A requirement of the original vote to fund the construction of a County owned gas distribution pipeline service was to extend to the city of Bandon. The construction of the pipeline did not go as planned causing significant environmental damage that is still being mitigated today. Nevertheless, the terms of the bond financing appear to expect the pipeline to extend to Bandon even though the city itself has been uninterested and NW Natural has no customers lined up.

The original pipeline route would have followed 42 South from Coquille to the Bandon city limit, however, NW Natural wants to conduct a feasibility study running the pipe alongside Hwy 101 from the 42 split south of Coos Bay, crossing the water at Bullard’s Bridge on up to Bandon believing there may be more customer potential and development opportunity. Bandon Dunes Resort was mentioned as a possible natural gas customer.

Another work session will be scheduled in approximately two weeks once the legal requirements to the bond holder are confirmed.

It should be noted that NW Natural declared during a 2007 Oregon House Revenue Committee hearing in Salem the pipeline, which cost taxpayers $51 million excluding environmental damages, “was never considered economic”.

[audio:http://mgx.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Nikki-Salem.mp3|titles=Oregon House Revenue Committtee April 30, 2007]