated Tuesday night after scoring a major victory in a referendum vote that overturned changes to County laws made by the Clatsop County Commissioners on behalf of Texas-based NorthernStar's proposed LNG project on the Columbia River. With over 67 % of voters from generally conservative Clatsop County voting "No" on the measure to open up Clatsop County's park and open space lands to LNG-related pipelines, LNG opponents say their victory highlights statewide opposition to LNG and related pipelines.
Also on Tuesday, a key member of the Oregon State Lands Board registered his opposition to LNG projects in Oregon, including NorthernStar's Bradwood proposal. Randall Edwards, Treasurer for the State of Oregon, said in a written statement that, "LNG is not the choice for Oregon. That would put us in a situation where again, we are dependent upon foreign sources of energy. It's a very volatile source. Oregon right now needs to continue to work on its strategy for being a leader in renewable energy."
The State Lands Board will need to approve leases required for NorthernStar to operate its terminal, and Edwards joined Oregon's Secretary of State Bill Bradbury, who also sits on the three-member Board, in opposing Bradwood LNG and other LNG proposals in Oregon.
At the local level, the referendum ballot measure was focused on allowing LNG-related pipelines in lands zoned for parks, but the measure clearly became a popular referendum on LNG. The Daily Astorian editorial board, for example, described the measure as, "a populist attempt to rebuke the Clatsop County Commission and strike a blow against the deeply flawed LNG site selection process." 9/2/08.
Debbie Twombly, a local school teacher and chief petitioner of the ballot measure, was ecstatic with the vote results. "This is an unbelievably strong statement against LNG and our County Commissioners. Citizens have rejected LNG each time given a vote from recalling pro-LNG politicians to this referendum."
Columbia Riverkeeper Executive Director and attorney Brent Foster explained the significance of Tuesday's developments. "The referendum vote and Treasurer Edwards' position will have real consequences for LNG on the Columbia River. Not only do citizens strongly oppose LNG, but our elected leaders are stepping up, and it's going to be difficult for NorthernStar to get the permits it needs from state and local agencies. The referendum is a major setback because NorthernStar needs a determination that their project complies with local land use laws to get its Clean Water Act and water rights permits. On top of that, NorthernStar needs a lease from the State Lands Board. As of yesterday, two of the three members of the State Lands Board who will vote on the lease have publicly opposed the project."
Laurie Caplan, volunteer campaign coordinator for the referendum, added, "NorthernStar did everything they could to win this referendum, but the people of Clatsop County have seen past their misinformation and have voted no to LNG Pipelines. We want to protect our community and our river."
Background: After Clatsop Commissioners voted in May to approve Bradwood's request that County laws be weakened to allow high-pressure, non-odorized gas pipelines in parks and open spaces, opponents of the project launched a campaign and successfully put the change in county law before Clatsop County voters by gathering over 1,500 signatures and qualifying the measure for a ballot referendum known as Ballot Measure 4-131. The text of the ballot measure is available at clatsopcommonsense.org. Voters rejected LNG by 67% to 33%, an overwhelming victory.
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