tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7154030830876208813.post1093716787133377473..comments2023-11-03T03:05:04.638-07:00Comments on Surfrider Foundation Washington: Proposed GPT Coal Terminal Receives Resistance Jody Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04512106441245939483noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7154030830876208813.post-7036508739915673302013-07-11T13:32:21.402-07:002013-07-11T13:32:21.402-07:00Dear - I read that you are a support...<br /><br />Dear - I read that you are a supporter of the Cherry Point coal terminal. And so are many other Democratic officials. How can you call yourselves Democrats, supposedly in favor of going to green energy sources for our needs and limiting destructive greenhouse gasses, and yet favor coal exports? I have voted Democrat all my life, but now am considering changing to Independent. I will not vote for anyone who supports oil and coal industries. You all wouldn't have to live in Bellingham if it went through. Proponents of the terminal are spending thousands on TV ads touting its environmental safeguards. They claim that the coal dust will be controlled by wetting it. Yet studies show that 80 percent of coal dust from trains drops out of the bottom of cars, and there is little if any way to limit this. The terminal developer, Carrix/SSA Marine, was caught in the summer of 2011--before environmental impact statements were completed--destroying wetlands to begin construction before getting required permits.<br />Unfortunately, labor is divided on the issue. A number of unions and labor groups, including the Maritime Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, the Washington State Labor Council, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union–Puget Sound District Council, among others, have endorsed the GPT, according to the project's website.<br /><br />Their rationale is the 200 permanent union jobs the project is expected to create. Proponents claim that the construction of the terminal will create 2,000 temporary jobs as well. However, a study by an independent nonprofit agency, Community Wise Bellingham, claims that the negative impact on businesses in Bellingham, in the short- and long-term, would destroy as many jobs as the terminal creates.<br /><br />We would be much better served to create jobs with clean energy projects, such as solar panel factories, wind turbine plants, hydrogen fuel cell plants, etc., than dirty coal terminals and trains, that have been proven to cause all kinds of health disorders, especially lung and asthma related.<br /><br /> <br /> <br />london2zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07658324040199800298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7154030830876208813.post-87953575155097831102013-07-09T13:18:15.837-07:002013-07-09T13:18:15.837-07:00Proponents of the terminal are spending thousands ...Proponents of the terminal are spending thousands on TV ads touting its environmental safeguards. They claim that the coal dust will be controlled by wetting it. Yet studies show that 80 percent of coal dust from trains drops out of the bottom of cars, and there is little if any way to limit this. The terminal developer, Carrix/SSA Marine, was caught in the summer of 2011--before environmental impact statements were completed--destroying wetlands to begin construction before getting required permits.<br />Unfortunately, labor is divided on the issue. A number of unions and labor groups, including the Maritime Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, the Washington State Labor Council, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union–Puget Sound District Council, among others, have endorsed the GPT, according to the project's website.<br /><br />Their rationale is the 200 permanent union jobs the project is expected to create. Proponents claim that the construction of the terminal will create 2,000 temporary jobs as well. However, a study by an independent nonprofit agency, Community Wise Bellingham, claims that the negative impact on businesses in Bellingham, in the short- and long-term, would destroy as many jobs as the terminal creates.<br />london2zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07658324040199800298noreply@blogger.com