Bicameral group expresses support for Jordan Cove which would give Rocky Mountain states and Indian tribes the opportunity to access international markets.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) and 13 other lawmakers from Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to support the Jordan Cove liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project and complete the final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the project as soon as possible.

In a bicameral letter to FERC Chairman Cheryl LaFleur, the lawmakers expressed support for the LNG export facility at Jordan Cove in southwest Oregon. The Jordan Cove LNG export project would give Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming and Indian Tribes, such as the Ute Indian Tribe on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, the opportunity to export natural gas to overseas markets.

The lawmakers explain how Jordan Cove is currently the only LNG export project which would allow natural gas shipped from these communities to reach overseas markets.

“As FERC’s draft EIS notes, the Jordan Cove Project is the only proposed LNG export facility that would provide Rocky Mountain communities the opportunity to access overseas markets. Specifically, it would allow gas shipped on the Ruby pipeline—as well as gas shipped on the Gas Transmission Northwest pipeline—to be exported to overseas markets. Overseas markets would give producers an alternative to markets here in the United States, Canada, or Mexico. FERC has already given eastern and Gulf coast states the opportunity to access overseas markets. We believe it should give Rocky Mountain states and Indian tribes the same opportunity,” the lawmakers wrote.

The following members of the Senate signed onto the letter: Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and Mike Lee (R-UT).

The following members of the House of Representatives, led by Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), signed onto the letter: Representatives Scott Tipton (R-CO), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Mike Coffman (R-CO), Rob Bishop (R-UT), Chris Stewart (R-UT), Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), Ken Buck (R-CO), and Mia Love (R-UT).

Full text of the letter below:

January 12, 2015

The Honorable Cheryl LaFleur
Chairman
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First Street, NE
Washington, D.C. 20426

Dear Chairman LaFleur:

We write to express our strong support for the Jordan Cove Energy and Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline Project (Jordan Cove Project) proposed for Coos Bay, Oregon. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has, for the most part, completed the environmental review process for LNG export facilities located along the east coast and the Gulf of Mexico in a timely manner. We applaud FERC for its work on these projects and ask that it complete the final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Jordan Cove Project as soon as possible. The Jordan Cove Project is essential to ensure that Rocky Mountain states and Indian tribes have the opportunity to access overseas markets and enjoy the economic benefits of LNG exports.

Natural gas production serves as a foundation to the economies of Rocky Mountain states, including Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, and Indian tribes, including the Ute Indian Tribe and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. Natural gas production provides our communities with tens of thousands of good-paying jobs. For example, in Colorado, the oil and natural gas sector added 12,461 direct jobs between 2005 and 2012. That is over 12.5 percent of the total jobs Colorado employers created during this period. Natural gas production also provides state, local, and tribal governments with hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. For example, in fiscal year 2014, approximately 16 percent of general operation revenue for the State of Wyoming came from Federal mineral royalties and state severance taxes collected on natural gas production alone.

As FERC’s draft EIS notes, the Jordan Cove Project is the only proposed LNG export facility that would provide Rocky Mountain communities the opportunity to access overseas markets. Specifically, it would allow gas shipped on the Ruby pipeline—as well as gas shipped on the Gas Transmission Northwest pipeline—to be exported to overseas markets. Overseas markets would give producers an alternative to markets here in the United States, Canada, or Mexico. FERC has already given eastern and Gulf coast states the opportunity to access overseas markets. We believe it should give Rocky Mountain states and Indian tribes the same opportunity. To that end, we urge FERC to complete the final EIS for the Jordan Cove Project as soon as possible.

Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to your prompt response.

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