In an effort to attract large businesses to their districts, twoOregon state legislators introduced a bill recently that wouldprovide $20 million in lottery funds to help build a 64-milepipeline. No engineering study for the pipeline has been conductedso far. The bill’s main supporters, state Sen. Veral Tarno(R-Coquille) and Rep. Ken Messerle (R-Coos County), said some ofthe funds also could be used to build a high-voltage power line.

As the area’s timber industry has faltered, the Coos Countyunemployment rate has grown to 10%, nearly double the state’saverage. A Coos County official said 1,700 jobs have been lost and14 companies have passed on building plants in the area because ofthe lack of natural gas access. Overall, 61,000 people in the CoosBay area are without natural gas service.

Nucor Corp., a Charlotte, NC-based steel manufacturer, hasexpressed interest in building a $280 million steel mill in thearea, but only if the power line is built. The Bonneville PowerAdministration (BPA) is conducting an environmental impact study onthe proposed $80 million power line, but Nucor, the BPA andinterested utility companies have not been able to decide whoshould pay for it.

John Norris

©Copyright 1999 Intelligence Press, Inc. All rightsreserved. The preceding news report may not be republished orredistributed in whole or in part without prior written consent ofIntelligence Press, Inc.