A Canadian company is planning a project to increase the capacity of its pipeline to carry natural gas across the Northwest.
TC Energy wants modify compressor stations along the Northwest Gas Transmission Pipeline in Oregon, Washington and Idaho to get about 150,000 extra dekatherm of gas flowing through the region per day – enough to meet the daily energy needs about half an average American.
The company says in its application for approval from the Federal Commission for Energy Regulation that the project is necessary to meet the needs of Northwest energy consumers, but the opponent of the expansion ignores the growing trend towards renewable power sources such as wind , solar and hydropower. .
Erin Saylor, a staff attorney with environmental group Columbia Riverkeeper, says the region is moving away from its dependence on natural gas extracted through the use of hydraulic fracturing or fracking.
“These pipeline projects typically have a projected lifespan of 30 years or more,” says Saylor, “which means this project will lock up our region in constant confidence in fracked gas whether we like it or not. is.”
A map created by TC Energy outlines the route of the natural gas pipeline the company is proposing to expand.
TC Energy
Much more is composed of natural gas Oregon electric mixer in recent years as the state gradually phased out coal. Natural gas drove about a quarter of Oregon’s electricity usage in 2019, compared to 12% in 2012.
When burned for energy, natural gas it generates less greenhouse gas emissions than coal, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, which is part of the reason its appeal grew. However, methane leakage associated with the production, transportation and storage of natural gas can occur rapidly destroy those benefits. It is methane in itself extremely powerful greenhouse gas.
Oregon and Washington have all recently passed legislation significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electricity suppliers. Power suppliers in Oregon have until 2040 to achieve their zero emissions, and Washington utilities have until 2045 to be carbon – free.
“We expect gas demand to decline significantly,” says Saylor, “which means that all this gas they are planning to push into our region will not be necessary.”
TC Energy did not respond to calls and emails seeking comments.
The company is seeking permission from FERC to upgrade compressor stations in Sherman County, Oregon; across the Columbia River in Walla Walla County, Washington; and further north in Kootenai County, Idaho.
In his application, TC Energy says the project will provide gas to meet “increased market demand driven by residential, commercial and industrial customers in the Pacific Northwest.” TC Energy is the parent company of Gas Transmission Northwest LLC, or GTN, which owns the pipeline of the same name.
“The benefits of the proposed GTN Project far outweigh its potential negative impacts,” the application says.
TC Energy has urged FERC to approve the project by 14 October.
The agency must determine whether the pipeline expansion is in the public interest to approve the project. This week, FERC update the policies guide those decisions on natural gas projects.
The changes enable the agency to more accurately reflect on the contribution of projects to climate change as well as its potential impact on landowners and environmental justice.
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