Plans to build a shipping terminal near the mouth of the Columbia River to export Rocky Mountain coal to Asia have resurfaced — and this time the proposal is bigger than ever. Read more.
Epic Northwest battle: Defining how big a deal coal ports are
It is being called “unprecedented” but it seems to be rolling out as its authors had intended, perhaps the biggest experiment in environmental democracy the Northwest has ever seen. That would be the “scoping” process to determine what effects the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal north of Bellingham would have on…
Study: Coal Trains Would Hit Property Values Hard
A new study commissioned by Seattle-based Climate Solutions concluded that a proposal to run as many as 18 1.6-mile-long coal trains a day through Seattle to a new coal terminal in Bellingham could cost property owners along the route as much as $265 million in lost property values. The report…
Thousands Turn Out to Voice Opposition of Controversial Coal Export Proposal
Bellingham, WA - Close to 2,000 residents from Northern Washington packed Squalicum High School to kick off the first of seven public comment hearings to show opposition of the proposed coal export terminal at Cherry Point. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Ecology, and the Whatcom County…
Paddle Past Coal! Columbia River Anti-Coal paddle
On Sat. 10/21/12, 20 kayakers from the cities of Longview, Columbia City, Rainer, Portland and Milwaukie paddled on the Columbia River from Mayger Dock to Port Westward. They kayaked through Bradbury Slough, a calm and protected part of the Columbia, separated from the main channel of the River by Crim’sIsland. Crim’s…
GUEST VIEWPOINT: Local impacts of coal exports unacceptable
We’re generally strong supporters of improved rail services in Oregon, but we’re very concerned that coal exports would worsen climate change and undermine city policies. Relying on coal exports is a risky business strategy, and the local impacts are just unacceptable. Five other coal port projects are proposed in the…
Coal exports could face roadblocks if Democrats maintain Senate control
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) who is expected to replace retiring Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) as committee chairman if Democrats retain the Senate, is skeptical about sending coal abroad. He has called for more rigorous environmental reviews of each terminal proposal, which many say could hold up coal exports from the Pacific…
Coal export makes no sense for Oregon
As leaders in Portland’s clean energy and sustainable development business community, we don’t think coal export makes sense for Oregon. Any form of economic development is a choice of how best to use scarce resources. Coal export would be a drain on some of our most valuable economic resources —…
Tribes Add Potent Voice Against Plan for Northwest Coal Terminals
. . . in recent weeks, Indian tribes have been linking arms as well, citing possible injury to fishing rights and religious and sacred sites if the coal should spill or the dust from its trains and barges should waft too thick. Read the entire story here.