A controversial plan to construct a pipeline to carry liquefied natural gas (LNG) from a Columbia River port through Northwest Oregon was suspended May 4.
Opponents hope the project’s suspension is permanent, but, for the time being, are satisfied with this sudden victory after five years of fighting to deflect plans for an LNG pipeline through Oregon. Last week, articles sprung up immediately on the Web sites of pipeline opposition groups, hailing the decision as a major victory for environmental interests in the state.
Since 2005, Houston-based energy company NorthernStar Natural Gas has attempted to push through plans to use its Bradwood Landing site, about 25 miles outside Astoria, as a starting point for an LNG pipeline that would run from the Bradwood facility to a hub in Molalla.
“Extended delays in the processing of state and federal permits for Bradwood Landing and the difficult investment environment have forced us to suspend development,” company President Paul Soanes said in a press release May 4.
That same day, NorthernStar Natural Gas announced it would halt its Oregon pipeline plans and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, meaning it will be liquidated, according to U.S. bankruptcy code.
Brett VandenHeuvel, director of Columbia Riverkeeper, has spent the last five years at the forefront of LNG opposition and considers NorthernStar’s bankruptcy and abandonment  of pipeline plans a grassroots statement.
“We started fighting Bradwood Landing in 2005 and have been one of the lead coalition partners, engaging in multiple lawsuits and education on LNG, because a lot of people didn’t know anything about it when they first came here,” VandenHeuvel said. “It was a misguided idea, but they had a tremendous amount of money behind it. I think it just shows that Oregon and Washington will stand up to out-of-state, big-money companies when our core values are at stake.”
Bradwood Landing LNG also faced legal challenges from Oregon and Washington state, Columbia Riverkeeper, the Nez Perce Tribe, Columbia River Business Alliance, Oregon Chapter of the Sierra Club, Bark and others.
NorthernStar Natural Gas was partnered with Northwest Natural Gas. Because the project was announced as “suspended,” the possibility remains that Northwest Natural Gas could continue the project.
Neither company could be reached for immediate comment.
Olivia Schmidt, anti-LNG organizer for the Oregon Sierra Club, said the grassroots movement that challenged NorthernStar was largely responsible for the company’s bankruptcy.
“The reality is this company, without this opposition, would have constructed this thing in 2007,” Schmidt said. “Because of our opposition, they weren’t able to keep their timeline and eventually ran out of money.”
Schmidt said the anti-LNG coalition will continue its work to stop the Oregon LNG terminal and the Palomar pipeline in northern Oregon, and the Jordan Cove LNG pipeline in southern Oregon.
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