Power Past Coal SkagitClick here to visit PPCS’s website. Click here to view a fact sheet about issues specific to Skagit County. There are currently plans to develop one of the largest coal export facilities on the continent at Cherry Point, in northwest Washington. Each day, as many as 18 coal trains (9 loaded and 9 returning), at least 1.5 miles long per train, would shuttle coal from mines in Montana and Wyoming to Spokane, down through the Columbia River Gorge, then up along the coast, passing through Longview, Tacoma, Seattle, Edmonds, Everett, Stanwood, Conway, Mt. Vernon, Burlington, Sedro Woolley, Bellingham, Ferndale and all points in between. The Gateway Pacific Terminal at Cherry Point, as proposed by Carrix/SSA Marine (partnered with Goldman Sachs), would annually export 54 million tons of goods, up to 48 million tons of which would be coal mined by Peabody Energy from the Powder River Basin. BNSF (owned by Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffet’s investment vehicle) is the railway connecting the mines to the port. Power Past Coal Skagit is a diverse group of Skagit Count citizens who are concerned about the proposed coal terminal and the potential for high numbers of coal trains that would travel through our communities. The negative impacts, if the coal terminal proposal were to be approved, would be many and varied. Meetings for volunteers are held once each month. For further information, contact info@transitionfidalgo.org and put “Power Past Coal Skagit” in the subject line. An excellent website for accurate, credible, and up-to-date information is www.coaltrainfacts.org. |
