The Pacific Northwest is a prime location for coal and oil exports (See Asian Energy). But as many big energy companies are coming to realize, the Pacific Northwest is also a prime location for opposition to such projects. 

The Pacific Northwest, "Where energy projects go to die." 

With strong movements like The Thin Green Line and We are the Red Line, people in the Pacific Northwest are taking a stand against expanding the fossil fuel industry. 

Coal and Oil Projects in the PNW 

"Since 2012, a staggering number of schemes have proposed to move large volumes of carbon-intense fuels through Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia to Asian markets...But in big ways and small—from Coos Bay, Oregon, to Prince Rupert, British Columbia...big energy projects have faced delays, uncertainty, mounting costs…and then failure" (De Place & Gruen). 

Prince Rupert Port Authority: Ridley Coal Terminal Expansion (Prince Rupert, BC)

In 2011, Ridley Terminals began an expansion project to increase the volume of coal moving through their facilities from 12 million tons per year to 24 million tons per year. But after strong opposition and dropping coal prices, Ridley has instead scaled back its production levels to between 4 and 6 million tons per year. In 2014 the expansion project was put on hold for up to five years (De Place & Gruen). 

Port Metro Vancouver: Fraser Surrey Docks (Surrey, BC)

In June of 2012, Fraser Surrey Docks applied for permits to start building a coal export terminal at the Port of Vancouver that would move 8 million tons of coal per year to Asian markets. Opponents of the project requested a report be conducted of health and environmental impacts. The report took over two years to complete and successfully delayed the project during that time. Although the project is still pushing to move forward, it faces local opposition, litigation, and a race against time with declining coal prices. 

 SSA Marine: Gateway Pacific Terminal (Ferndale, WA)  

In February 2011, SSA Marine applied for permits to build Gateway Pacific Terminal--a massive terminal with the capacity to move 48 million tons of coal per year through its facility located at Cherry Point in Ferndale, Washington. There is wide opposition to the project, most notably coming from Lummi Nation, a local tribe with treaty and fishing rights at Cherry Point dating back to 1855 (See Ferndale/Cherry Point; Lummi & Coal).  

After a barrage of delays, SSA Marine suspended its environmental review process as the US Army Corps of Engineers makes a decision about Lummi Nation's treaty rights. Learn more about the project in this short video.  In May 2016, the Army Corps of Engineers rejected Cherry Point coal terminal as a violation of Lummi treaty rights to fish (See here for more info). 

Ambre Energy: Millennium Bulk Terminals (Longview, WA)

"After Ambre Energy proposed in November 2010 to build an export terminal that could move 5 million tons of coal annually from Longview, a legal challenge unearthed documents showing that the Australian company actually intended to move 40 to 60 million tons—a serious public relations black eye for the project. The company regrouped and then submitted official permit applications in February 2012" (De Place & Gruen). 

The Millennium Bulk Terminals project has faced strong opposition as well. Delays have been prominent, with a draft environmental statement released in late April, 2016. Originally, Ambre Energy hoped to see the start of operations in 2014, but pending approval, the earliest feasible date would be sometime in 2017 (See Longview Oil and Coal). In 2016, Arch Coal dropped the project.

To learn more about this project or its timeline, stay up to date at the Washington State Department of Ecology's website. 

Ambre Energy: Morrow Pacific Project (Boardman and Clatskanie, OR)

In 2012, Ambre Energy also proposed a coal barging project that would transport 8 million tons per year of coal through the Columbia River region in Oregon. The project was fiercely opposed by local residents, environmental groups, and nearby tribes such as the Umatilla. The permit application was outright denied by Oregon state regulators in August 2014, noting the project to be in violation of Columbia River tribes' treaty rights and access to fishing. Regulators stated the project was "not consistent with the protection, conservation and best use of the state’s water resources" (Davis, 2014).

According to Sightline Institute,

"Ambre Energy appealed the decision in September 2014, but the US Army Corps of Engineers suspended its permitting review of the project in the same month. (The Oregon Transportation Commission also twice killed subsidies for the project.) Virtually all observers believe the project is dead" (De Place & Gruen). 

RailAmerica: Coal Terminal (Hoquiam, WA)

RailAmerica officially proposed a coal terminal project at the Port of Grays Harbor in Hoquiam, Washington in July 2011. Due to financial concerns, local opposition, and other port concerns, the company informed Port commissioners the project was no longer moving forward in August of 2012. 

Metro Ports: Project Mainstay (Coos Bay, OR)

Another coal terminal project was proposed in July of 2011 for Coos Bay on the southern Oregon coast. The initial plan was to have the terminal operational by 2017, but after investors backed out of the deal, Metro Ports allowed its agreement with the port to expire in April of 2013, effectively ending Project Mainstay. 

Power Past Coal, a northwest alliance against West Coast coal exports, attributed the project bail out to the "mounting opposition from local communities, health professionals, businesses and elected officials, as well as fluctuating markets for coal" (Stewart). 

Kinder Morgan: Port Westward Coal Terminal (Clatskanie, OR)

Kinder Morgan announced plans for a coal export terminal on the Columbia River near Clatskanie, Oregon in June 2011. The terminal would move in two phases, the first operating at a capacity of 15 million tons of coal per year, and the second phase bringing in an additional 15 million tons annually. The project was opposed by local communities, officials, and environmental organizations, including Columbia RIverkeeper and Governor John Kitzhaber. 

Sightline Institute exposed Kinder Morgan for its poor track record with coal dust issues in other areas. According to their website: 

"Kinder Morgan’s plans relied on subleasing land for the terminal from Portland General Electric (PGE), an Oregon utility, in a Port-owned energy park, but PGE rejected the proposal in May 2012 over concerns about coal dust. This proved to be the beginning of the end for Kinder Morgan’s Northwest coal export dreams. In May 2013, the firm announced it could not find a suitable site in the area, scrapping plans for a $150 million terminal" (DePlace & Druen).