About 100 people gathered Tuesday night to protest the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal — one of a half-dozen such proposed Northwest gateways for Rocky Mountain region coal to be shipped to Asian markets. If the proposal is approved that could mean nine trains per day passing through Bellingham and births for three large ships at the Cherry Point industrial facility. Read …
Phase-out for Washington’s biggest polluter
Washington’s biggest emitter of air pollution, the Trans-Alta coal plant in Centralia, will soon cut its nitrogen oxide emissions and then permanently shut its giant boilers in 2020 and 2025, in a far-reaching accord announced Saturday. Read full story here.
Port of Vancouver dodges coal, embraces potash
Faced with a choice of helping to grow food or feed industry, the Port of Vancouver picked a fertilizer ingredient over the dirtiest fossil fuel on the planet. The port’s decision in 2009 to export potash rather than coal positioned it to accomplish long-term economic development objectives. Read more.
Local clean energy, not coal exporting, is key to Northwest prosperity
As we approach the twilight of the fossil fuel era, don’t expect dirty energy to fade without a fight. Coal use in the United States has been declining for some time, but attempts are underway to revive the coal industry’s fortunes by exporting American coal to feed the growth of China and other Asian economies. Read more.
Study Questions Coal’s Value to Bellingham
As an environmental review approaches, opponents and supporters of exporting coal to China are angling to shape the perception of how a proposed facility will affect Bellingham and even cities like Seattle and Edmonds. Read more.
Coal Export Terminal Opponents Submit Petition
OLYMPIA, Wash. – Some Washington citizens are voicing opposition about plans to build three new coal export terminals in their communities. Opponents of those proposals delivered more than 40,000 signatures to the state capitol in Olympia Wednesday. Toni Montgomery lives in Vancouver, Washington. She says coal trains already pass by her house on their way to export terminals. “Who’s going …
Oregon doesn’t need coal
We can do better. Shipping dirty coal from Oregon ports to markets in Asia is not a good strategy for our economy or our environment. As business leader, I put a premium on value. In this case, we need to value how a high quality of life and our reputation as a clean economy leader helps us grow and attract …
Musician Kris Orlowski speaks out against coal export
Musician and Bellingham native made this PSA with Climate Solutions to spread the word about the Power Past Coal campaign — and saying no to coal export and yes to a clean energy future. Photo Credit: Climate Solutions video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=19&v=qZIiJt-FvgQ
King County’s concerns mirror potential San Juan County concerns
Dow Constantine’s letter describes a few of the possible impacts of the Gateway Pacific Terminal.
The Dirty Dance: Export Plan Puts North Idaho in the Middle of a New Coal Rush
While Highway 200 sees a steady stream of cars and trucks traveling to and from nearby Montana, it runs parallel with one of the Northwest’s busiest rail lines. And through a confluence of much larger global forces–including Warren Buffett, economic growth in Asia and coal mined in Montana and Wyoming–those vacation snapshots could come to include a whole lot more …