Photo by Martin Evans

Today, approximately 300 people joined together outside the Oregon Convention Center to rally against the Palomar Pipeline at the NW Natural Annual Shareholder meeting. Rally participants were protesting a proposed 217-mile pipeline that would have connected the proposed Bradwood Landing LNG terminal on the Columbia River to the existing TransCanada pipeline in eastern Oregon. The crowd was made up of many impacted landowners, as well as people who have stated concerns about the impacts from the pipeline on Mt. Hood National Forest. Using colorful flags to represent three of the most prevalent reasons for opposing LNG, protestors held images of salmon, forests and farms. At a point when the shareholders were entering the meeting, a fabric “pipeline” dramatically snaked through the crowd pretending to knock down the “Oregon Values” flags.

Inside the Shareholders Meeting attendees were met with vague answers and misleading information about the NorthernStar Natural Gas bankruptcy and how that would affect shareholder investments. Greg Kantor, CEO of NW Natural, stated that the $17.2 million in debt owed to Palomar by NorthernStar Natural Gas would be “covered.” This gave cause for one participant in the meeting to stand and voice concerns about the reality of the impacts of NorthernStar’s Bankruptcy and the Palomar Pipeline. Olivia Schmidt, Community Organizer for the Anti-LNG Coalition and an invited guest of a shareholder in the meeting, stood and began asking questions.

“How is it possible that the $17 Million owed by NorthernStar will be repaid when we see from the bankruptcy filings that there are less than $1 Million in assets to liquidate to close that gap?” Schmidt continued to press on the issue, raising concerns about additional ambiguities in the stated plans of the company. “You say that you will continue permitting for the entire Palomar Pipeline despite the absence of the Bradwood Landing LNG terminal; does that mean that your pipeline will be re-routed to connect to the proposed Oregon LNG terminal?”

When Kantor gave Schmidt the option of either silencing herself and sitting down or leaving the room she chose to depart the meeting stating “I can only listen to so much dishonesty from this company and I’ve had my fill. There are 250 protestors outside this meeting demanding the cancelation of Palomar Pipeline because of the harm it will cause to Oregon families, our economy and Mt. Hood. You as shareholders are responsible for holding this company accountable.” She left the meeting willingly, but was escorted by 5 security personnel.

Oregon is currently targeted for the largest fossil fuel infrastructure development projects on the West Coast. Importation terminals for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and hundreds of miles of associated pipelines threaten the livelihoods of hundreds of local family farms, the health and preservation of Salmon streams, clean air and clean drinking water, and our new energy future. Through a diverse and passionate grassroots movement, Oregonians and Southern Washingtonians have been able to hold off development for over five years. And recently celebrated a victory over one of the proposed terminals, Bradwood Landing LNG.

Farmers, foresters, fishers, environmentalists, students, and gas ratepayers have created a broad  NO LNG movement in Oregon. Now, we are calling out to anyone who wants to protect Oregon’s farms, forests and clean energy future to join us and push back on the corporate gas industry.

NW Natural cannot dictate our future. They have spent millions on creating a “green” and sustainable image, they have created a huge and powerful gas lobby in our state by sitting on government panels and offering large campaign contributions, and they have abused landowners threatened by their pipeline. Now, we will stand up as an organized, broad coalition and say no to corporate abuse of power!

Join the celebration and Rally at the NW Natural Shareholder Meeting on May 27th in Portland to become part of this diverse and passionate movement against LNG!

Rally at NW Natural Shareholder Meeting

Thursday, May 27th 1PM – 4PM

Oregon Convention Center

777 NE MLK BLVD, Portland

After a five-yearlong grassroots organizing push by a broad coalition, NorthernStar, the Texas-based company proposing the Bradwood LNG terminal on Columbia River, has indefinitely suspended development of the LNG terminal and filed for bankruptcy. This is wonderful news for anyone in the region concerned with climate change, protecting forests, and preserving rural farmland. Its great news for local communities threatened with eminent domain and huge victory for the people vs. Big Energy.

But, it’s not over yet. There are still two LNG terminals proposed in Oregon (On the Columbia River and in Coos Bay) as well as hundreds of miles of pipelines. Now, the No LNG coalition is turning its attention toward pressuring NW Natural to completely cancel the Palomar pipeline, which still threatens to clearcut through 47-miles of Mt. Hood National Forest, and brings heavy construction to 300 rivers and streams and 1500 landowners.

Are you committed to stopping new fossil fuel development? Please join over 30 organizations for a celebration and Rally at NW Natural Shareholder Meeting at the end of this month.

We need your help to fight corporate power and hold NW Natural accountable to stop the Palomar pipeline.

Can’t make it to the rally? No Problem, click here to sign up for other volunteer opportunities.

This rally is supported by: Columbia Riverkeeper, Bark, Oregon Sierra Club, Hey NW Natural campaign, Friends of Living Oregon Waters, Pacific Environment, Oregon Citizens Against the Pipeline, Oregon Wild, Sierra Student Coalition, Cascadia Rising Tide, Cascade Climate Network, Northwest Property Rights Coalition, Students Against LNG, University of Oregon Climate Justice League, Greenfield at Linfield College, Real Wealth of Portland, Alliance for Democracy, Wahkiakum Friends of the River, Columbia Pacific Common Sense, Landowners and Citizens for a Safe Community, Economic Justice Action Group of the First Unitarian Church, and more.

A broad coalition of citizen groups celebrated today as NorthernStar Natural Gas suspended its attempt to build the Bradwood liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in the Columbia River, near Astoria, Oregon. Facing huge opposition from farm, fishing, forest, and environmental groups, Bradwood LNG’s announcement generated swift reaction from people throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington. NW Natural’s Palomar Pipeline was proposed to connect to the Bradwood LNG terminal, although the company maintains that the pipeline is still needed.

Brett VandenHeuvel, executive director of Columbia Riverkeeper, explained the significance of the groups’ victory over the Bradwood LNG project. “LNG has no place in Oregon.  This is a tremendous victory for family farmers, fisherman, and Columbia River salmon.  This is proof that Oregonians will fight to protect our resources and our livelihoods.”

According to a NW Natural statement released this morning, “NW Natural learned late yesterday that NorthernStar Natural Gas, the company developing the Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal along the Columbia River, has decided to suspend work on their project, and they notified us that they intend to file for bankruptcy protection. Palomar Gas Holdings, of which NW Natural is a fifty percent owner, is evaluating the impact of NorthernStar’s decision on the development of the west segment of the Palomar project.“

Farmers threatened by the proposed LNG pipelines rejoiced after hearing that Bradwood LNG had suspended its project. “Thousands of us have been living under a cloud of having our farms condemned for these wrong-headed LNG schemes. We look forward to being able to work our lands without interference from LNG speculators,” said Steve Wick, a Yamhill County filbert grower.

Now, more than ever we can tell NW Natural to follow the lead of Bradwood LNG on this decision, and cancel the Palomar pipeline. It is time to mobilize!

Join the Rally at the NW Natural Shareholder Meeting on May 27 to send a clear and LOUD message to the company: PALOMAR: BAD FOR BUSINESS, BAD FOR OREGON!!!

RSVP now to attend the Rally at the NW Natural Shareholder Meeting by clicking here.