Last week, a unit of Australia-based Ambre Energy Ltd withdrew its permit application for a proposed export terminal to ship coal mined in Montana and Wyoming to Asia via a private facility (the former Reynolds Metals) several miles down the Columbia River from the Port of Longview. Millennium Bulk Terminals LLC’s withdrawal followed several weeks of reports about the company’s deception regarding the true size of the project, which was rumored to be up to 12 times larger than what the company told Cowlitz County officials.
The company said it would reapply for a permit to export out of Longview after conducting a new environmental impact study. However, even before Millennium’s withdrawal, many of you had concerns. On one hand, a coal export operation would bring major funds and some jobs to Longview. On the other hand, it could adversely affect the environment as well as public health.
So is it worth it?
Here’s what Warren Shoemaker, a clean energy project developer in Camas, had to say in this letter to the editor.
Dear Editor,
Adding a coal export terminal in Longview is not good for our local economy or for our global responsibilities. Coal is the dirtiest fossil fuel there is; we can’t afford to give our shorelines, our railroads, and our lungs over to this outdated and destructive energy source.
We don’t need to rely on big, out of state fossil fuel interests to power our energy systems or grow our economy in Longview or Clark County.
Acting as a coal middleman between Wyoming and Asia is a disaster at every stage of the process – from the mining impacts, to the air and water impacts in port communities, to pollutants that drift back over from Asia when the coal is burned. It’s a public health and logistical nightmare, committing valuable port resources to a low value, high impact use that brings only a few jobs. Our economy can do better, and our kids deserve better.
Imagine a world where we exported made-in-Washington clean technology for the world to use. Our political leaders in Olympia have the choice in front of them to show how Washington can continue to lead as an innovator versus shoveling coal for another country’s progress.
Our state has a wealth of renewable energy resources and we have made substantial progress on many fronts: wind power installations in central and eastern Washington, anaerobic digesters at dairies, biomass heat and power plants at paper mills and sawmills, energy efficiency projects in homes and buildings, biodiesel plants and others. And there are many entrepreneurial companies developing energy technologies and planning to deploy projects that will provide many jobs in production and the supply chain. Washington is one of the states that’s been leading with well-considered policies and innovative companies. That positions us well for what will be the biggest global market of the century – supplying the vast demand for clean energy technologies and resources.
I have worked in Biofuels since 2006, with a few companies that are advancing next generation biomass and biofuel technologies. The Pacific Northwest is one of the best regions for biomass feedstock needed to supply cellulosic biofuel and bio-chemical plants. Many companies are looking at the region, planning projects and trying to arrange feedstock supply. The forest sector can sustainably supply a new industry, which will bring a lot of jobs and opportunity.
With the big coal plants in Boardman and Centralia phasing out over the next 15 years, the coal companies are looking for a new market for their dirty fuel. However, that phase-out of coal offers an opportunity to generate more of our own power from renewable resources, produced by people living and working here. Let’s keep more money in local pockets, instead of pouring our energy dollars out of state to pay for fossil fuels. Let’s regain control of our energy future from the big coal and oil companies and cartels.
What a shame it would be to allow an export terminal to negate our clean energy efforts. The coal saved by the transformation of our energy supply should stay in the ground, not go to fuel the Asian industrial machine.
I’ve heard some people say, “We can’t stop Asia from burning coal, so we might as well have the jobs loading it for them.” I say this is a weak excuse for doing the wrong thing. It sells America short. Setting aside the economics of how we might impact coal prices if we just say no to exports, we don’t have to be anyone’s resource colony. We can’t control what everyone else does, but we can control what we do. And we don’t have to become a major pusher for the world’s fossil fuel addiction. Let OPEC do that. We should lead the world in the clean energy transition, and sell that to Asia!
Concerned citizens and business people seeking opportunity should just say no to coal trafficking!
From,
Warren Shoemaker
Clean Energy Project Developer
Camas, WA
