The First Green President?

New Year resolution: No LNG pipelines in Oregon and America

The blinding light of a sobering reality is in our faces again, now that the buzz of Holiday cheer wears off. Like a wicked hangover, the Oregon Liquid Natural Gas(LNG) pipeline proposal will not go away with a simple pain reliever. The same kind of hangover that Coal and Nuclear power industries have caused over the years. 

I thought of three new cocktail names for the Palomar and TransCanada corporations Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) Oregon pipeline plan. The “Clear-cut LNG Chardonnay Spritzer”, “Mt. Hood LNG Terminator Stout”, and the intoxicating “LNG Island Ice Tea.”

It should be noted that even one of these beverages is irresponsible drinking and could send the average Oregonian into a coma. Palomar and TransCanada corporation with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, are like bad bartenders over-serving toxic cocktails to water thirsty customers.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission(FERC)is the energy industries, friendly federal agency. FERC has endorsed the Oregon LNG plan and believes a LNG pipeline is critically needed energy and a sound environmental idea. Working together they have persuaded NW Natural Gas to join the project.

In fact, FERC has endorsed over eighty proposed LNG pipeline sites across America. Most of the construction for these sites have been delayed with environmental lawsuits. 

FERC has been in the pockets of large corporate polluters for decades. The commission has both advocated and created the term, “Clean Coal”. The term “Clean-Coal” is an oxymoron and was used by both political parties through out the presidential campaign. There is no such thing as “Clean-Coal”, its a dirty and toxic energy source. The only thing “green” about it, is the color of money.

Recently, in Tennessee, millions of gallons of toxic coal sludge has spilled out destroying Agriculture and drinking water in that community. The coal industry spokesman stated they didn’t know how long it would take to clean up, or how to clean it up and if they could ever clean it up entirely. Arsenic and other toxins are permanently in the environment. 

FERC, currently tells the public that Nuclear-reactors are a great idea, both safe and clean. 

A decade after the people of Oregon forced the closure of Hanford Nuclear facility on the Columbia River, wind surfers have unexplained illnesses and rashes. Fishermen describe fish with extra eyes and mutated spinal bones found downstream. 

FERC, leaves the radioactive contamination facts out of the, “safe and clean”, Nuclear energy endorsement.

These are the same kind of shortsighted energy policies that Palomar and TransCanada plan for the LNG pipeline. They tell the public that this is a safe energy source with no environmental impacts or risk. 

The Federal guidelines required to build LNG pipelines mandate a 100 foot clear-cut on both sides of the path. This is stated  for  necessary “safety precautions”. A  proposed 73 mile portion of the pipeline travels through the protected Mt. Hood forest. This means that additional road construction and increased logging for the Mt. Hood Wilderness.

Environmental researchers prove clear cuts cause mudslides in rivers and have massive environmental impacts that are catastrophic to our public forests. Fishermen tell us that the mudslides destroy salmon runs and prevent the salmon ability to navigate up streams. As the climate continues to warm, clear-cut forests have increased fire probability and turn public forests into tender boxes and powder kegs. 

LNG is made with the high pressure compression of natural gas and freezing it at a negative 260 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes it more violative and dangerous as it runs through metal pipes in the forest. If the pipeline is disrupted through earthquakes or a single human error, the result is like throwing a bomb of highly flammable jet fuel on our already terrible dry and mismanaged public forests. A loss of valuable, public forest resources,private properties and probably human lives. 

Pacific-Green Party of Oregon has many members in opposition on this issue with many groups and individuals working years on public education of LNG.

For example,Steve Jones and Jody McCaffree, are the founders of Citizens Against LNG and their campaign web site is Citizensagainstlng.com. This group is based in North Bend and pioneered the opposition against Liquid Natural Gas. Steve Jones questions the environmental impacts and public safety surrounding the proposal. They have fought the Jordan Cove proposal in Coos County and recently gained a legal victory from the Oregon Land Use Board. 

The Jordan Cove pipeline proposal would allow LNG to be stored and shipped in large ocean vessels. These LNG ships are literally enormous floating bombs. Schools, hospitals and ocean marine life near the proposed location are all at risk. The Coos County environmental impact is enormous, all in the name of LNG profits. 

The Federal guidelines for LNG transportation in Jordan Cove requires both Coast Guard ship and helicopter escorts. Helicopter costs alone are three thousand dollars an hour. The continual estimated cost of Federal escorts is at two hundred thousand dollars per LNG shipload. LNG campaign wants American tax dollars to be used for assisting their private profits.

Another example of wasted tax money for energy profits is President Bush and Vice President Cheney Republican friends at HalliBurton Incorporated. HalliBurton has been profitting in Afghanistan and Iraq for several years with natural gas and petroleum pipelines. A total injustice and outrage to all American taxpayers.

In addition, Palamar/TransCanada CEO Peter Hanson and Vice President Mohammed Alrai, are involved with shady foreign investors. Some sources report that there are Middle Eastern interests and possible Iranian interests involved in Canadian owned LNG projects. More research needs to be done on the International connections behind LNG projects.

The LNG pipeline campaign web site is www.oregonlng.com. The web site was designed to address the property owners and legislative concerns. The environmental impacts of LNG are missing from the web site propaganda. Take a look at it and judge for yourself. 

In conclusion, Liquid Natural Gas, Nuclear and Coal energy are risky gambles with our environment and a threat to public safety. LNG pipelines place Oregon and the entire countries quality of life in jeopardy. LNG industries are misleading the public and distorting environmental impact studies. It is fradulent to claim that LNG is a local Oregon project to meet Oregon energy needs. LNG would be shipped to other countries and the pipeline is designed to fuel California. Palomar and TransCanada increase their profits internationally, with total disregard for the communities they are exploiting.

LNG is an unneeded risk, much like over consuming too many “LNG Island Ice Teas” after a holiday party and speeding in a car. Consuming less energy, while advocating and constructing wind and solar power are safer and greener alternatives. 

A toast to the Pacific-Green Party of Oregon, Mr. Bill Bradbury of the State of Oregon, Steve Jones and Jody McCaffree with Citizens Against LNG and for their continued work opposing LNG pipelines in Oregon. 

In Salem, on January 13th, Citizens against LNG will lobby legislatures to do the sober, responsible thing and oppose the LNG pipeline proposals. I encourage everyone to join my New Year resolution and tell your Legislatures to do the same.

Bicycles, for those folks who hve the privilege of being able to use their legs in such a fashion, are one way of "getting there."  Another, is community building - eliminating the necessity for constant long distance travel. 

If you're jaded stay home because we're building it.

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