The American state of Oregon joined California and Washington in opposing a project that would increase the amount of natural gas flowing from Canada to the West Coast..A 1,400-mile pipeline owned by Calgary-based TC Energy sends two-billion cubic feet of natural gas per day to heat and power homes and businesses in the western United States. .In October 2021, TC Energy asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to allow it to increase its capacity by 150 million cubic feet. But on August 22, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum joined California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson in asking the commission to deny the request..The attorneys general argued increasing the natural gas flow to the US would hurt the states’ efforts to combat climate change. They also argued expanding the natural gas supply will be paid for by existing customers in those states, which violates the commission’s policy..“The commission should find the project is improperly subsidized, does not serve a public necessity, and is not in the public interest,” they said..The attorneys general added the proposal would primarily serve the interests of Canadian gas producers in gaining market share, "not the needs of American consumers.”.Twenty percent of all energy usage in Oregon comes from natural gas, while 37% of energy usage in California comes from it..Back in 2020, Oregon Governor Kate Brown issued an executive order that included climate targets for every state agency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Their goal is to achieve a 90% reduction from 1990-levels over the next three decades. .In 2015, the government of California passed an executive order that set an interim target of lowering greenhouse gas emissions 40% less than 1990 levels by 2030..Several cities in California and Oregon are also mulling a ban on new natural gas hookups. In California, new rules passed August 11 require new structures primarily support electric-powered heating and appliances..In recent weeks, California has been threatened by energy shortages and the threat of blackouts amid a heatwave. This led California Governor Gavin Newsom to ask all citizens to not charge their electric vehicles between the hours of 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., even as California lawmakers passed legislation banning the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035..TC Energy responded to the attorneys general by claiming natural gas has contributed to reduced greenhouse gas emissions in North America..“Natural gas is a critical component of any strategy to meet North America’s long-term energy needs," they said.
