Salinas Pens Letter Opposing GTN Xpress Pipeline
Tigard, OR – On October 6, 2023, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) delivered a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) expressing her opposition to TC Energy’s proposed Gas Transmission Northwest Express (“GTN XPress”) pipeline. The letter comes ahead of a planned FERC meeting on Thursday to consider TC Energy’s request for a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) for the proposed expansion. Salinas joined several Oregon elected officials in opposing the project because of its potential negative impact on climate change and the environment.
“I join Governor Kotek, Senators Wyden, Merkley, Representative Blumenauer, and Attorney General Rosenblum in opposition to the proposed GTN XPress Project,” writes Salinas. “It is antithetical to Oregon’s ongoing efforts to transition away from fossil fuels and to combat climate change. This project, if approved, will increase the volume of fracked gas by 150 million cubic feet per day.”
Salinas emphasized concerns that the pipeline expansion likely fails to comply with Oregon’s clean energy laws and ultimately does not serve the public interest.
“We are witnessing the real impacts of climate change every year on the West Coast, characterized by severe heatwaves and an increase in wildfires,” continues Salinas. “Given these circumstances, I cannot, in good conscience, support a project that would contribute to an increase in fossil fuel usage and potentially accelerate climate change.”
Read the full letter below or click here.
Dear Acting Chairman Phillips and Commissioners Christie, Clements, and Danly:
I urge the Commission to reject TC Energy’s request for a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) for the Gas Transmission Northwest Express (“GTN XPress”) pipeline. Based on the information presented in Docket No. CP22-2-000, it is evident that the proposed GTN XPress pipeline expansion does not serve the public interest.
I join Governor Kotek, Senators Wyden, Merkley, Representative Blumenauer, and Attorney General Rosenblum in opposition to the proposed GTN XPress Project. It is antithetical to Oregon’s ongoing efforts to transition away from fossil fuels and to combat climate change. This project, if approved, will increase the volume of fracked gas by 150 million cubic feet per day.
The state Attorneys General from Oregon, Washington, and California have collectively called upon the Federal Energy Regulation Commission to deny the proposed expansion over concerns about the inadequacy of the environmental review and the inability to demonstrate sufficient evidence of a public need. According to Governor Kotek, this project fails to comply with Oregon’s clean energy laws and regulations.
We are witnessing the real impacts of climate change every year on the West Coast, characterized by severe heatwaves and an increase in wildfires. Given these circumstances, I cannot, in good conscience, support a project that would contribute to an increase in fossil fuel usage and potentially accelerate climate change.
Sincerely,
Andrea Salinas
Member of Congress
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