January 8, 2025
Stop the GTN Xpress Pipeline Expansion: It’s Unsafe and Costly!
In October 2023, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the expansion of the TC Energy Pipeline, GTN Xpress, which spans over 1,300 miles, from Canada through Central Oregon—right through Bend’s backyard. This expansion threatens the health, safety, and climate of the Northwest region and imposes a significant financial burden on Cascade Natural Gas customers.
Why We Must Act NOW!
TC Energy, the company behind this project, has a dangerous safety record. Recent pipeline explosions, in similarly aged pipelines in Virginia and Alberta, Canada, caused habitat and property destruction as 25 foot fire plumes engulfed the area. The aging GTN pipeline, over 60 years old, cannot safely accommodate the increased gas volume. Pumping this huge volume of gas through a vulnerable pipeline increases risks of rupture, explosions and fires. Given our dry, desert environment, and increasing fire risk, this is a disaster waiting to happen.
Even worse, this is gas we do not need. Oregon is on a pathway to electrification. This expansion will derail Oregon’s climate plan, along with electrification goals. For these reasons and others, Oregon’s key legislators oppose it: including Governor Kotek, Senators Wyden, Merkeley, and the Attorney General.
This project comes with an estimated $13 billion in social costs, including increased pollution, more severe wildfires, health problems, and economic hardship, for businesses, and particularly for vulnerable communities. Cascade Natural Gas customers—from Bend to Bellingham—should not bear the costs of financing this dangerous, outdated infrastructure.
Video of the natural gas pipeline fire in Virginia.
Ongoing Threats to Our Communities
Despite strong opposition, construction of new compressor stations for the pipeline expansion is underway, with completion expected by February 2025. This outdated pipeline, already prone to failure, will carry even more fracked gas, risking our safety and environment for decades. Nearly all fatal pipeline accidents are tied to aging infrastructure—GTN Xpress is no exception.
The Fight: Some wins. Legal options
Volunteers and our coalition partners were able to stop Cascade Natural Gas from adding these expansion costs to the bills of gas users. But we need continued pressure to ensure that this remains the case as the gas industry has an ever present desire to significantly increase gas use. Their goal is profit over people.
The legal challenge to this pipeline expansion began on October 28, 2023, and is ongoing in the 5th Circuit Court in Texas. We are fighting to stop this project before it’s too late.
The Path Forward: Electrification, Not More Gas
The future is electrification, not more gas infrastructure. As we transition to cleaner energy, we must stop expanding natural gas pipelines. Electrification reduces our dependence on fossil fuels, improves public health, and helps combat climate change. There is no need for new pipelines that put our communities and the environment at risk.
We are committed to electrifying Bend and the surrounding areas. However, if this expansion moves forward, we risk locking ourselves into decades of unsafe, costly, and polluting gas infrastructure.
Recent Developments
- August 2024: FERC approved a smaller pipeline expansion, moving 50,000 Dth/d (about one-third of the original proposal). This amount is enough to power 240,000 homes, far more than the 40% of gas-powered homes in Central Oregon. Why flood our region with unnecessary gas?
- Cascade Natural Gas may increase rates to cover the construction costs of this project.
- 350 Deschutes delivered over 400 signatures to Cascade Natural Gas demanding they reject rate hikes for their customers to finance this expansion.
- Senator Ron Wyden reaffirmed his opposition, vowing to fight the pipeline with “every tool available.”
We Need Your Help
We are ready to fight, but we need you with us.
- Take action: Sign the petition to demand Cascade Natural Gas stop this project.
- Get involved: Attend community events to show decision-makers that we don’t want this pipeline in our backyard.
- Spread the word: Share this webpage with friends and family to rally more support.
- Donate to our work.
More Resources
- Video about GTN XPress proposal
- Proposed Pipeline Expansion Could Upend Three States’ Climate Plans, DeSmog, July 20, 2023
- Map of GTN Pipeline
- Webinar recordings of February 13, 2023 “People’s Hearing”: