Federal Regulators Approve Expansion of Natural Gas Pipeline Despite West Coast Climate Concerns

Federal regulators have greenlit the expansion of a natural gas pipeline in the Pacific Northwest over the objections of environmental groups and top officials in West Coast states. The project, known as GTN Xpress, would increase the capacity of the Gas Transmission Northwest pipeline by about 150 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. Critics argue that the expansion would hinder the region's efforts to address climate change and could pose a wildfire risk.

Key Takeaways:

• The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the GTN Xpress project, which aims to expand the capacity of the Gas Transmission Northwest pipeline by 150 million cubic feet of natural gas per day.
• Environmental groups, including Columbia Riverkeeper, criticized the decision, calling it a "rubber stamp of unnecessary fracked gas in the Northwest."
• The project's approval was opposed by Washington's Democratic governor, California's Democratic attorney general, and the Democratic U.S. Senators from Washington and Oregon, who described it as "incompatible with our climate laws."
• The energy agency's chairman, Willie Phillips, said that there was no evidence presented that the project would significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions.
• The compressor stations would be located in non-forested areas with low to moderate fire hazard, according to the federal agency's final assessment.
• Environmental groups accused the energy agency of failing to adequately address the harm caused by the project, including the use of fracking to extract natural gas.

Statistics:

• The GTN Xpress project would result in more than 1.73 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year for at least the next three decades, according to the agency's final environmental assessment.
• The assessment also found that the project would have limited adverse impacts on the environment, with most impacts being temporary or short-term.
• The pipeline runs for 1,377 miles from the Canadian border into Washington state and Oregon.
• Oregon, Washington, and California have set laws requiring utilities to transition to 100% clean electricity sources by 2040 and 2045, respectively.

Sources:

• "Federal regulators approve expansion of natural gas pipeline despite West Coast climate concerns." The Associated Press, [no publication date].
• "GTN Xpress project: Final Environmental Assessment." Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, November 2022.
• "Oregon, Washington and California pass laws to transition to 100% clean electricity." The Associated Press, [no publication date].