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Coos County “Community Bill Of Rights” Measure Goes Down Hard

Jes Burns/OPB EarthFix
Looking out toward the proposed Jordan Cove LNG terminal site near Coos Bay.

A ballot measure that would have blocked a controversial gas pipeline and export terminal proposal has been decisively shot down by voters in Coos County.

The so-called “Community Bill of Rights” measure would have prohibited any “non-sustainable” energy project in the county along Oregon’s south coast. That could have killed the proposed Jordan Cove liquid natural gas terminal in Coos Bay.

Mary Geddry , one of Measure 6-162’s petitioners, blames the loss on a well-financed corporate media blitz that created fear and doubt about the measure.

"I don’t think it signifies support for the Jordan Cove project," Geddty told JPR." I think they just scared people out of being their own decision-makers, because that’s what this ordinance was all about, allowing the community to be the decision-maker."

Veresen Inc., the Canadian company behind the Jordan Cove proposal, put nearly $600,000 into the campaign to defeat the measure, resulting in a barrage of ads on TV, radio and newspapers. Supporters raised about $13,000.

The measure lost by a three-to-one margin, 24 to 76 percent.  

Liam Moriarty has been covering news in the Pacific Northwest for three decades. He served two stints as JPR News Director and retired full-time from JPR at the end of 2021. Liam now edits and curates the news on JPR's website and digital platforms.