Project Benefits
Oregon now imports approximately 80 percent of its natural gas from Canada, a situation that can’t be sustained because Canada is consuming a greater share of its own natural gas production.
In the meantime, Oregon’s need for natural gas is increasing as the state’s population and economy grow. Wind, solar and other renewable energy sources require more firm power to balance the times when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine. This firm power need is best filled by natural gas, the cleanest fossil fuel.
Jordan Cove – Pacific Connector: The best option
At Coos Bay, the Jordan Cove terminal would off-load the LNG from tankers and store it. The LNG would be restored to a natural gas state before being shipped through the Pacific Connector pipeline to Malin, linking up to other transmission and distribution pipelines along the way.
Much of the natural gas would power businesses and heat homes in Oregon, with the remainder supplying the needs of Washington, Nevada and northern California.
The Jordan Cove – Pacific Connector project will provide southwest Oregon with both a new source of natural gas and additional capacity to the existing natural gas transmission system.
An Economic Boost for Southwest Oregon
The project will provide an economic boost for southwest Oregon during construction and after completion of the project. The project offers numerous benefits, including new jobs, new tax revenue, new economic activity and new industry
New Jobs
During the three years of construction, the LNG terminal will employ an average of 450 people. During the two-year construction period for the proposed pipeline, Pacific Connector will employ an average of 1,400 people. Once operational, the project will employ approximately 60 people, plus another 60 directly related to the project.
New Tax Revenue
The project will pay an estimated $19 million annually in property taxes to the four counties where the proposed project would be located (Coos, Douglas, Jackson and Klamath). Coos County will receive $13 million annually, and $6 million will be divided annually among the three remaining counties. These new revenues will flow to schools, fire departments, hospitals, police departments, roads and other public services.
New Industry
An assured natural gas supply at stable prices would improve Coos Bay and southwest Oregon’s ability to attract new industry and boost economic activity.
Local Support
An independent public opinion survey conducted in late 2008 showed more than 3-to-! Support for the project across the four counties where the pipeline would be located.
The survey found that 56 percent of the respondents favored the LNG terminal, compared with only 16 percent who opposed it. A similar number—54 percent—favored the pipeline, with only 16 percent in opposition. The rest were undecided.
Support was relatively even across Coos, Douglas, Jackson and Klamath counties. Survey respondents who supported the project cited the creation of new jobs and additional energy sources as the primary reasons to build the project.
The survey was conducted by Moore Information, an independent public-opinion research firm based in Portland, Ore. It was conducted by telephone among a representative sample of 400 voters, including 100 in each of the four counties.
