[Grovenet] Gas Lines are not fun

Tue Jan 29 20:27:28 PST 2008

David asked:
Since the pipe is going to Molalla, I wonder if it is indeed heading  
for California.  If so, why not locate the terminal it somewhere near  
San Francisco or Los Angeles?

--------------------------------
1) Oregon will need that gas, eventually. We are growing very fast here in
the 'sticks'.

2) What's wrong with providing energy infrastructure, business and jobs here
instead of in other places? From the Coos Bay report:

The proposed LNG facility for Coos County, during 2016 (a typical
operating year), will supply 292 billion cubic feet of natural gas into
the market. Natural gas prices on the western side of Oregon would be
less than if LNG were to be brought into a port in California....

Overall, Oregonians would save $17.0 million in 2016 on their energy
bills if the terminal were built in Coos County instead of California.
Local businesses in the State would save $31.5 million. Savings of this
magnitude will occur each year the terminal operates.

Since natural gas is the primary source of industrial hydrogen, the
availability of LNG at Coos Bay could stimulate the development of a
hydrogen industry. Hydrogen is a non-polluting fuel.

Statewide, the terminal would raise annual employment by 1,173 and,
in the year 2016, total economic output would be $488 million greater.

Investments of the size and nature of the LNG terminal fundamentally alter
the economic landscape allowing new employers to establish themselves that
would otherwise have never considered Coos County. What had formerly been an
isolated, high-energy cost county would become a better location for
industries.
LNG would lower the cost of energy and assure consumers of a secure, ample
supply of natural gas. The flow of ships would enhance the economic
viability of
the Port of Coos Bay and further improve the area's attractiveness as a
business
location. Together, these would expand the range of goods and services that
could
logically be produced in Coos County.

Economists call this effect an expansion of the production possibility
frontier.
Effectively, it means that the possibilities for how the economy can grow
are
fundamentally improved by the permanent advantage in energy costs that Coos
County would enjoy because of the LNG terminal. This triggers a series of
changes in the structure of the economy as new businesses emerge.

http://www.scdcinc.org/documents/ECONW-SCDC-LNG-Impacts.pdf

----------------------------------

I'm reminded of the studies of a few years ago reported in the Oregonian
that pointed out that the growth in Oregon, economically and in population,
is occurring outside of the Portland metro area, which includes Forest
Grove.

Here in Newport that has become very obvious. In the six months or so we've
lived here we have seen:

1) Studies and testing of wave energy systems that can help enhance our
power supply, enthusiastically endorsed by locals. 

2) Breaking ground for a new college campus in South Beach.

3) Further expansion of the Newport Airport, which already provides
scheduled services via Harbor Air to major regional airports from Seattle to
Los Angeles. 

4) A large new industrial complex being developed on the south side of
Yaquina bay in the part of South Beach that is within Newport city limits
(and near the airport). 

5) Implementation of a program to bring cruise ships into Newport, complete
with facilities in Yaquina harbor and a strong interest in home-basing at
least one cruise ship here. The interest is in attracting "eco-cruises" that
use smaller ships (300 feet and under) that have grown in popularity in
recent years. 

6) New housing starts evident almost everywhere. It's hard to drive a mile
without seeing signs for lots for sale for homes or new homes for sale. The
so-called "housing slump" doesn't exist here. 

Those are just a few of the things I've noticed personally here in the
limited time I've had to look around over the past six months. The area has
very much the feeling of being a "boom town". After living so long in the
Portland area, I have to check my license plates to be sure I'm still in
Oregon <G>. 

With those things is the interest in having more reliable and more plentiful
energy to run our homes and businesses. And, if we can sell some to
California in the process, so much the better. 

Ron D'Eau Claire 

-----Original Message-----
From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com] On
Behalf Of David Morelli
Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 6:21 PM
To: Forest Grove local interests list
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] Gas Lines are not fun

On Jan 29, 2008, at 4:48 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:
>
> For what it's worth, here are some of the FAQ's from
> www.oregonlng.com :

Perhaps you already know the status of the Coos County LNG terminal,  
I haven't looked yet.  The article of economic benefits says that the  
Coos terminal can exceed the demand for Natural Gas in the state of  
Oregon.  If it is going to be built, who needs the gas proposed to  
land at Warrenton?

Since the pipe is going to Molalla, I wonder if it is indeed heading  
for California.  If so, why not locate the terminal it somewhere near  
San Francisco or Los Angeles?

David
_______________________________________________
GroveNet mailing list
GroveNet at rdrop.com http://www.rdrop.com/mailman/listinfo/grovenet