In the literary world it is called foreshadowing. Those little hints and bits that suggest what might come next. The corporate bumbling surrounding creation of two giant coal terminals in Washington has that feel. Read the full story here.
Cargo terminal proposal part of national debate over jobs, environment
“The jobs are nothing to scoff at,” Bellingham Mayor Dan Pike said earlier this year of the SSA Marine proposal at Cherry Point. But Pike’s attitude changed when he learned what cargo the company had in mind: coal, and potentially 48 million tons of it a year. That coal would end up in China, where it would fuel the blistering …
After years of waging disinformation campaigns, the U.S. cigarette industry finally accepted that cancer-wary Americans were lighting up less. Big Tobacco found a lucrative new market, however: It stepped up exports to Asia. Big Coal seems set on a similar strategy. With construction of new coal plants being blocked across America — and states like Washington phasing out coal — the export market beckons, …
When the locals don’t want your coal, sell it overseas
The world’s largest surface coal mine complex is a landscape unto itself. Six 200-foot-high draglines tear open the earth and scoop the black coal into gigantic dump trucks that make school buses look like playthings. Two dozen loaded-down trains, each a mile long, slide out of the mine complex every day, headed for power plants hundreds and even thousands of …
Unfair Impact on Marysville
A hot political debate is underway in Whatcom County over a proposal to build a coal shipping terminal. It has a worrisome connection to Snohomish County — and Marysville, in particular — that state officials mustn’t overlook. Read the full story here.
Port of St. Helens a potential candidate for a terminal to export coal to Asia
Legal documents indicate the Port of St. Helens is talking with a coal export terminal developer, the first sign that Oregon could be in the mix to export coal to meet ever-growing Asian demand. Read the full story here.
Consider all the implications of coal terminal
We can do better. The fire at the Millennium Bulk Terminals site last week highlights the need for our community to have this property cleaned up once and for all. Given the legitimate concern over the potential toxic air pollution and related health impacts from this fire, our community should really be concerned about the long-term health and economic impact …
Hundreds turn out to mayor’s cargo terminal meeting
More than 300 people packed into Mayor Dan Pike’s community meeting Wednesday, June 1, to discuss concerns about the environmental effects from the Gateway Pacific Terminal coal and bulk cargo export terminal that SSA Marine wants to build at Cherry Point. Read the full story here.
Pike takes heat from anti-coal community
Bellingham Mayor Dan Pike is not taking sides on the proposed coal terminal at Cherry Point. At a public forum Wednesday, May 4, he drew fire for staying neutral on the controversial plan to ship tons of coal through Bellingham. Read the full story here.
Exporting Montana coal does not lead to prosperity
America is moving away from coal. As we use energy more efficiently (such as with compact fluorescent light bulbs and more building insulation) and use cleaner sources of energy (such as wind power), our demand for coal is declining. Read the full story here.
