A14 THE BULLETIN • THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021 SALEM Community College receives $200K donation for agricultural hub BY SIERRA DAWN MCCLAIN Capital Press SALEM — Chemeketa Community College has re- ceived a $200,000 gift from Northwest Farm Credit Ser- vices to build a greenhouse in the college’s new Agricultural Hub, which is slated to open in Salem this month. “This gift is huge. We’re so grateful,” said Holly Nelson, ex- ecutive dean of the school. Brent Fetch, Oregon presi- dent of Northwest Farm Credit Services, the area’s top agricul- tural lender and crop insur- ance provider, explained in a statement why his organization is investing. “We are pleased to support Chemeketa Community Col- lege’s Agricultural Hub because we believe this program will yield the next generation of Oregon’s agricultural talent, which is vital to the industry’s long-term success,” he said. The new hub is modeled af- ter Oregon State University’s Extension Service, offering classes, workshops and other agricultural resources to col- lege students and the commu- nity. The college has been plan- ning the Agricultural Hub for years, but high construction costs the past year meant the school was about $2 million short on funding and had to cut several pieces from its plan, including hoop houses, a con- servatory, learning gardens and a greenhouse. School administrators say the cuts — especially the greenhouse — were a huge dis- appointment. Nelson, the executive dean, said a greenhouse is sorely needed because Chemeketa’s Washington denies permit for methanol plant OLYMPIA, Wash. — Officials in Washington state denied a key permit for a large proposed methanol plant Tuesday, saying the project that aims to send the chemical to China to be used in everything from fabrics and contact lenses to iPhones and medical equipment would pump out too much pollution. A significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions and inconsisten- cies with the Shoreline Management Act were the main reasons the permit was rejected for the project planned on the Columbia River, the Washington Department of Ecology said in a news release. The $2 billion Northwest Innovation Works plant proposed in Kalama would take natural gas from Canada and convert it into methanol. It would then be shipped to China to make olefins — compounds used in many everyday products. An environmental analysis done by the state agency found that the facility would be one of the largest sources of carbon pollution in Washington, emitting nearly 1 million metric tons a year within the state, and millions of tons more from extracting natural gas, shipping the product to Asia and final uses of the methanol, officials said. The company has 21 days to appeal the permit decision. “While we are disappointed by this ruling and evaluating our options for an immediate appeal, we feel confident that science and reason will prevail,” Kent Caputo, attorney for Northwest Innovation Works, said in a news release. Gas Continued from A13 The ruling was hailed as a major victory by opponents of Jordan Cove, which would be the first such LNG overseas export terminal in the lower 48 states. The proposed 230- mile feeder pipeline would begin in Malin, in southwest Oregon, and end at the city of Coos Bay on the Oregon Coast. Jordan Cove did not imme- diately respond to an email seeking comment, and it was unclear what next steps the project would take. Opposition to the pipeline has brought together southern Oregon tribes, environmental- ists, anglers and coastal resi- dents since 2006. “Thousands of southern Oregonians have raised their voices to stop this project for years and will continue to until the threat of Jordan Cove LNG is gone for good,” said Han- nah Sohl, executive director of Rogue Climate. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, who has opposed the project, said in a statement on Twitter that she was pleased with the ruling. “At every stage of the regu- latory process, I have insisted that the Jordan Cove LNG project must meet Oregon’s rigorous standards for protect- ing the environment, or it can- not move forward,” she wrote. The outgoing Trump ad- ministration has supported energy export projects and in particular Jordan Cove. It had proposed streamlining approval of gas pipelines and other energy projects by lim- iting states’ certification au- thorities under the U.S. Clean Water Act. William “Bill” B. Johnson 1940 - 2021 William (“Bill”) B. Johnson, III passed away on January 3, 2021. Bill was born in Seat le, WA in 1940 to William and Frances Johnson. He married his soulmate, Ginny, in the summer of 1986. They had 34 years of love and friendship together. Bill graduated in 1963 from Eastern Oregon University and for 35 years was an educator for the Bend/La Pine School District. He genuinely enjoyed the } me he spent with his students and fellow teachers. Bill was also an avid û sherman and hunter. Bill is survived by his wife Ginny, his son Bill