By Ronnie Herne
Dear Editor —
The ads say over twenty-five million dollars in taxes annually will go to Coos County from Jordan Coves’s export LNG (liquified natural gas) project once built…? Really?
Let’s talk about an urban renewal district overlaid by an enterprise zone. Should Jordan Cove get permits, they will have two construction years that are tax-free followed by three more years tax-free if they follow guidelines on hiring and payroll. Enterprise zone tax exemptions can, as I understand it, be extended out to twenty years, and possibly more.
But let’s say at some vague point taxes kick in. Wow! NOW the county will be rich! –except for that pesky urban renewal district. The base line for the county’s share of those taxes will be the unimproved land the facility sits on, aka “lot value”. All the taxes assessed on the new improvements will go the urban renewal district. This district is the county’s district but it is run by the Port of Coos Bay. So all that money goes to an unelected agency to spend, and not to schools, safety, seniors.
And what about those 720 permanent new jobs? FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) estimated the new jobs on the old LNG-and-co-generation-plant to be 36 to 39…. a mere factor of 20.
And the over 2000 construction jobs? I believe it was Jordan Cove that optimistically estimated that number to be 1,600 on the very similar old project.
But if you get in their face, the twenty-five million tax dollars suddenly become an annual contribution donated by Jordan Cove, from its profits, to a foundation headed by Who Knows and with What Intent. (“Schools” are noted prominently in the rant.) Did you read the word “PROFIT? What company with a development of this magnitude makes a “profit” on paper? Between building expenses, depreciation, payroll, ongoing business expenses, etc, it’s questionable Jordan Cove will turn an annual profit of $25,000,000 anytime soon, let alone bequeath it to the benefit of southwestern Oregon.
And on top of that bucket of propaganda, I understand American Bridge in Reedsport is closing its doors in two months. Anyone for a chorus of “I’ve been working on the railroad…..”?
Every time I hear Jordan Cove’s come-ons over the radio, it makes my blood boil. Lies, lies and more lies! I shudder to think what these hacks’n quacks will do to us once they have a free pass. Kudos to Ronnie Herne and “Cracker Jack” for their excellent posts. – Doro Reeves
Thanks for bearing witness with this article and excuse me for double posting, its that important. This area is not alone in the fight against further fossil fuel development and its spreading all over the country and the planet.
Locally more BS signs which support LNG exporting are popping up at businesses that can’t be touched by the average consumer, like Knife River. YellowCab taxi must feel pretty safe with his business, since he has outed his support for Jordan Cove with signs in front of his business location. I dare him to put his pro LNG stance on all his cars. He went pink for a “cause” so this could work for him as well. I’m glad they are putting the signs up, it make it easy to see where not to spend my money.
Last night, Gasland Part II director Josh Fox told the Power Shift crowd, “There can be no democracy until we have freedom from fossil fuels.” The audience couldn’t agree more.
At 4 pm our time the guest speakers can be viewed online at.
http://www.wearepowershift.org/live
The growing political winds are not favorable to either party. The younger people get it and they are going to force a change. A generational war is upon us and TIME IS ON THEIR SIDE.