Guest Column: A crystal ball on coal export

Allison Roberts News

As our community gets ready to discuss the proposed Millennium coal terminal project at public hearings on Sept. 17, wouldn’t it be helpful if we could see the future to know what life near a coal terminal would be like? How far would coal dust spread from the trains and export facility? What would traffic congestion be like with 16 …

Washington Families Against Coal Trains

Eric Shew video

The Power Past Coal coalition launched an ad buy in advance of the public scoping hearings for the proposed terminal at Longview, WA. Rick Marshall, a Camas resident and one of the family members profiled in the Power Past Coal spot, says that he and his family understand the importance of spreading the word about the dangers of exporting coal. …

Fisheries: Coal facilities would threaten salmon

Allison Roberts News

Oregon’s fishing industry advocates have stepped into the debate over new coal shipments in the Pacific Northwest. Representatives of the Association of Northwest Steelheaders and Northwest Guides and Anglers Association said potential pollution from the shipments could seep into waterways and threaten the livelihoods of those working in fisheries. Read the full story here.

Editorial: Time to speak up on coal exports

Allison Roberts News

The lengthy environmental-review process for a proposed coal export terminal is starting. It is vital for the public to get involved, as now is the time when a decision will be made about exactly what impacts will be taken into consideration before granting permits. Unlike the process under way to analyze a similar facility in Bellingham, Wash., in the case …

Lummi Nation’s stance could stop proposed coal terminal

Allison Roberts News

Lummi Nation Natural Resources Director Merle Jefferson says the tribe is ready to send an official letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announcing its opposition to the Gateway Pacific Terminal project at Cherry Point – a move that could stop the federal permit process for the coal terminal dead in its tracks. Read the story here. Read the …

State EIS on Cherry Point coal-exports facility to consider ‘end use’ coal burning in China as well as regional rail impacts

Allison Roberts News

An environmental review of a proposed coal-export facility at Cherry Point will take into account pollutants emitted by the facility, rail traffic carrying coal to the facility, and also the impact on greenhouse gases from coal burning in China, India and other export destinations. The scope of environmental review was announced Wednesday by the Department of Ecology, Whatcom County and …

Goldman Sachs says coal-export terminals are a bad investment

Allison Roberts News

No less an investor than the mighty Warren Buffett has proclaimed that the decline of coal in the U.S. will be gradual but inevitable. Given flat demand for electricity, cheap natural gas, burgeoning renewables, rising efficiency, and future carbon regulations, new coal-fired power plants are bad bet, which is why they aren’t getting built. To save their bacon, U.S. coal …

Ridley Terminals Inc. on hot seat over coal dust in Port Edward

Allison Roberts News

Port Edward is sick and tired of cleaning coal dust off their properties and are now raising concerns to federal and provincial agencies. Port Edward council passed a motion last week to contact the environment ministry at both the federal and provincial levels over the ongoing issue of coal dust reaching Port Edward from the Ridley Terminals Inc. (RTI) coal-loading …