Nearly two years ago, Colorado’s Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton wrote a letter to the then-new Trump administration, urging prioritization of the Jordan Cove Energy and Pacific Connect Gas Pipeline Project.

While the project is still currently seeking approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, expected by Nov. 29, it remains a project Garfield County officials wholeheartedly support.

On Monday, the Garfield County commissioners approved another letter of support for the project.

---

---

Deputy County Manager Fred Jarman said it was Garfield County’s fourth letter of support for the proposed natural gas terminal in Coos Bay, Oregon.

Commissioner Mike Samson said he’s heard from project officials who are appreciative of Garfield County’s support through the years. He said Garfield County’s support could be very instrumental in helping to move the project forward.

---

---

Though the project base would be a liquefied natural gas export terminal in Oregon, the associated pipeline for the Jordan Cove Energy and Pacific Connect Gas Pipeline Project could greatly expand the industry in northwestern Colorado.

The commissioners’ letter states that Garfield County could use the proposed Jordan Cove facility and pipeline to “positively impact energy geopolitics and improve its national energy security.”

The letter, sent to the Oregon Department of State Lands, states that the Piceance Basin is the second largest producible shale basin in North America, with the latest estimates from the Department of the Interior’s Geologic Survey projecting 66 trillion cubic feet of shale natural gas undiscovered in the Mancos Shale formation.

Garfield County ranked second in the state in natural gas production and sales in 2018, according to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

While the project has received criticism for its potential environmental impacts from community organizations such as No LNG Exports and local groups opposed to expanded drilling, the county’s letter points out the project’s methods and technologies to “safely cross beneath southern Oregon waterways and avoid impacts to aquatic life,” as well as commitment to returning the wild coastal salmon population back to healthy levels.

“Garfield County has a long history of working collaboratively with its state’s regulatory partners, local stakeholders and the oil and gas industry to provide a stable political and regulatory environment for responsible natural gas development and production in the Piceance Basin,” the letter reads.

azorn@citizentelegram.com