Wyden, Manchin, Cantwell, Feinstein Introduce Legislation to Help Prevent Catastrophic Wildfires
“We’ve grown leaps and bounds in our ability to collect climate data, particularly in the last 30 years since we’ve had satellites,” says Zeke Hausfather, a climate scientist at the Breakthrough Institute, a think tank in Oakland, California. “But at the end of the day, we need to know what is likely to happen in the next few decades and the rest of the century and centuries to come. And for that, you need some sort of model.” Meet the team shaking up climate models – (link to article in The Christian Science Monitor)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
CONTACT:
Allie Rosenbluth, 541-816-2240, allie@rogueclimate.org
Andrew Hawley, Western Environmental Law Center, 206-487-7250, hawley@westernlaw.org
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Upholds Oregon’s Denial of Key Jordan Cove LNG Permit
Potentially fatal blow for fracked gas export terminal and pipeline proposed in Oregon
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) upheld the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s denial of a key permit for the proposed Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline. The Jordan Cove LNG project cannot move forward without a Clean Water Act approval from the state of Oregon.
This is the latest in a series of regulatory losses for Jordan Cove LNG, representing a huge blow to the 15-year-old proposal that has been vehemently opposed by Tribes, impacted landowers, fishermen, climate advocates, and others. The project has also not qualified for other critical state, federal, and local permits needed to move forward.
In its summary of today’s meeting, FERC wrote:
“The order finds that Jordan Cove and Pacific Connector never requested certification with respect to the Commission authorizations for the Jordan Cove Energy Project and that the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality could not have waived its authority to issue certification for a request it never received.”
“The FERC decision is very encouraging. It is certainly our hope that Pembina will give up on this devastating project once and for all,” said Chairman Don Gentry of the Klamath, Modoc, and Yahooskin Tribes.
“The evidence in the record was clear, FERC had no choice other than to deny Pembina’s request to waive Oregon’s 401 water quality authority,” said impacted Douglas County landower Stacey McLaughlin. “Any approach to seeking approval of its Pacific Connector Pipeline and Jordan Cove Energy Project without proper permits compromises the safety of Oregon’s landowners. Pembina is proving it cannot be trusted—this is not a characteristic seen in a ‘good neighbor.’”
“The headwinds for the Jordan Cove project continue to blow strongly. FERC’s decision to uphold Oregon’s authority to deny a water quality certification for the project demonstrates that measures are in place to protect the Coos Bay estuary and rivers of southern Oregon,” said marine biologist and Coos County resident Dr. Jan Hodder.
“Today’s unanimous FERC decision shows that when our communities come together and speak out, we win! Thousands of southern Oregonians have raised their voices to stop this project for years and will continue to until the threat of Jordan Cove LNG is gone for good,” said Hannah Sohl, executive director of Rogue Climate. “Now we must focus on creating good, local jobs in clean energy and energy efficiency in Oregon.”
“Today’s decision is a huge win for clean water and healthy communities who’ve been fighting this harmful project for nearly 15 years,” said Robyn Janssen, director of Rogue Riverkeeper. “FERC’s decision to uphold Oregon’s 401 denial gives me hope that this is the end for Jordan Cove LNG.”
“Today’s decision confirms Oregon’s right to protect its communities and waters from big polluters like the proposed Jordan Cove liquefied natural gas terminal and pipeline,” said Andrew Hawley, attorney at the Western Environmental Law Center. “We have battled this harmful behemoth for decades and defeated it at every turn. With everything we know today about climate change this project must never again rise from the ashes.”
“Jordan Cove LNG would have threatened the drinking water of nearly 160,000 Oregonians. Today’s FERC decision is a win for public health,” said Damon Motz-Storey, Healthy Climate Program director at Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility. “Oregon’s right to deny Clean Water Act permits on the basis of unacceptable harm to our water resources is vitally important. This is a day to celebrate.”
“For 15 years this climate-polluting proposal threatened landowners, waterways, forests and imperiled species across southern Oregon,” said Dylan Plummer, grassroots organizer with Cascadia Wildlands. “Today, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief, and tomorrow we will redouble our efforts to end this project for good.”
“The latest rejection of the Jordan Cove project is yet another victory for our clean water and our communities. We’ve said time and again that this project will never be built, and today’s announcement is just further proof of that,” said Sierra Club senior attorney Nathan Matthews.
“Jordan Cove LNG was poised to become the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in our state of Oregon should it have been approved, responsible for 15 times more emissions than the now-closed Boardman coal plant’s annual emissions. This project was a disaster in waiting for the climate and communities in its path, and today’s news from FERC is a welcome relief after years of fighting this dirty project,” said David Turnbull, strategic communications director at Oil Change International. “Let’s hope this is the start of a new era at FERC, where communities and our climate are protected rather than ignored in the face of industry demands.”
