Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn on Monday announced a new alliance of politicians and tribal leaders opposed to exporting Western coal to Asia from Washington ports. “We will stand together … to tell our federal and state leaders that we don’t want the coal trains here in the Pacific Northwest,” McGinn said. Read the full story here.
State should deny coal project permits to protect the Columbia River Gorge: Guest opinion
As elected officials in the Columbia River Gorge, we are frequently asked to weigh in on projects that affect our local quality of life. Few, however, present such potentially adverse economic and environmental effects as the continuing expansion of coal shipments. Only a few trains currently transport coal through the gorge, and already we’re seeing the damage caused by coal …
OPINION: Coal trains are poor policy
A long-view of coal-export facilities weaves together who is paying for what, the spectrum of environmental impacts, and forecasting where the country will be a generation from now. But politics are rarely hitched to a long view of history. Read the full story here.
Environmental groups criticize Gorge coal trains
KGW News at 6 includes coal dust complaints on the Columbia River Gorge. Watch the full video here.
Over 450 Flood Salem to Sound the Alarm on Pending Coal Export Permit
Salem, Ore. – Over 450 Oregon residents and a diverse group of local leaders flooded the steps of Oregon’s Capitol this morning to call on Governor Kitzhaber to deny Ambre Energy a dredging permit at the Port of Morrow. Many community leaders and residents feel they can’t trust the Australian-based coal company which in 2011 lied to the community of …
Over 450 Flood Salem to Sound the Alarm on Pending Coal Export Permit
Salem, Ore. – Over 450 Oregon residents and a diverse group of local leaders flooded the steps of Oregon’s Capitol this morning to call on Governor Kitzhaber to deny Ambre Energy a dredging permit at the Port of Morrow. Many community leaders and residents feel they can’t trust the Australian-based coal company which in 2011 lied to the community of …
What Coal-Train Dust Means For Human Health In Pacific Northwest
With five coal export terminals under consideration in Washington and Oregon, Northwest residents are grappling for the first time with issues that are old hat in coal states like West Virginia and Kentucky. One of those issues: coal dust. Read the full story here.
Coal Export Terminal Faces Setback On South Oregon Coast
A coal export terminal proposed for Oregon’s South Coast has hit a setback. Two of the project’s investors have dropped out, according to documents obtained Friday by EarthFix. Project Mainstay in Coos Bay is one of five proposed coal export terminals in the Pacific Northwest. They’re intended to ship coal from mines in Montana and Wyoming to markets in Asia …
Guest opinion: Speak up on health effects of burning coal
After practicing family medicine for 30 years, I had to step back from my clinical practice in order to better serve patients and our community. It became clear to me that we need to address the true causes of our diseases. One of the most dangerous threats to current and future generations is our use of coal — a critical …