Region takes steps to boost its use of liquefied natural gas

The Pacific Northwest isn’t home to any import terminals for liquefied natural gas — yet.

The developer of a potential terminal in Coos Bay, Ore., has submitted preliminary paperwork to the Oregon Department of Energy. Two other proposals are in the discussion stage, both for sites in Oregon near the mouth of the Columbia River.

The Inland Northwest does have a few LNG storage sites. The closest one to Spokane is in Plymouth, Wash., south of Kennewick. Others are in Portland and Newport, Ore., in Nampa, Idaho, and in Gig Harbor, Wash., according to the Northwest Gas Association.

Avista Utilities contracts for services from the Plymouth facility. The company draws gas from there as a back-up supply when the weather is coldest and demand is high, said Bob Gruber, Avista’s manager of natural gas resources.

Gruber said the two Columbia River projects could one day be additional supply sources for Avista, and the company supports their development.

“We certainly think it is one of the components that will help us satisfy demand in the future,” Gruber said. “That gas will be very competitive from a market standpoint.”

— Alison Boggs, staff writer