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It may only be February, but 2020 is already “virtually certain” to be among the 10 warmest years on record, and has nearly a 50 percent chance of being the warmest ever, scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Thursday.
The predictions follow a January that was the warmest ever in 141 years of record keeping, Karin Gleason, a climatologist with the National Centers for Environmental Information, said in a conference call. Global average temperatures last month were 2.05 degrees Fahrenheit (1.14 degrees Celsius) above average, slightly higher than in January 2016, the previous record-holder.
In comparing this year with previous years, Ms. Gleason said, one way to look at it is “we completed the first lap in a 12-lap race, and we are in the lead.”
“According to our probability statistics, it’s virtually certain that 2020 will rank among the top 10 years on record,” she said. Their analysis also showed a 49 percent chance of this year being the warmest ever, and a greater than 98 percent likelihood it will rank in the top five.
The forecasts are in keeping with a long-term trend of global warming that is occurring as a result of human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. All of the 10 current warmest years on record have occurred since 2004, and the past five years have been the hottest five. Last year was only slightly cooler than 2016, the hottest year ever.
The record warmth in January was all the more remarkable because it occurred when the world was no longer in the midst of an El Niño event.
An El Niño, which is linked to warmer than average sea-surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, can affect weather patterns worldwide and also lead to generally warmer temperatures. A strong El Niño during the first half of 2016, for example, contributed to the record temperatures that year.
But the latest El Niño ended last year, and ocean temperatures in the Pacific have returned to much closer to normal. “We’re in sort of new territory here with a record in a non-El Niño month,” Ms. Gleason said.
Jan. 15, 2020
Feb. 8, 2020
April 9, 2019
The Democratic Party of Oregon Environmental Caucus and many other groups have worked hard on the Clean Energy Jobs bill. The current version SB 1530 has flaws but is supported with some reservation by the majority of the Executive Committee of the Caucus. We strongly urge you to make your voice heard.
We’ve created an overview of the bill and recommendations for improvement. Please download and share. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v16tKK6NtF_y2HWSkmupS6wI5W2LdUxs/view?usp=sharing
Main points:
TAKE ACTION: Please take one of the actions below.
Tuesday, February 4: Public testimony on the Cap and Trade bill, SB 1530, before the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources; 3 – 5pm. State Capitol 900 Court St NE, Hearing Room C. Arrive early
Wednesday, February 5: Hearing before the Senate Wildfire Reduction and Recovery Committee. 1-3pm State Capitol, Hearing Room B. Read the letter we signed onto. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1f_AH762iWxjFZAiGI3Sx4DMEtb_6R1ig/view?usp=sharing
Thursday, February 6: Press Conference at Renew Oregon office in Portland, 222 NW Davis, 3rd Floor, 10 AM. RSVP here! We need to pack the room. There will be an excellent photo opportunity with a tremendous group of children.
Renew Oregon’s “Social Media Storm” for strong climate action on Twitter and Facebook from 8am-2pm from wherever you are. Use these hashtags #orleg #orpol #ORClimateAction
Hearing Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources; 3 – 5pm, State Capitol, Hearing Room C. This is the day of the Timber Unity Rally and the Oregon Public Health Association Lobby Day at the Capitol so if you plan to attend be sure to arrive early. Send testimony to senr.exhibits@oregonlegislature.gov
Saturday, February 8: The third (and likely final) opportunity for public testimony before the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources; 3-5 pm, State Capitol 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301, Hearing Room C. If you’ve been unable to attend weekday hearings, here’s your probably one and only opportunity for attending a weekend hearing. RSVP here! Be sure to arrive early and grab a seat when the committee room opens.
February 11: Call your Senator’s office and make an appointment for February if you’re going to Salem. Otherwise leave a message in support of SB 1530 and climate action now using our talking points. Rally for a strong cap and invest bill on the steps of the Capitol. Noon – 1:30. RSVP here! Bring your climate action signs, buttons, and hats!
Carpooling? Riders and Drivers > http://bit.ly/climatecarpool
Reply if you can be a lead to make appointments for a contingent for your district.
Send your personalized testimony now to senr.exhibits@oregonlegislature.gov. Copy your state legislators.
For our future,
Catherine Thomasson
Secretary, Environmental Caucus of DPO
503-819-1170
According to OPB.org, Milwaukie is the first city in Oregon to declare a Climate Emergency.
Members of the Climate Mobilization Project are collecting signatures on our petition to encourage the Josephine County Commissioners, the Grants Pass City Council, and the Cave Junction City Council to develop Climate Emergency Plans of their own. Look for us at the upcoming Logan Will Ultimate Challenge and KS Wild’s Siskiyou FilmFest, both at Grants Pass High School, and other events throughout the year. Show our local government leaders that you are concerned about this climate emergency and want them to take action now to save the planet for our children and grandchildren.
