Time to stop and think about LNG

By Allen Neuringer

article created on: 2008-09-01T00:00:00

In the Aug. 15 Jewish Review Neil Goldstein, the executive director of the American Jewish Congress, is quoted as saying, “We must get off of (our) dependence on foreign oil.”

This brings to mind a parallel issue facing Oregonians today, namely proposals to build two large terminals on the Columbia River and hundreds of miles of pipeline in order to import foreign liquefied natural gas, LNG, from Middle East countries and Russia.

There are many reasons to oppose importing LNG, among which is an attempt to break America’s addiction to Middle East oil by addicting us to Middle East gas. That’s just plain stupid—for security, economic and environmental reasons.

LNG tankers coming up the Columbia River pose security risks so great that the Coast Guard would be required to protect each tanker’s passage.

The tankers would severely damage fisheries along the Columbia. The pipelines would cross hundreds of smaller rivers and streams and cause additional damage to fish and wildlife.

The size of the pipeline route is astounding. It requires a continuous clear-cut the width of Sunset Highway, U.S. Route 26, from Astoria near the mouth of the Columbia River to Molalla east of Salem. That would devastate thousands of acres of prime farmlands, vineyards and forest lands.

Furthermore, imported LNG will cost much more than domestically produced natural gas, a source of energy that the United States has in abundance. It also will result in more carbon emissions and it will compete in Oregon with development of renewable sources of energy.

It may seem laughable, but there are now proposals to import LNG from the Middle East and, at the same time, export domestic natural gas to Japan and other countries—this being profitable for the mega-energy companies.

If ever there was a clear case of the need to stop and consider the future costs to our children and grandchildren, it is now, before we plunge ahead with a 30-year commitment to foreign LNG.

For more information, visit lngpollutes.org or nolng@oregonfirst.net.

Allen Neuringer
Portland