The latest local news from a corporate media slant about the breathtaking amount of corporate money being spent to defeat a Community Rights ballot initiative in Coos County, Oregon, challenging a liquefied (so-called “natural”) gas pipeline. Oregonians go to the polls on May 16.
More than $1 million dollars has been donated or spent to crush a controversial ballot measure that targets the proposed Jordan Cove liquid natural gas export terminal and Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline. The staggering amount has made the campaign the county’s most expensive in its history.
As of Sunday afternoon, the Save Coos Jobs Committee, the opposition group to Measure 6-162, which its petitioners call “The Coos County Right to a Sustainable Energy Future Ordinance” — had spent or received $1,042,294 for its operations, about 50 times the amount the Yes on Measure 6-162 Committee has been able to raise or spend.
The polarizing measure on Tuesday’s ballot would prohibit the transportation of fossil fuels within the county as well as the development of any “non-sustainable” energy systems, particularly hydraulic and pneumatic fracturing.
The ban would not apply to infrastructure already in place such as on-site heating or affect fuel for vehicles.
A large chunk of Save Coos’ funds have come from one donor, Jordan Cove, the Veresen Inc. owned, Calgary, Alberta-based company behind the two natural gas projects.
The foreign energy company alone has donated nearly $600,000 in cash and in-kind donations. MORE…