Breach testifies in opposition to new fracked gas power plant
On December 3, 2020, Breach Collective delivered public comment to the Environmental Quality Commission of Oregon regarding a proposed fracked gas power plant in Umatilla, the Perennial WindChaser Station. Another state agency, the Oregon Department of Energy, has ignored state law and Governor Brown’s executive order on climate action to allow Perennial to avoid new pollution control fees, save millions of dollars that would otherwise be paid to the state, and increase the likelihood of the facility being fully permitted.
Breach opposes this facility and all fracked gas storage, transfer, and power plant infrastructure because of their contributions to climate change and the many dangers for humans and the environment posed by this dangerous fuel source. You can submit public comment to patty.isaak@deq.state.or.us at the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality on their current stormwater permit application until December 9 at 5 PM PST.
Our full public comment is available below:
Members of the Environmental Quality Commission,
Thank you for the opportunity to present public comment today. My name is Nick Caleb and I am a Climate and Energy Attorney with Breach Collective, an Oregon based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Today, we join several other organizations in drawing your attention to the Perennial WindChaser Station, a proposed 415 MW fracked gas power plant in Umatilla County that would, if constructed, become one of the state’s largest polluting facilities and greenhouse gas emitters. Perennial has already demonstrated a total disregard for the laws of Oregon by beginning construction at their site in violation of the site certificate and without a construction stormwater permit, apparently to avoid an increase in monetary offset fees for new gas plants.
Consistent with the Governor’s executive order on climate change that directs Oregon agencies to “exercise any and all authority and discretion vested in them by law” to help achieve our greenhouse gas reduction goals, the EQC should ensure that DEQ undertake a thorough review of Perennial’s permit applications and ultimately refuse to permit this facility as it would undermine Oregon’s climate goals and opportunities to utilize truly renewable energy sources to power the future. It would be reckless to allow the construction of new fossil fuel infrastructure as the climate crisis continues to worsen.
Furthermore, it will undermine public confidence in our democracy if our state agencies allow large polluters to break Oregon laws and financially benefit.
Thank you, DEQ and Director Whitman for granting an extension on the comment deadline for the construction stormwater permit for Perennial. We encourage you to review this permit in line with directives in the Governor’s new executive order on climate change.
Thank you for your consideration.