Full Title: Northwest Coal Exports
Author(s): Eric de Place
Publisher(s): Sightline Institute
Publication Date: April 1, 2012
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
Customer demand for coal has been declining in the United States, in part because of competition from cleaner energy sources. With dimming prospects in North America, coal companies are looking to Asian markets where demand appears to be increasing.2 These companies hope to take coal mined on public land in the Powder River Basin of Montana and Wyoming, carry it by rail to West Coast ports, and ship it to Asia, including China and India, where it would be burned to generate electricity.3 Before coal companies can export large volumes of coal to Asia, however, they would need new shipping terminals. Yet exporting coal from the Northwest states could open a Pandora’s box of pollution and economic risk for the region.