Common Cause, a pro-democracy advocacy group, is ringing alarms in a recent report that extreme right-wing political groups are planning to “shred the constitution” and are calling for an Article V Constitutional Amendment Convention. Citing organizations like ALEC and Compact for America, Common Cause warns that GOP controlled states are angling for the necessary 38 […]
The FINAL EIS is out and of course finds no significant impacts from the proposed project. “We conclude that construction and operation of the Project would result in some limited adverse environmental impacts. However, most of these impacts would be reduced to less-than-significant levels with the implementation of the applicants’ proposed mitigation measures and the […]
Yes, I know it has been awhile since I have posted anything. This summer I have been up to my neck working on the community rights initiative, a statewide initiative as well as getting kids enrolled in college, remodeling and earning a living. At least on the remodel front, things are starting to wind down […]
Having attended the Salem No-LNG export rally referenced in pro-gas booster Mark Wall’s gushing praise of America’s regulatory process a certain irony is worth pointing out. Both sides are claiming that the same regulatory agencies and rule of law will either be their salvation from unwanted fossil-fuel development or the source of success for permitting […]
There was a lot of rejoicing last week amongst anti-gas activists when the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) upheld a Clatsop County decision to deny a pipeline construction permit to Oregon LNG on five points, including public safety. Providing for the health and safety of its citizens is, after all, a primary duty […]
During a recent discussion with a group opposing the proposed Jordan Cove LNG export terminal someone raised the topic of offshore wind. The matter came up within the context of a section in The Coos County Sustainable Energy Future Ordinance that defines non sustainable energy systems. (d) “Non-sustainable energy systems” means those systems that are […]
As important as it is to put comments into the public record FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission), according to one source, has never denied a permit for oil and gas infrastructure unless the developer has first withdrawn the application. In recent weeks, FERC approved construction of a high-volume, high pressure natural gas pipeline that will […]
Companies that include Williams Partners backing the Constitution Pipeline connecting New York to New England used eminent domain to acquire access to properties against the owners’ wishes. U.S. District Judge Malachy Mannion ruled that the Constitution Pipeline has the necessary permits from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and that it serves the public interest by […]
After finally admitting during the last BOC meeting that the still mythological community service fees to paid by the Jordan Cove LNG project are, in fact, “derivative of tax dollars“, John Sweet now admits to promising the schools money to “get elected.” Reporting on the latest board meeting of the SCCF (South Coast Community Foundation), […]
As tedious as many public meetings are to sit through one can almost always mine little nuggets of gold from statements made by elected officials. From the inception of the CEP (Community Enhancement Plan) elected leaders from Rep Caddy McKeown to Commissioner Melissa Cribbins denied or questioned whether the so-called community service fees paid into […]