EDITORIAL: Merkley calls for coal study

Allison Roberts News

“Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley has joined Gov. John Kitzhaber in pressuring the Obama administration to conduct a sweeping environmental review of proposals for coal export facilities in Oregon and Washington state. Other members of the Northwest’s congressional delegation should add their voices to the demand for a federal review of proposals that would increase dramatically this country’s coal export capacity …

Coal exports bring unacceptable risks

Allison Roberts News

Imagine the conversation in the board room of the coal companies. “Sir, our stocks are dropping fast. States are transitioning away from coal-fired power plants, claiming our coal is too dirty.” “Hmmm … Let’s export the coal to Asia! We could push 50 coal trains per day through the Columbia River Gorge to ports in Oregon and Washington. And let’s …

At state convention, Democrats pass resolutions on coal-exporting terminals

Allison Roberts News

Democrats at the state convention passed two resolutions related to construction of a terminal to export coal. The following Democrats were asked to oppose construction of the Gateway Pacific Terminal at Cherry Point: • U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen of Everett • Sen. Maria Cantwell • Sen. Patty Murray • Gov. Chris Gregoire • Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark. The resolution …

Seattle City Council Votes Unanimously (and Symbolically) Against Transport of Coal

Allison Roberts News

The Seattle City Council went on record yesterday, officially opposing the transportation of coal through city limits by unanimously passing Resolution 31379 during the afternoon council meeting. Symbolic but firm, the wording of the resolution highlights “the negative impacts on the climate as well as regional impacts on human health and rail and freight traffic from the significant increase in …

Oregonians Rally with Robert F. Kennedy to Power Past Coal

Allison Roberts News

Several hundred activists gathered in Pioneer Courthouse Square today to rally against exporting Montana and Wyoming coal from Northwest ports, an effort to signal the industry that it’s in for a no-holds-barred fight. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., chief prosecuting attorney for Hudson Riverkeeper and president of the Waterkeeper Alliance, took top billing.  Based on his experience fighting coal mining in …

Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber Expresses Concern about Coal Exports, Calls for Comprehensive Review

Allison Roberts News

Coal is the oldest and filthiest of fossil fuels. Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber is right to request a comprehensive federal review of proposals that would more than double this country’s coal export capacity by turning Northwest ports into major shippers of U.S. coal to China and other Asian countries. Kitzhaber’s request to the federal Bureau of Land Management and the …

Editorial: Oregon and northwest neighbors must decide wisely on coal export proposals

Allison Roberts News

It was only a matter of time before a local leader willing to look at the big picture on coal exports stood up and said, in so many words: Wait a minute, are we sure about this? Gov. John Kitzhaber did just that last week, when he asked federal agencies to conduct an integrated review of several proposals to turn …

Stay up-to-date on scoping

Allison Roberts News

If you are concerned about staying up-to-date on the scoping processes for the coal terminal proposals–when will they begin? when do they end? how do I submit comments?–make sure to sign the petition opposing coal exports from the Pacific Northwest. You will be added to a mailing list (used sparingly!) that provides information about public process in the ongoing fight …

EDITORIAL: The trains are coming

Allison Roberts News

The trains are coming! The trains are coming! Marysville’s issue with increasing rail traffic is here to stay in spite of all the ink that’s been spilled over BNSF’s high-handed intention to slice Marysville in half with a chain saw of coal cars. From a local perspective it just isn’t fair but from the BNSF perspective, our perspective doesn’t count …