Opponents of a natural gas export project in Southern Oregon are on a month-long protest hike along the route of a proposed pipeline. This weekend, the hikers neared the halfway point in Jackson County.
The 230-mile Pacific Connector Pipeline would supply the Jordan Cover Liquefied Natural Gas export terminal, proposed on the Oregon coast.
On Saturday, Six “Hike the Pipe” trekkers temporarily gave up their boots for life vests. They floated the stretch of the Rogue River where the pipeline would cross.
Umpqua Valley native Emmalyn Garrett plans to hike the entire route. She says the reception so far as been positive.
Emmalyn Garrett: “People have pulled over in their vehicles as we’re walking along the side of the road and said, ‘I’m an affected landowner and I’m so in support of what you’re doing.’ They’ve handed us food and snacks outside of their windows.”
The LNG project has become a point of contention for fossil fuel opponents and land rights advocates, many of whom decry the use of eminent domain along the pipeline route.
Much of the support for Jordan Cove hinges on promises of jobs and economic development for rural communities.