Dear Friend, We did it! In the face of sustained public pressure and multiple legal challenges led by Columbia Riverkeeper, Perennial-WindChaser LLC has abandoned its plan to build a new fracked gas power plant in Umatilla County, OR. This is a huge win for our climate—if constructed, Perennial’s fracked gas plant would have been one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases in the State of Oregon. |
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This victory comes after months of investigative and legal work by Columbia Riverkeeper. Last summer, knowing Perennial’s deadline to start construction was fast approaching, we reached out to the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) to ask if Perennial had applied to push back that deadline. What we discovered was shocking: ODOE’s plan to illegally waive many of the preconstruction requirements in Perennial’s site certificate to allow the corporation to construct the facility in phases—starting with an access bridge and road. We immediately filed two lawsuits: one against ODOE and Perennial for their illegal phased construction plan, and another against Perennial for starting work on its “road to nowhere” without a construction stormwater permit. Perennial’s decision to pull the plug on the project came on the eve of oral argument in one of these cases. Your support of Columbia Riverkeeper powered this incredible victory for our climate! And it gets better. Perennial WindChaser could be the last fracked gas power plant in Oregon. The 100% Clean Energy For All bill (HR 2021) currently before the Oregon State Legislature includes a provision that would prohibit new dirty fossil fuel generating facilities. With incredible leadership from the Oregon Clean Energy Opportunity campaign, we’re working hard to fight for climate justice. Together we can accomplish great things! Onward, |
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Erin Saylor, Staff Attorney erin@columbiariverkeeper.org |
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P.S. Donate now to our Legal Fund to stop dirty fossil fuels and power the legal work needed to protect our climate and the Columbia. |
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