Tuesday, May 04, 2010

Northern Star Natural Gas Suspends Development Of Bradwood Landing Import Terminal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, May 4, 2010Contact: Charles Deister (503) 949-5762
NorthernStar Natural Gas suspends development of its Bradwood Landing LNG import terminal
PORTLAND, Ore. - NorthernStar Natural Gas has suspended development of its Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas import terminal near Astoria, Oregon. "The extended delays in the processing of state and federal permits for Bradwood Landing and the difficult investment environment have forced us to suspend development," said NorthernStar Natural Gas President Paul Soanes. "In particular, the challenging regulatory environment gives investors pause, especially considering that Bradwood Landing would have such a positive impact on the Northwest's economy and environment while supporting the region's transition to renewable energy by providing a new source of reliable and affordable natural gas." Since its inception, Bradwood has worked to ensure it will provide a significant and sustainable net benefit for the lower Columbia ecosystem, and serve as a model of sustainable development. Using best available science and recovery plans, the project included innovative measures to avoid and minimize impacts, robust mitigation, and a $59 million voluntary (but legally binding) Salmon Enhancement Initiative: the largest private investment of its kind ever proposed for the region. "While we're disappointed, we are truly grateful for the tremendous support the project received from citizens in Clatsop County and Oregon's business and labor communities," said Mr. Soanes. "Bradwood Landing is a great example of a project that business and labor came together to support. Not only would it have created hundreds of jobs, but it would have provided a needed new source of natural gas, which would have helped stabilize energy costs for thousands of businesses." Initial development work on Bradwood Landing began nearly six years ago. Bradwood is the site of the former Bradwood lumber mill, company town and has a natural deep-water port. Bradwood Landing received its FERC certificate order September 18, 2008 after an extensive scientific and technical review, which took three and a half years and included an official record in excess of 50,000 pages. On March 20, 2008, the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners approved Bradwood's consolidated land use application on a 4-1 vote after a nine-month public process. Earlier this year, Bradwood reached a key milestone when formal consultation began under the Endangered Species Act with the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Previously, the U.S. Coast Guard determined that the Columbia River could be made suitable for the LNG marine traffic associated in its record of decision dated April 24, 2009, provided full implementation of the risk mitigation measures detailed in the Waterway Suitability Report are accomplished. Those measures were included as conditions when FERC issued its Certificate Order for the Bradwood Landing LNG terminal in September 2008. Bradwood Landing's coalition of supporters included the Oregon AFL-CIO, the Columbia Pacific Building Trades Council, the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council, the Oregon Machinists Council, the Washington Machinists Council, Carpenters Local 1707, the International Longshore Workers' Union (Columbia River Oregon Area), and the Steamship Operators Association. Bradwood Landing and its associated 36.3-mile pipeline would have provided a new source of natural gas directly into the Oregon and Washington natural gas market. It would have created more than 450 jobs over three years of construction and 65 permanent jobs while contributing more than $7.8 million annually in taxes to Clatsop County. An analysis of the effects of increased natural gas supply by former University of Oregon economist Dr. Phil Romero, showed that Bradwood Landing could reduce the wholesale cost of natural gas by 13 percent. Dr. Romero's analysis showed this decrease in energy costs would help support the creation of between 5,100 and 20,300 jobs.
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Charles H. Deister Director, Media and Government Relations NorthernStar Natural Gas (503) 949-5762 CDeister@NSNG.com

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

It was just on the news on ch 26 and also:
http://blogs.wweek.com/news/2010/05/04/lng-developer-throws-in-towel/

Anonymous said...

terrible news....it would have been such an economic boon to the area

Anonymous said...

you didnt get a call from anyone, you read it on NCO..

Patrick McGee said...

"Anonymous said...
you didnt get a call from anyone, you read it on NCO.


Good Lord in heaven!!!

Do I smell an NCO investigative report upcoming on who actually got the NSNG P.R. first?

You now can read the full Press Release at your leisure.

You can be comforted that Bartoldus/NCO's report got some air time on Lars Larson today, unfortunately, it seemed, the NSNG/Bradwood talking head really couldn't confirm any of the information in the alleged article as being factual though.

