In surprise, feds hit pause on Jordan Cove
Oregon’s declaration late Wednesday that it could not allow the Jordan Cove project to go forward was enough to turn federal energy regulators against the project — for now.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission voted 2-1 Thursday morning against certifying the $10 billion pipeline and LNG export terminal in Southern Oregon.
The vote hinged on Commissioner Bernard McNamee, typically a supporter of LNG projects. He cited a letter from Oregon’s Department of Land Conservation and Development rejecting the project.
“I want to see what the state of Oregon said,” McNamee said at the hearing in Washington, D.C. “It needs to be considered carefully.”
McNamee said he expected to be able to vote on the project next week, but “for the time being my vote is a ‘nay.’”
Commission Chair Neil Chatterjee, fully in favor of licensing the project, made it clear the matter is not finished.
“Today’s vote is not a denial,” he said. “The application remains pending.”
A Pembina spokesman released this statement Thursday afternoon:
“The Commission’s action is understandable. We also received Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development’s (DLCD) letter late last night and obviously we’ll want to review it as well….
