I’m nearly two weeks late on this, but I’ve got to shine the spotlight on this excellent piece of journalism from Scott Learn at the Oregonian. It’s an in-depth look at an issue no other media outlet has yet covered: the very real possibility that the Northwest states will soon become a major net exporter of coal.

It’s an astonishing development, given that Oregon and Washington are each working to phase out coal-fired power.

It turns out that Peabody Energy is so bullish about coal energy that they are looking to take coal from the Powder River Basin and ship it all the way to market in China. In fact, they’re now in the hunt for a West Coast terminal that could very well be located at Longview, Washington (though Portland and Vancouver, Washington are also contenders).

Anyhow, go read the whole thing for yourself.