What's Up With Jordan Cove LNG?
For over 15 years, the threat of the Jordan Cove and Pacific Connector LNG export project has loomed over southern Oregon waterways, tribal territories, local communities, private property, and the climate. The proposed 229-mile, high pressure, fracked gas pipeline and associated liquefaction and shipping terminal have faced heavy opposition by people across the state and from all walks of life. After being stopped three different times, the project was brought back to life under the Trump administration. However, Jordan Cove has only been issued a conditional federal approval and been denied numerous times at every level for state permits and land use regulations.
Could this finally be the end of Jordan Cove LNG?
Jordan Cove and the past 18 months
The past 18 months have delivered denial after denial for the project from the state of Oregon, the Land Use Board of Appeals and the new federal administration. Here is a brief list of all that has happened:
January 2020 - The Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) denied Jordan Cove’s permit application extension request, which resulted in Pembina withdrawing their removal fill permit application.
February 19 - The Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) denied the Coastal Zone Management Act certification for the project.
March 19 - The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) conditionally approved certification under the Natural Gas Act for Jordan Cove LNG. The approval is contingent upon a number of conditions that must be met by Pembina, including receiving approved permits that have been denied by the state of Oregon.
May 27 - Rogue Riverkeeper joined Rogue Climate and eleven other community and environmental organizations to legally challenge the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) conditional approval of the Jordan Cove LNG project.
June 10 - The state of Oregon submitted a petition for judicial review to challenge the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval of the Jordan Cove LNG project. This legal challenge from the state is an important indication that Oregon’s expert agencies plan to fight for clean water, landowners threatened by eminent domain, and a stable climate.
August 13 - Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley introduced two bills in congress that would stop fossil fuel corporations from using eminent domain for fracked gas export pipelines.
December 22 - The Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals overturned two permits for Jordan Cove LNG's marine terminal and associated infrastructure adding another setback for the struggling project.
January 8, 2021 - The Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) overturned yet another local land use permit for the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector pipeline. This is the fourth Jordan Cove LNG permit overturned by LUBA in the last six months while the company has also continued to fail to qualify for State and Federal permits.
January 18 - FERC denied Jordan Cove LNG’s request to waive the State of Oregon’s denial on the DEQ 401 Water Quality Certification upholding the state’s denial from 2019. This is a big win for our communities opposing Jordan Cove LNG because the project can not move forward without this permit.
February 8 - The Biden Administration upheld Oregon’s Coastal Zone Management Act permit denial for the Jordan Cove LNG project. This comes just a few weeks after FERC upheld another critical denial of the project.
April 23 - Pembina told a US appeals court it was “pausing” development of its proposed Jordan Cove LNG export terminal in Oregon and affiliated Pacific Connector feed gas pipeline to assess the impact of recent regulatory decisions that could threaten the future of the project.
May 5 - The Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) handed down another win for opponents of the controversial Jordan Cove LNG export terminal at Coos Bay, overturning two permits that would have allowed major dredging in the bay. In the last year, LUBA has overturned 8 permits that were wrongfully approved by Coos County, Douglas County, the City of North Bend, and the City of Coos Bay.
It has been an amazing 18 months of wins for our fight to stop the Jordan Cove LNG export project! Now it’s time for this project to be cancelled for good.
What Happens Now?
As of now, Pembina only has the conditional approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); the condition being that they get all of the necessary state permits first in order to build the project. Pembina has been unable to secure a single one thanks to the thousands in opposition, like you. While the company has publicly stated that they are “pausing” the project, it is not over until they cancel it for good.
Take Action!
Send an email to Pembina’s CEO to demand that the company publicly cancel Jordan Cove LNG for good.
Rogue Riverkeeper and a statewide coalition will continue to track and monitor this project until it is done for good. Additionally, we will work to ensure future fossil fuel infrastructure proposals do not threaten our clean water, communities and the climate.