Following the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) decision today to delay its vote on the Jordan Cove Project, Congressman Scott Tipton (CO-03) sent a letter to FERC Chairman Chaterjee urging the Commission to minimize further delays in permitting for the project. Tipton’s letter reads:

I am writing to urge the Federal Regulatory Energy Commission (FERC) to act swiftly on consideration of the Jordan Cove Project (Jordan Cove). Jordan Cove meets the high standards of design, public benefit, and environmental preservation that are outlined under the Natural Gas Act. The project is also essential to ensuring Western states and Native American tribes have the opportunity to access overseas energy markets and enjoy the economic benefits of LNG exports.

Western Colorado has a unique role to play in seizing this export opportunity. A growing demand around the world for natural gas has given Colorado a chance to further responsibly develop natural gas deposits in the Piceance Basin in northwest Colorado, which has been identified by the U.S. Geological Survey as North America’s second largest natural gas reserve.

Jordan Cove has received strong local support, as well as previous bipartisan support from all levels of Colorado’s elected officials because it would send Colorado’s natural gas to our allies in Asia. There are few, if any, energy resources this abundant that the U.S. can export around the globe. Further delays in permitting will threaten existing export contracts, economic opportunity in Western Colorado, and the prospect of decreasing global carbon emissions.

I urge you and your colleagues to minimize any further delays in permitting for the Jordan Cove Project.

FERC’s decision to delay its vote comes after the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development denied Jordan Cove a permit.

For a PDF of the letter, click here.

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