Business group favors renewable energy sources

Published 5:00 pm Monday, April 30, 2007

The issue of liquefied natural gas continues to inspire controversy on the lower Columbia. A new bi-state business group has taken a stand against LNG and in favor of renewable energy.

This spring the Columbia River Business Alliance formed in Astoria. Comprised of entrepreneurs on both sides of the river between Astoria and Portland, the group initially catalyzed around members’ opposition to the proposed siting of LNG regasification terminals along the lower 30 miles of the Columbia River.

Astoria businessman Robert B. Stang, sustainable developer and consultant is alliance president. Don West, general manager of the Cannery Pier Hotel on the waterfront in Astoria, is vice president.

West said the alliance’s goals are more far-reaching than simply opposing LNG. Members formed the group for two reasons.

“To rally around the current issue of LNG, but also to promote other forms of business that are compatible with the historic and scenic beauty of the area,” he said.

The business alliance mission statement embraces sustainable economic development through clean alternative energy industries.

West said that’s partly because members feel an LNG terminal would hamper the region’s emerging tourism economy.

“Last year in Clatsop County $352 million was spent in tourism,” West said. “That’s employing over 5,000 people.”

Stang said people have a mistaken view of what the tourism industry can offer a regional economy.

“The way people look at tourism is that it’s low wages and seasonal. The reason I’m here, the reason Don’s here – we bought houses, we’re paying contractors, we’re shopping at all of the local establishments,” he said. “That’s really what tourism brings – a quality of life which is attractive to people. That will totally change and shift if we industrialize and militarize the area.”

Stang said the group has talked with area wind power businesses that have expressed an interest in relocating to Astoria.

“That’s the kind of industry we want to promote,” he said. “We would like to find a business strong enough to supplant the businesses that want to build LNG.”

He said the group supports existing fishing and logging industries.

The Columbia River Business Alliance claims 55 members and growing.

“We’ve only been taking memberships since March 6,” Stang said. “We believe that within a few weeks we’ll have over a hundred members.”

Businesses can join the alliance online and download an information packet. The group offers two types of memberships: public and private. Names of private business listings are kept confidential.

A sampling of members on the public list includes Astoria-based businesses Robert Brown Financial Group, Living Earth Realty, and RiverSea Gallery. In Washington, the Port Bistro restaurant in Ilwaco, and Boreas Inn Bed and Breakfast in Long Beach are also members.

The Columbia River Business Alliance will have an open house on May 8, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Port Bistro Restaurant in Ilwaco, Wash.

For more information about the group, visit columbiariverbusinessalliance.org.