Wyden biting the hand that feeds his state's energy needs
by McCainiac
Updating a previous story, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) is in the news again beating up Sarah Palin over LNG exports from Alaska. This time, Time magazine picked up the story and regurgitated the Democrat talking points. Hook, line and sinker.
Your faithful correspondent, me, was cited on Free Republic as the lone "some critics" by the Oregonian's Jeff Mapes:
And some critics are accusing Wyden of hypocrisy since he wants to give the state of Oregon the ability to block a proposed LNG site on the Columbia River.
To the Oregonian's credit, at least they noted that someone had a differing opinion from Mr. Wyden. Time couldn't even be bothered to opine that anyone disagreed with Wyden other than Palin.
So yes, Mr. Mapes, I am calling Mr. Wyden a hypocrite. Now let me tell you why.
FACT: Alaska has been exporting LNG to Japan since 1969. That's nearly 40 years for the mathematically challenged. 40 years. In fact, the LNG export facility in Alaska pioneered LNG marine transport when it was still an unproven concept.
FACT: Just this August, a LNG terminal opened in Baja California. This is the first LNG terminal on the entire West Coast of North America. It just opened. Alaska has been shipping LNG to Japan for the last 40 years because they weren't any LNG terminals on the West Coast to ship LNG to.
FACT: There are multiple proposals for LNG terminals to be built in Oregon that could receive Alaska's LNG exports. Wyden, Gov. Kulongowski (D) and a bunch of NIMBYist climate alarmists have fought the LNG terminals every step of the way.
FACT: Alaska has been producing oil and natural gas for America and has committed to producing even more in the future. 80% of the crude oil that gets refined into Oregon's transportation fuels comes from Alaska's North Slope oil fields. That's a fact straight from the state of Oregon's own web site.
Those are some inconvenient truths for Ron Wyden.
Now Wyden has the nerve to complain that for two more years the LNG will be shipped to Japan. Now, I like some of Sen. Ron Wyden's common sense, bipartisan ideas on health care. But he is way, way off base for attacking Palin on LNG exports when he has done nothing, absolutely nothing to assist in getting a LNG terminal built in Oregon.
Sen. Ron Wyden should be sending Sarah Palin a thank you note and an apology.
A thank you on behalf of all Oregonians for her state's exports of crude oil that gets refined into the motor fuels that enable this state's economy to flourish and gives Oregon residents the freedom to travel on demand.
An apology for not doing everything in his power to get a LNG terminal built here in Oregon as quickly as possible to provide a market for Alaskan natural gas.
Oregon is an energy welfare state. Oregon imports 99% of our natural gas from other states and Canadian provinces. Some states produce energy. Some states produce none and are at the sucking end of the energy straw. Guess which end of the energy teat Oregon is on?
How dare Ron Wyden whine and complain about the bounty provided by the good people of Alaska? Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.
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