Filing to Revive Oregon Jordan Cove LNG Export Project Is An Absurd Nothingburger

Coos Bay, Oregon – On February 22, pro-LNG group OA Partners LLC filed a meritless attempt to retroactively force the approval of the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector gas pipeline project in Southern Oregon – a project that was canceled in 2021, following state permit denials and years of opposition from a broad coalition of community members concerned about risks to health and safety, climate change, environmental impacts, landowner rights, impacts on Indigenous communities, and the need to shift to clean energy jobs instead of expanding fossil fuel use. The filing comes from a politically motivated, month-old LLC, and appears to be entirely disconnected from anything resembling a viable attempt to complete Jordan Cove LNG. 

In response to the filing, impacted landowners, Tribal members, Southern Oregonians, and clean energy advocates said: 

“Our communities stopped Jordan Cove LNG and the Pacific Connector Pipeline, and no half-baked filing at FERC will change that. No matter what the threat is, we will continue to fight for our lands, waters, and a healthy climate. Governor Kotek must do everything in her power to defend Oregon from corporate greed and fossil fuel interests,” said Ka’ila Farrell-Smith, artist and Klamath Tribal member.

“This 20-year fight against Jordan Cove LNG and Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline affects landowners, both conservative and liberal. Governor Kotek must stand firm for Oregon’s authority and landowner rights,” said Deb Evans, an impacted landowner in Klamath County.

“There is no reason to believe any attempt has a chance of succeeding where Jordan Cove’s previous backer, deep-pocketed Canadian Pembina Pipeline Corporation, failed. Oregon communities spent over a decade fighting Jordan Cove LNG. 50,000 Oregonians filed public comments against the project, and tens of thousands spoke out about it at public hearings. An attempt to revive Jordan Cove would fail because of fierce and growing opposition,” said Allie Rosenbluth, U.S. Campaign Manager at Oil Change International and Southern Oregonian.  

“The recent filing attempts to revive the canceled Jordan Cove LNG Export Terminal and Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline will not overturn Oregon’s authority to protect South Coast and Southern Oregon community’s land and water from harmful, extractive fossil fuel development,” said Ashley Audycki, climate justice organization Rogue Climate’s South Coast Coordinator. “This is an attempt to cause panic for South Coast community members and people across the state who fought to shut down this pipeline. Our communities are ready to take a stance against any attempts to revive Jordan Cove LNG. After decades of saying no to LNG exports, community members won’t be fooled–we are looking to say yes to real economic solutions that promote a just transition to a regenerative energy future.”

“We are in an era of appalling corporate greed and fossil fuel lunacy encouraged by Trump. Jordan Cove LNG is not coming back, but Governor Tina Kotek and all of us must fight to uphold states’ powers to protect public health, safety, and the environment from fossil fuels,” said Damon Motz-Storey, Director of the Sierra Club’s Oregon Chapter. “Communities here know that fossil fuel pipelines and exports do not serve our interests and we remain ready to mobilize to stop them.”

“Oregon has a legacy of outstanding leadership embedded in its Statewide land-use planning goals for inland and coastal environments. The process used to evaluate proposals uses data-driven science, consideration of social and economic impact, and public engagement,”  said Dr. Christine Moffitt, representative of the League of Women Voters of Coos County. “The permits for construction of the Jordan Cove LNG export project were denied, and the state will continue to review projects and make decisions based on the criteria in these standards that protect the coastal environment and communities.”