Oregon environmental authorities have denied a permit for the the Jordan Cove natural gas export project, citing concerns about water pollution and damage to waterways. The company behind it can appeal or reapply. But this latest hurdle could block what looked like it might be the first West Coast export facility for liquefied natural gas – a form of the fuel that has been cooled to very low temperatures for easier storage and shipping.
This dispute pits federal authorities against local and state governments. It's also part of a larger and long-running battle over fossil fuel shipments to foreign countries that stretches up the entire American West Coast.
We are sociologists who have studied how people respond to news about plans for big energy facilities in their communities. With President Donald Trump pushing hard for more fossil fuel production and exports, we believe it could get significantly harder for local communities to have a say in these important decisions.
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