Right now, Pacific Northwest residents have a chance to voice their views on last remaining coal export terminal proposed for Washington state. The project, proposed for Longview on the Columbia River, would be the largest coal terminal in North America, weighing in at 44 million tons annually.
All of that coal would be delivered by trains traveling through inland Northwest communities like Sandpoint, Spokane, and the Tri-Cities. So for comparison purposes, here’s how one year’s worth of coal would dwarf the biggest buildings in Spokane:
In the last several years, the Northwest’s “Thin Green Line” of resistance successfully halted five of the six coal export projects originally proposed for the region. As the public evaluates this final coal scheme, it’s useful to remember just how big the coal industry’s ambitions are and what they could mean for area coal dust pollution, coal spills, public health, traffic, and more.
Want to get involved? Check out the list of public hearings here.
Sightline thanks Devin Porter at Goodmeasures.biz for designing these graphics.
Marian Gillis
I am taken by the widespread understanding of the negative impacts of: mining, moving, and burning coal; as described by a diversity of voices in Washington state. This 19C resource is bad business.
We have the power together with each other in this beautiful Place.
J C Bettencourt
I have been waging this battle against the transport of coal across the NW for several years now. I am at this moment wearing a Beyond Coal t-shirt. Coal is big business, and it is a huge battle to stop its mining and transport. I will keep trying.
Longview is looking for jobs, and many of the people involved with coal transport are there trying to convince people this is a good thing. I remember attending a meeting in Longview not too long ago. I thought we had finally won this battle. I guess it’s not over yet!