High-profile Democrats turn up heat on natural gas terminals

Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury and attorney general hopeful John Kroger say Oregon should fight plan to pipe fossil fuels through western Washington County

By Christian Gaston

The Forest Grove News-Times, Jan 31, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (1 Reader comment)

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In a matter of days, the heat has turned up considerably in the debate over proposed liquid natural gas terminals in Oregon, with a handful of state politicians digging into the issue.

Last Thursday, democratic Attorney General hopeful John Kroger announced his opposition to the terminals, which would turn imported hyper-cooled fuel into natural gas, pumped through pipelines into Oregon’s pipeline network.

“This is a time when we’re trying to reduce our dependence on foreign fossil fuels. Importing a lot of natural gas from overseas just doesn’t make sense,” he said.

Three companies are working with federal regulators to build terminals near Astoria and Coos Bay. The pipelines from two of the projects are slated to run through Washington County near Gales Creek and Gaston.

The terminals have drawn loud crowds at rallies and sparked citizen groups in Forest Grove, Yamhill and Astoria, but so far hasn’t become a major talking point in Oregon politics.

Kroger, who’s campaigning for the democratic nomination in the attorney general race against state Rep. Greg Macpherson of Lake Oswego, said that for him, the issue isn’t about politics. “It’s just common sense,” he said.

Last Wednesday in Forest Grove, Secretary of State Bill Bradbury announced that he opposes the proposals as well. Speaking at Pacific University at a national global warming event, Bradbury said that building up “LNG” infrastructure was 180 degrees from where Oregon should go for future energy needs.

Paul Sansone, who owns a tree farm near Gales Creek, asked Bradbury when he’d speak out against the projects. Bradbury said he’d join protesters at a Feb. 6 rally at the Oregon capitol.

“I’ll be there,” Bradbury told the crowd of about 100. “I’m with you on this one.”

Bradbury’s opposition was great news for Sansone, who’s been frustrated by Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s support of natural gas as a “bridge” between fossil fuels and renewable energy.

Sansone and other opponents have been urging politicians to publicly voice their opposition.

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