coal trains

Governors' letter reignites NW coal exports debate

Bellamy Pailthorp — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 01:07:55 +0000

The debate over proposed coal export terminals in the Northwest is heating up again after the governors of Washington and Oregon sent a letter to the White house on the issue.

Coal opponents outnumber proponents at Seattle hearing

Bellamy Pailthorp — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 17:24:24 +0000

It was one of the biggest outpourings of environmental activism that Seattle has seen since the WTO protests more than a decade ago.

Crowds gearing up for Seattle hearing on Bellingham terminal

Bellamy Pailthorp — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Seattle is bracing for a big hearing.

Thousands of people are expected to turn out Thursday for a chance to testify about the proposed coal export terminal at Cherry Point, north of Bellingham.

Big day in Bellingham for anti-coal activists and job seekers

Bellamy Pailthorp — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 00:27:19 +0000

Environmental activists are gathering in Bellingham for a big rally tomorrow. They’re trying to stop construction on a proposed shipping terminal at Cherry Point. It would handle millions of tons of coal from western states, to be used as a power source in China.

New voices in debate over Northwest coal export terminals

Bellamy Pailthorp — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 12:00:00 +0000

More voices are chiming in on the debate over proposed coal terminals in the Northwest. A new report adds sports fishermen and tribes to the opposition. It comes less than a week after proponents launched a campaign touting the benefits coal exports could bring.

Seattle opposes coal-export ports

The Associated Press — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:55:41 +0000

The Seattle City Council has unanimously passed a resolution opposing the development of coal-export terminals in Washington state over concerns about increased train traffic and potential harm to health and the environment.

Tuesday's vote comes as the federal government is reviewing the first of at least six port facilities proposed in Washington and Oregon to ship coal from the Powder River basin of Montana and Wyoming to thirsty markets in Asia.

Seattle gearing up to oppose coal exports from northwest ports

Bellamy Pailthorp — Wed, 23 May 2012 21:51:30 +0000

For some it’s the next big source of high-wage jobs; for others, an environmental nightmare: At least 9 trains a day could soon rumble through Seattle, carrying coal to export terminals in Washington and Oregon.

Cities from Missoula, Mont., to Edmonds have passed resolutions that call the idea into question. Seattle is now poised to join them with one of its own.

Short-line railroad floats third coal export terminal proposal in Wash.

Tom Banse — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:36:33 +0000

A short-line railroad is taking a hard look at opening a coal shipping terminal at the Port of Grays Harbor. This is the third location proposed by different developers in western Washington. It would export Rocky Mountain coal to Asia.

The corporate parent of the Puget Sound and Pacific Railroad proposes to redevelop a public port terminal in Hoquiam. The railroad anticipates coal exports would be its main business.

Prospect of more coal trains raises concerns in NW Washington

Tom Banse — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 17:28:21 +0000

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-966242.mp3

Washington Governor Chris Gregoire puts one long running environmental controversy to bed Friday. She’s traveling to Centralia to sign into law a phase out of coal-fired electricity generation in the state. But meanwhile, another coal controversy is heating up in another part of Washington. It has to with a big new export terminal planned for north of Bellingham.