March 28, 2014
By Neal Tepel
Washington, DC — The following statement was released by Sean McGarvey, President of North America’s Building Trades Unions, upon the announcement on March 24th by the US Department of Energy that it has approved plans for the export of natural gas from the Jordan Cove terminal in Coos Bay, Oregon:
“This is an exciting day not only for the Jordan Cove Energy Project, but for American workers and the American economy. The total private capital investment of this export facility and its accompanying power plant will be roughly $6 billion. And the badly needed, middle-class construction jobs that will be generated at the peak of this project, for an industry that continues to suffer from a national unemployment rate in excess of 12%, will be over 2,000. Add to that the fact that property taxes generated by this project will contribute $20 million to Coos County for the first three years and $30 to $40 million each year thereafter, and it is easy to see how continued investment in our nation’s domestic energy infrastructure, and our infrastructure in general, are central to putting America on a path of sustained economic growth and fiscal health for many years to come.”