The Environmental Caucus will be gathering signatures on our petition at two upcoming events. The purpose of our petition is to encourage the Josephine County Commissioners, the Grants Pass City Council, and the Cave Junction City Council to declare a Climate Emergency and develop Climate Emergency Programs to do their part to reduce or eliminate negative impacts on the climate to help reduce or reverse climate change.
We will be at the Logan Will Ultimate Challenge at Grants Pass High School on Friday, January 31st, and Saturday, February 1st. The Logan Will Ultimate Challenge is a debate tournament sponsored by the National Speech & Debate Association. There will be between 300 and 400 entries from 20 schools. You will have an opportunity to see the brightest and the best of our youth in action. In fact, a new member of our caucus will be in the competition. We will have a table and chairs, clipboards, pens, and petitions in the commons. If we have enough help we can take turns watching the competition.
We will be at KS Wild’s Siskiyou FilmFest at the Grants Pass High School Performing Arts Center on Sunday, February 9th from 3 to 8 pm. They always have a great lineup of nature and conservation documentaries of various lengths. There are 10 on the schedule for this year. Again, if we have enough help, we can take turns watching the films.
We can use your help collecting signatures on our petition at these events. If you would like to help, call Rick Flora at 949-463-7710 or email me at rflora@rflora.com.
The Environmental Caucus will be meeting from 1:30 to 3:00 pm on Thursday, January 30th at the JoCo Dems headquarters on 7th and C streets to prepare for these events. Please join us.
Pembina has withdrawn their application for a permit to dredge Coos Bay in preparation for their planned Jordan Cove LNG Terminal. What, on the surface, appears to be great news may just be another tactic by Pembina to get around providing information detrimental to the advancement of this project. For more information go to the Oregon Public Broadcasting article by Liam Moriarty.
For a short discussion of the fight against the Jordan Cove LNG Terminal and the Pacific Connector Pipeline check out this excellent article by Rogue Climate’s Allie Rosenbluth.
Come to the Fry Family Farm in Medford to hear a presentation by Oregon Climate and Agriculture Network (OrCAN) and Southern Oregon Climate Action Now (SOCAN) on Climate and Agriculture in the Legislature. The presentation will be from 4:00 to 5:30 pm on Friday, January 24, 2020.
When Oregon lawmakers convene in February of 2020 for a lightning-fast legislative session, they will reconsider state-wide policy approaches to curb Oregon’s climate pollution from our largest emitters.
Oregon Climate and Agriculture Network’s highest priority is engaging the agriculture community in advocating for a strong climate policy that recognizes the value of our farms and ranches in this fight.
Learn more about this policy and the opportunities for agriculture as part of the solution.
Oregon’s farms and ranches will play an important role in any climate change solution in Oregon. And the time is now for our legislators to step up to ensure a resilient future for Oregon.
For Oregon Climate and Agriculture Network, a successful policy must include the following:
· A limit on greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon
· Voluntary incentives for climate-friendly agricultural practices
· Investments in farmworker health and safety
They will cover:
· Up-to-date information on state-wide climate policy proposals and the opportunities for agriculture
· Q & A
· How you can get involved
For more information go to Climate and Agriculture in the Legislature.
On December 7, 2019, the Environmental Caucus collected 43 more signatures at the Pacifica Art and Music Festival on our Climate Emergency Mobilization Project petition requesting local governments to develop climate emergency programs. As soon as we feel we have enough signatures on our petition to demonstrate the overarching concern of the citizens of Josephine County, we will take those signatures to the Josephine County Commissioners, the Grants Pass City Council, and the Cave Junction City Council and ask them each to develop a climate emergency program, using the resources and regulatory authority available to them, that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their jurisdiction as low as possible with a goal of reaching zero emissions in 10 years or less. This is a worldwide program. Countries, states, provinces, counties, cities, and other governmental entities across the globe have already developed their own environmental emergency programs and are working diligently to comply with them. We want our respective governments in Josephine County to do the same.
Join me and thank Vanessa Ogier, Gene Mount, Lynda Spangler, Joe Stodola, and Kathy Svendsen for giving up a large chunk of their Saturday to collect signatures on this cold, rainy day. We were all dressed warmly, in a large tent with a central bonfire, surrounded by a great group of people. All in all, it was a lot of fun, even though most of the people at the festival didn’t make it out to the tent, resulting in the paltry number of signatures. Most of those that did come to the tent were very enthusiastic about signing the petition. They see climate change as a very real, very serious problem and they want our local governments to act now. Very encouraging! We will be doing this several more times in 2020. We would love to have your help collecting signatures for this very important project. Rick Flora