Join Oregon Senator Ron Wyden to discuss LNG exports, coal exports, and a new free trade agreement Monday in Portland

Attend a listening session and public comment opportunity with Senator Wyden to discuss our trade policy and how it could shape our energy future. This is a great chance to voice your concerns about exporting LNG to nations with whom we have free-trade agreements.  Senator Wyden is seeking comments about energy exports and a new possible trade agreement that could make it easier for companies to ship fossil fuels to overseas markets through Oregon and Washington. Oregon Perspectives on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement - Monday, August 13th:     Who: Hosted by Senator Ron Wyden What: Listening session on the impact of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) on the Pacific Northwest economy, including energy exports When: August 13, 2012, 10:00 am Where: 911 NE 11th St., 1st Floor Auditorium, Portland (note: this is a secure federal building, ID is required for entrance to the building)   The listening session will involve a panel of invited guests – including Columbia Riverkeeper’s  Brett VandenHeuvel - presenting perspectives on different elements of foreign trade including manufacturing, agriculture, labor, environment and energy.  Significantly, the Trans-Pacific Partnership could make it easier for companies like Oregon LNG to export LNG.    Following the presentations, members of the audience will be invited to comment.      BACKGROUND   The Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) could ultimately include all 21 members of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, including several LNG-importing nations.  Given its broad scope, the TPP negotiations have the potential to impact almost every facet of Oregon's economy.  Senator Wyden has actively called for greater transparency in the negotiation of this agreement, and he needs to hear from us about the implications of sending huge volumes of LNG to overseas markets as part of this agreement - energy exports that will harm our farms, forests, rivers, and every Oregon ratepayer.   With respect to liquefied natural gas (LNG) export proposals, the TPP would effectively remove the requirement for the U.S. Department of Energy to determine whether exporting LNG to TPP nations is in the public interest.  The agreement could also help to ease the path of coal exports through Oregon and Washington.