GEI is Taking on Fossil Gas

GEI Staff Attorney Carra Sahler partnered with Earthjustice attorneys to represent Community Energy Project, Coalition of Communities of Color, Climate Solutions, Columbia Riverkeeper, Oregon Environmental Council, Sierra Club, and Verde in the gas utility’s rate revision. We filed opening expert testimony in April, which received extensive coverage by The Oregonian and Think Out Loud, as well as additional reporting in DeSmog here and here. GEI and Earthjustice also filed rebuttal testimony, and an opening and closing brief. We are recommending that the Oregon Public Utility Commission stop subsidizing the expansion of the gas system by eliminating NW Natural’s line extension allowance, that it deny NW Natural’s request to expand its advertising and lobbying budget, and that it address serious concerns about energy burden. We also objected to NW Natural’s Renewable Natural Gas investments. A Commission order is expected in October.