HB 2700, the so called LNG fast track bill is a loosely written bill that if enacted would enable your neighbor, for example, to take out a permit to dig or explore on your property without your knowledge or permission. Preserve your property rights and demand the bill be voted down or amended.

Take Action: This is our time! Please call your Senator today: No LNG fast-track bill.

Find your legislator here with your address: http://www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/

Great work last week

Last week, the Senate Business Committee could have passed HB 2700 to fast-track LNG, but thanks to spirited and compelling testimony from our side, they didn’t. One insider said this was a rare instance where public testimony clearly changed the result. The overwhelming public sentiment was to amend HB 2700 to exclude LNG, or vote no. Thanks to all who attended.

Now is the time – Work Session Scheduled on Monday, May 23rd

The Senate Business Committee will take action on HB 2700 on Monday, May 23rd. The work session is scheduled for 3pm in Hearing Room B in the State Capitol Building.

Please attend if you can! This is a work session (not a hearing), and so we will not have an opportunity to testify. However, our presence in red shirts and buttons will remind the Senate Business Committee that we are keenly aware of the harm that HB 2700 can do to Oregonians unless it is amended to exclude LNG.

It’s going to be close, so please call your Senator and Chair Beyer today.

The Committee can easily amend the bill to exclude LNG projects by passing the dash-6 amendment. Another amendment, the dash-7 amendment, would increase protections for rural landowners and fire districts.

HB 2700 is being promoted as a “jobs bill.” Yet, LNG pipelines through rural Oregon will damage farms, forestry, and nurseries – all bedrock job-creators in Oregon’s rural economy.

House Bill 2700 can be narrowed to exclude LNG. Many cities and agencies say there are valid needs for the fast-track procedures in HB 2700 for roads, sewer lines, and water lines. If this is so, the bill should simply be changed to exclude LNG pipelines.

House Bill 2700 should be amended. In 2005, Congress stripped away state authority over siting LNG terminals and pipelines. Now, many Oregon landowners have been faced with multiple, redundant, unnecessary pipeline proposals on their farms and forest lands. Our legislature can help Oregonians by amending HB 2700.

Tell your senator, and members of the Committee:

* HB 2700 must be amended to exclude LNG.
* If the bill is not amended, they should vote against it.
* Congress and the LNG industry stripped away Oregon’s rights to stop LNG in 2005. We should not change our laws, now, in a way that makes this problem worse for Oregonians and gives new life to unnecessary LNG export projects.
* The LNG projects have admitted they may export LNG. This is bad for our economy, energy security, and environment.

To find your legislator, go to: http://www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/

Here are the members of the Senate Business Committee. Please be sure to give Chair Beyer a call today in support of the LNG amendment.

Lee Beyer, Chair (D – District 6)

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1706

Email: sen.leebeyer@state.or.us

Jason Atkinson, Vice-Chair (R – District 2)

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1702

Email: sen.jasonatkinson@state.or.us

Ginny Burdick (D – District 18)

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1718

Email: sen.ginnyburdick@state.or.us

Chris Edwards (D – District 7)

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1707

Email: sen.chrisedwards@state.or.us

Fred Girod (R – District 9)

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1709

Email: sen.fredgirod@state.or.us

Bruce Starr (R – District 15)

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1715 District Phone: 503-352-0922

Email: sen.brucestarr@state.or.us

Tell these Senators if you are directly impacted by this bill. If you have had multiple pipelines proposed on your land (all of whom could apply and receive permits on your land simultaneously under HB 2700), explain how these pipeline proposals have disrupted your family and livelihood.

Why fast-track LNG export proposals?

The backers of these pipeline projects finally admit they are considering exporting (not importing) LNG. Out-of-state energy speculators are pushing huge coastal LNG terminals to market low-cost U.S. natural gas around the world. This will raise prices for the average U.S. homeowner for heating and cooking and harm our economy. Just this week, a major investor in the Jordan Cove LNG project, Veresen, indicated that it is exploring the option of exporting LNG.

According to Veresen, “Given current market conditions, Veresen is exploring alternative uses for the proposed Jordan Cove Energy Project and Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline. A number of natural gas producers have expressed strong interest in converting Jordan Cove from an import facility into a liquefaction and LNG export facility.”

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2011/12/c3749.html .

** Thanks Dan for this update**