Federal regulators have approved the expansion of a natural gas pipeline in the Pacific Northwest, despite opposition from environmental groups and top officials in West Coast states. The project, called GTN Xpress, will increase the capacity of the Gas Transmission Northwest pipeline by about 150 million cubic feet per day. TC Energy plans to modify three compressor stations along the pipeline to maintain the pressure and flow of gas over long distances.
Environmental groups have criticized the decision, expressing concerns about potential spills, explosions, and heightened wildfire risks in the arid regions the pipeline passes through. Columbia Riverkeeper, an environmental nonprofit, plans to appeal the decision and submit a petition for a rehearing.
The pipeline belongs to TC Energy, the same company behind the abandoned Keystone XL crude oil pipeline. The company argues that the project is necessary to meet consumer demand. However, environmentalists and officials have raised concerns about TC Energy’s safety record, citing previous pipeline explosions and oil spills.
Oregon, Washington, and California have passed laws requiring utilities to transition to 100% clean electricity sources in the coming decades. Critics argue that the GTN Xpress project is incompatible with these climate goals.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s final environmental assessment for the project stated that most adverse environmental impacts would be temporary or short-term. However, environmental groups argue that the assessment did not adequately address the harm caused by fracking, the process used to obtain the natural gas that flows through the pipeline.
Despite the opposition, the energy agency approved the project, stating that there was no evidence that it would significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions. The agency recommended certain steps to mitigate environmental impacts, including training personnel and contractors on environmental measures before construction begins.
The decision to approve the pipeline expansion has been met with criticism from environmental groups, Democratic officials, and state attorneys general. The fight over this project highlights the ongoing tension between energy infrastructure development and climate change goals.
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