Charles said...

You're an idiot McGee, as always.

The press release contains the facts, pure and simple. It was because of finances, pure and simple.

As a supporter of this project from the get-go, I feel a bit of vindication knowing it wasn't because of the "opposition", although I'm sure they'll spin it that way.

They might have had a small part of it, by appeal after appeal, etc., but in the end, it all came down to the economic downturn.

Patrick McGee said...

And you are still unhappy Charles but yes, the prime reason in my view...."In particular, the challenging regulatory environment gives investors pause" and the unrelenting commitment of those that truly believe that this process does not belong here but, if "Economic Downturn" justifies it to you then so be it.

Now, where do we go from here Charles?

Clatsopian said...

A crooked scheme comes to an end.
They bought themselves a couple commissioners, a radio station, a "business journal" and it still didn't work.
Don't let the door hit you on your butt on your way back to Texas!

Anonymous said...

of course the antis will spin it that it was their efforts (in a poor climate for investors) that undid Bradwood. They will need to thump that line to get more contributions. Well, at least the riverkeepers and Foster are going to go down with Bradwood, and hopefully Kroger. Call it collateral damages

Bill said...

It was a good fight. I certainly hope the anti LNG people, like Roger Rocka, Jan Mitchel, Patrick McGee, the Loris and Steve Forrester pat themselves on the back for their success. I also hope they raise their hands and take responsibility when the office Bradwood rents is vacant for months, Astoria businesses continue to leave and the county continues its decline into poverty. Bet they won't though. They will just slink back into their little holes and blame others.

Patrick McGee said...

"Bill said...
It was a good fight. I certainly hope the anti LNG people, like Roger Rocka, Jan Mitchel, Patrick McGee, the Loris and Steve Forrester pat themselves on the back for their success."


Well, thank you "Bill" but, there really is no victory here other than "Right" Willing Out" and quite frankly and I don't know what the rest feel, I was in it to the end and surely didn't ask Northern Star/Bradwood Landing to file for "Baunkruptcy"(You do know what "Bankruptcy" means don't you "Bill?") yesterday afternoon, obviously, shorlty after they released their Press Release bagging the entire project.

Sorry.

Anonymous said...

I was in it to the end

You wernt "in" anything, McGee, but your own head. You never attended a hearing nor contributed any money, joined any group. You're just a mouth

Patrick McGee said...

"Anonymous said...
I was in it to the end

You wernt "in" anything, McGee, but your own head. You never attended a hearing nor contributed any money, joined any group. You're just a mouth"


I was in it the entire time, doing exactly what I was doing, still doing so and here you are, still "Anonymous" so, your point would be?

Anonymous said...

"...doing exactly what I was doing"


BWAHAHAHAH!! Unless you consider having conversations with your imaginary friends "doing" something, you wern't doing jack. You're just a stoned out keyboard monkey without a life

Patrick McGee said...

"Anonymous said...
"...doing exactly what I was doing"

BWAHAHAHAH!! Unless you consider having conversations with your imaginary friends "doing" something, you wern't doing jack. You're just a stoned out keyboard monkey without a life"


And..I still am and it's still working and thank you for confirming that I have not wasted my time in doing so.

"Wernt", by the way is spelt "Weren't".

Anonymous said...

Some are saying it's more than mere coincidence that of "The Big Three" meaning the 3 most influential players in the downfall of Bradwood that only McGee has escaped scandal. Kroger and Foster are both beset by scandal that will result in charges but so far McGee is unscathed.

Patrick McGee said...

Anonymous said... Some are saying it's more than mere coincidence that of "The Big Three" meaning the 3 most influential players in the downfall of Bradwood that only McGee has escaped scandal. Kroger and Foster are both beset by scandal that will result in charges but so far McGee is unscathed.

Just remember you made the insinuation, I didn't.

Anonymous said...

Will, the Governor, Kroger and McGee be having a meeting soon to figure out a strategy to make Juicegate disappear? Inquiring minds want to know!