Visit the Tiny Town Where Big Coal Will Meet Its Fate

[limpyhobbler]

Last week Beijing saw its infamous smog thicken to unprecedented levels, driven largely by emissions from coal-fired power plants across China. In recent years coal from US mines has stoked more and more of these plants, in effect offshoring the health impacts of burning coal. This year, much of the US coal industry's focus will be on pushing an unfolding campaign that seeks to dramatically ramp up the amount of coal we ship overseas.

Morrow County, Oregon, is a quintessentially green pocket of the Pacific Northwest. It's capped by the Columbia River, which winds past the hipsters in Portland en route to the sea, often carrying schools of the salmon that have long been an economic staple for locals. But Morrow County could soon become a backdrop for the transformation of the US coal industry, if a planned loading zone for massive shipments of coal—harvested in the Powder River Basin in Montana and Wyoming, and packed into Asia-bound cargo ships—gets final approval.

Right now, local, state, and federal lawmakers are hammering out the details in what is unfolding as one of the biggest climate fights of 2013.

...

from http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2013/01/pacific-northwest-coal-export-climate-battle

[elleng]

1. Let's see.

But as important as the terminals are to the coal industry, they've run up against a wall of resistance by everyone from local environmentalists to Oregon Senator Ron Wyden (D), who has vowed to use his seat at the head of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to hold the terminal proposals to a rigorous environmental accounting.

"I've never seen such passionate opposition to a proposal as I've seen to coal export," Brett VandenHeuvel, director of local environmental group Columbia Riverkeeper, says.

[joshcryer]

3. "Bold, progressive action? That's just not Ron. It's never been Ron. It's not his style."

Will Senator Ron Wyden take a stand on the chair?
But -- to quote the rare congressional staffer who is willing to speak about Wyden, even anonymously -- "bold, progressive action? That's just not Ron. It's never been Ron. It's not his style. And it's not what makes him the most popular politician in Oregon."

Wyden, who rolls out another town hall at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Multnomah Art Center on Southwest Capitol Highway, has recently slammed a Department of Energy study for failing to address the toll of natural-gas exports on the U.S. economy.

He and Murkowski have asked Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to investigate whether coal companies are paying enough in export royalties.

It's a beginning, I guess.

In other words, he wants a better deal, but there's no indication he's fully against it, imo.

[elleng]

4. And my bet is, in addition to coal companies, the railroads will have A LOT to say

about any actions potentially harming one of their major sources of income. Don't know which industry has more clout, but do know rails have big power.

[joshcryer]

2. The possiblity that this doesn't get built is effectively nil.

Yes, there will be a fight. Yes activists will push back hard. But in the end it comes down to one thing. Money. Coal belt politicians will entice Oregon politicians that they'll trade up some wind development for the go ahead. It will be accepted.

Also, one cannot ignore that the US benefits from China relying on its coal. It's a geopolitical interest that this port (and the gulf ports) be opened.

[NickB79]

5. Visit the Tiny Town Where Big Coal Will Kill Us All

There, fixed the title for you.

Sorry, but at this stage in the game, the port will be built. There is just too much money to be made, and too much demand for energy from Asia.

We're so fucked.

[wtmusic]

6. For the same reason, Keystone XL will be approved.

North Dakota is now the second largest oil producing state after Texas.

Too much money to be made, and yes we're so fucked.