As Northwest concerns build about global and local environmental issues in the Northwest, a small Oregon port gives its approval to exporting coal to burn in Chinese power plants. Read more.
Major traffic revisions pivotal to Longview coal terminal’s future
If local planners have their way, motorists on Oregon Way in Longview will one day to look down at the Industrial Way intersection and see freight trains passing underneath. This overpass is the lynchpin of an emerging, $200 million plan to upgrade the region’s aging rail network to accommodate industrial growth. Read the full story here.
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 Trains Sound Alarm
The proposed massive movement of coal by train from Wyoming through the Columbia Gorge to a half-dozen small Northwest ports for shipping — to feed power plants in China and India — could cause problems for people in Eugene and other cities that the rail lines run through. 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 …
EDITORIAL: Coal will dwarf the LNG debate
Political and land-use fights over liquefied natural gas terminals on the lower Columbia River are merely the JV game when compared to the Rose Bowl-sized commotion starting in earnest over coal export. One of the star players in this drama has now revealed much of its game plan, in the form of paperwork filed with Cowlitz County, Wash., for a …
Proposal for massive Longview coal shipping terminal re-emerges
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.
Coal Export the Wrong Direction for Longview
Statement from Brett Vandenheuvel, Columbia Riverkeeper and Power Past Coal coalition in response to Millenium Bulk Terminals filing permit for 44 million ton coal export facility in Longview, WA “Millennium went into hiding after they were caught lying about the scale of their coal export terminal one year ago. No one has forgotten the lies and the mistrust of the …
EDITORIAL: Port approach on coal lease disappointing, but not surprising
Port of St. Helens officials are taking a smattering of public relations flak for their approach toward approval of land leases for two prospective coal loading projects. Some, including the Columbia Riverkeepers and a few unaffiliated critics have argued the Port compromised the spirit of public disclosure and debate by hastily approving leases following a closed executive session at its …
DA waives Sierra Club’s fees for Port of Coos Bay records
On February 28, 2012, Oregon’s Coos County’s district attorney R. Paul Frazier ruled that the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay was unreasonable in charging the Sierra Club more than $16,000 to access public records related to the Port’s plans to develop coal exports facilities. The Sierra Club hailed the D.A.’s decision as a “victory for transparency,” explaining that “for too …
