As we welcome a new presidential administration, this momentous day comes on the heels of fantastic news for our healthy climate movement in the Pacific Northwest: yesterday (January 19th, 2021), a state permit denial for the proposed Kalama fracked gas-to-methanol refinery in southwest Washington and a federal ruling to uphold Oregon’s denial of the Clean Water Act permit for the proposed Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline in four southern Oregon counties. Oregon PSR and our partners have been working hard to block both projects and are thrilled to celebrate this welcome news. With the Biden Administration’s day-one pledge to halt the Keystone XL pipeline, this week seems to signal that a new horizon for the movement against fossil fuels is approaching.
With yesterday's permit decisions, neither the Kalama methanol refinery nor the Jordan Cove LNG project have a clear path forward. After thousands of comments from communities throughout the Pacific Northwest on multiple complicated permitting processes, including extensive reporting on the health harms of these fracked gas projects, it is clear that we are winning. Now, it’s time to build on this momentum, pass bold energy justice policies at the Oregon legislature, and encourage the Biden Administration to #BuildBackFossilFree.
Doctors, nurses, and public health advocates play a vital role in highlighting the health impacts of fracked gas and the public health emergency of climate change. We thank you for your continued engagement and hope that you will continue to support us financially so that we can build on these victories and ensure that the Pacific Northwest powers past fracked gas to a clean, renewable, and justice-based energy economy.
Photo above: Rally to Stop Jordan Cove LNG on November 21st, 2019 at the state capitol in Salem, OR.