March 19, 2020 5:00 p.m. (updated 3/20/20 at 4:00 a.m.) 
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the Jordan Cove LNG project on Thursday.
The decision was made by a 2-1 vote.
A release from Pembina Pipeline called the federal approval, “a significant milestone” in its efforts to build both a liquified natural gas terminal and a pipeline.
The Canadian company acquired Jordan Cove in 2017 and has been working to obtain regulatory approvals on the federal, state and local levels. The project includes a 229-mile pipeline that would go through parts of 4 counties as it travels from Malin to Coos Bay where an LNG export terminal would be located. Backers say the project would create a new outlet for natural gas from areas such as the Rockies Basin.
Pembina’s release called Jordan Cove, “environmentally responsible” and it should be permitted given that “a prudent regulatory and legal process was undertaken”. That’s according to Harry Andersen, Pembina’s Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer.
Stacey McLaughlin, part of a group of landowners that oppose the project called the FERC decision, a violation of the constitutional rights of those landowners. McLaughlin said the group includes over 90 landowners. She said they are against “Pembina’s ability to seize their land for private profits”. McLaughlin said they believe FERC’s approval is illegal and “denies landowners the due process rights guaranteed under the United States Constitution”.
Ron Schaaf, whose Klamath County land is on the pipeline route, said “evidence in the record clearly indicates this Canadian project is anything but in the U.S. public interest”. He said the decision will be challenged.
Oregon Governor Kate Brown said the project does not have a green light from state agencies. She said it was denied a clean water permit by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Brown said Pembina withdrew their permit applications to the Department of State Lands and received an objection from the Department of Land Conservation and Development stating the project is inconsistent with the Coastal Zone Management Act. Brown said currently several key permits do not have active applications. Brown said until the project has received every single permit required by state and local agencies, “I will use every tool to prevent the company from taking early action on condemning private property or clearing land”.
Senator Ron Wyden came out against the decision. Wyden said the process to get to this point, is “clearly rigged” and “designed to advance Trump-McConnell corporate interests over Oregonians”. He said he now has to oppose the project.