Protesters in Salem oppose Palomar

This weekend the Oregonian printed a story detailing the new investment of the Williams NW company in NW Natural’s Palomar Pipeline proposal. The Oregonian story acknowledged that the pipeline is “controversial,” “tentative,” and faces “fierce opposition among landowners and environmentalists.” Now it is our job to let them know how much opposition this proposal really faces and what kind of threats it poses to Mt. Hood National Forest, Willamette Valley farms, critical fish habitat and Oregon utility ratepayers

Please consider sending a Letter to the Editor to the Oregonian and your local newspaper to express your concern about the Palomar Pipeline. Explain the true impacts of this project on your land, and highlight the fact that this is a risky investment on the part of Williams and NW Natural Pipeline Company.

Here are some possible points to make in your Letter to the Editor. Please note that most newspapers have a 250 word limit for Letters to the Editor:

• Palomar is an illegal pipeline that violates environmental laws protecting Mt. Hood. In fact Palomar is trying to change those laws by amending the current plans governing Mt. Hood National Forest.
• Palomar has already lost millions in Bradwood Landing LNG’s bankruptcy. This is a risky investment for Williams NW and NW Natural.
• Williams NW Pipeline Company is also a partner in the Pacific Connector pipeline (related to Southern Oregon Jordan Cove LNG proposal).  Both of these pipelines, Pacific Connector and Palomar, are proposed as bi-directional pipelines serving proposed LNG terminals in Oregon. With a current wave of LNG terminals in the U.S. now proposing to export domestic natural gas as LNG, is Williams NW really investing in future export potential?
• The Citizens Utility Board and Oregon Department of Energy have both found a lack of need for LNG in Oregon and have indicated that LNG-related pipeline development will increase utility costs for customers in the Pacific Northwest.
• Palomar threatens the livelihoods of landowners and farmers along its entire route, all 220 miles. Landowners in Clatsop, Columbia, Washington, Yamhill, Marion, Clackamas and Wasco Counties are facing Eminent Domain on their land for this proposal. If you are an impacted landowner provide a personal statement about the impact to your land.
• You can read the story NW Natural unveils joint venture on Palomar here and post a comment on their story on the web.

Send your Letter to:

The Oregonian:  letters@news.oregonian.com

The Daily Astorian:  editor@dailyastorian.com

Eugene Register-Guard: rgletters@registerguard.cop

Eugene Weekly: editor@eugeneweekly.com

The Forest Grove News Times: click here to submit LTE to Forest Grove News Times

The Molalla Pioneer: click here for to submit LTE to Molalla Pioneer

The Statesman Journal: click here to submit LTE to Statesman Journal

And any other newspaper that serves your area.

Thanks for taking action! With our relentless opposition and activism this pipeline will be stopped!

NW Natural is up to no good and it’s time for them to hear from us. Click here to take action and let NW Natural know that it is time to call it quits on Palomar!

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) recently requested an update from Palomar to find out what they’ve been up to since announcing the indefinite delay of their project earlier this year.  How did Palomar respond? Here it is in a nutshell:

• The Bradwood LNG terminal project is bankrupt and they can’t sell their assets to pay us back the $17 million they owe.  But, we’ve managed to get out of our contract with bankrupt Bradwood, so we are happy that we can now seek other suppliers for our pipe.
• Because we are having all kinds of problems getting permits to develop this illegal project, we are spending most of our time trying to convince decision-makers by lobbying them to make it easier on us.
• We appreciate the patience of FERC as we try to salvage the Palomar Pipeline and ensure that energy consumers continue to rely on the burning of fossil fuels for their energy use.
• Click here to read the letter yourself.

This leaves several un-answered questions for the Hey NW Natural campaign. Questions like:

• How will Palomar recover the $17 million owed to them by Bradwood? Will that expense fall on NW Natural customers and shareholders?
• If NW Natural appreciates the patience of FERC sitting on their hands and wasting tax dollars, how do they feel about the hundreds of landowners on the pipeline route waiting to find out if their land will be condemned for this project?
• If NW Natural is talking with decision makers about easing the permitting process, are they also making financial contributions to these politicians?

With your help we can make sure that NW Natural knows that we won’t stand for the destruction of Mt. Hood National Forest, the devastation of our rural farmlands, the damaging of our beautiful rivers or the arrogance of a company that expects LNG-impacted communities to wait patiently while they politically maneuver their way into a better position.

Take action today!