“We’re going to keep bringing attention to this expansion proposal as our region works hard to tackle the climate crisis.” -Ana Molina, Columbia Riverkeeper
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1,000 Voices Urge the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to Deny GTN XPress Pipeline Capacity Expansion
Columbia Riverkeeper and allies submit 1000 petitions and comments telling FERC the GTN XPress Project is contrary to the public interest.
Portland, Ore. (August 22, 2022) – Today, Columbia Riverkeeper and allies submitted over 1,000 signatures and comments to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) explaining that the GTN XPress Project expansion is contrary to the public interest. In a significant decision, the Washington Attorney General’s Office also weighed in on GTN’s proposal, filing a motion to intervene and opposing the GTN Pipeline capacity expansion. TC Energy, the Canadian oil and gas company behind the Keystone XL Pipeline, proposes to expand capacity on its Gas Transmission Northwest (GTN) pipeline by 150,000 dekatherms per day.
“I’m excited to see the continued outpouring of support for fighting fossil fuel expansion here in the Pacific Northwest,” said Ana Molina, field manager at Columbia Riverkeeper. “We’re going to keep bringing attention to this expansion proposal as our region works hard to tackle the climate crisis.”
FERC calculates the project could increase greenhouse gas emissions in Washington by 3.8%, Oregon by 7.7%, or Idaho by 16% every year. Washington and Oregon laws require decreasing emissions by 95% and 75%, respectively, by 2050.
The petition, signed by 1,140 people from the Northwest and nationally, has been live on the Columbia Riverkeeper website since July 2022 when FERC issued the Draft Environmental Impact Statement on June 30, 2022.
Columbia Riverkeeper has closely tracked the FERC process and has submitted multiple sets of comments urging FERC to require TC Energy to disclose the full scope of its proposed expansion.
Resources:
- Columbia Riverkeeper Web Page: Inside Scoop On Latest Fracked Gas Threat
- KBOO Interview: Not Another Fracked Gas Pipeline Expansion!
- OPB Article: Pipeline expansion would increase the flow of natural gas through the Northwest
- Sightline Article: The Pipeline Giant Behind Keystone Xl Wants To Expand A Major Fracked Gas Pipeline In Cascadia
- DeSmog Article: The Pacific Northwest Has Defeated Dozens of Fossil Fuel Projects — But the Industry Still Wants to Quietly Expand
GTN, which is wholly owned by TC Pipelines, LP, operates a 1,353 mile long interstate natural gas pipeline system that transports West Canadian Sedimentary Basin (WCSB) and Rocky Mountain-source natural gas to third-party natural gas pipelines and markets in Washington, Oregon, and California.
