Pipe Up About Palomar

The Oregonian recently printed a story detailing the new investment of the Williams NW company in NW Natural’s Palomar Pipeline proposal. The Oregonian story acknowledged that the pipeline is “controversial,” “tentative,” and faces “fierce opposition among landowners and environmentalists.” Now it is our job to let them know how much opposition this proposal really faces and what kind of threats it poses to Mt. Hood National Forest, Willamette Valley farms, critical fish habitat and Oregon utility ratepayers.
You can read the story NW Natural unveils joint venture on Palomar here and post a comment on their story on the web. 
Please consider sending a Letter to the Editor to the Oregonian and your local newspaper to express your concern about the Palomar Pipeline.  Explain the true impacts of this project on your land, and highlight the fact that this is a risky investment on the part of Williams and NW Natural Pipeline Company.
Here are some possible points to make in your Letter to the Editor. Please note that most newspapers have a 250 word limit for Letters to the Editor:

• Palomar is an illegal pipeline that violates environmental laws protecting Mt. Hood. In fact Palomar is trying to change those laws by amending the current plans governing Mt. Hood National Forest.
  
• Palomar has already lost millions in Bradwood Landing LNG’s bankruptcy. This is a risky investment for Williams NW and NW Natural.
  
• Williams NW Pipeline Company is also a partner in the Pacific Connector pipeline (related to Southern Oregon Jordan Cove LNG proposal).  Both of these pipelines, Pacific Connector and Palomar, are proposed as bi-directional pipelines serving proposed LNG terminals in Oregon. With a current wave of LNG terminals in the U.S. now proposing to export domestic natural gas as LNG, is Williams NW really investing in future export potential?
  
• The Citizens Utility Board and Oregon Department of Energy have both found a lack of need for LNG in Oregon and have indicated that LNG-related pipeline development will increase utility costs for customers in the Pacific Northwest.
  
• Palomar threatens the livelihoods of landowners and farmers along its entire route, all 220 miles. Landowners in Clatsop, Columbia, Washington, Yamhill, Marion, Clackamas and Wasco Counties are facing Eminent Domain on their land for this proposal. If you are an impacted landowner provide a personal statement about the impact to your land.

Send your Letter to:
The Oregonian:  letters@news.oregonian.com
The Daily Astorian:  editor@dailyastorian.com
Eugene Register-Guard: rgletters@registerguard.cop

Tell Oregon’s Leaders to Stop LNG

Gov. Ted Kulongoski
503-378-4582
email via web form
160 State Capitol 900 Court Street, Salem, OR 97301-4047

Michael Carrier, Oregon Natural Resources Policy Director michael.carrier@state.or.us

David Van’t Hof, Gov. Kulongoski's Sustainability Advisor david.vanthof@state.or.us Senator

Ron Wyden
202-224-5244 www.wyden.senate.gov 223 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20510-3703

Senator Jeff Merkley
202-224-3753 www.merkley.senate.gov B-40B Dirksen Senate Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20510-3753

Representative David Wu
202-225-0855 www.house.gov/wu 2338 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515-3701