Update on Coal and the Columbia

Back in November I wrote a post about some of the challenges facing the Columbia River, to include the threat of coal transport through the Gorge. There have been a few updates since then, so I thought I’d pass them along here.

First, a bit of good news: the Port of Coos Bay, one of five proposed export points for coal that would have gone through the Gorge, ended the proposal after a year and a half of work and debate. If it had passed, it would have allowed trains a mile long to haul coal through the Gorge as well as through urban areas like Portland and Salem. This may not seem like such a big deal, but as was discussed at the meeting I attended last November, due to the potential for coal dust to explode from sparks caused by friction, the coal cars have to remain uncovered.

The only dust prevention is a chemical surfactant sprayed on the coal–which, of course, also ends up polluting the areas around the railroad, and even then it doesn’t prevent all the dust from flying away because the surfactant will split if jostled too much. This means that the trains would leave a trail of coal dust wherever they went–and we’ve already seen the negative impact that’s had over on the Washington side of the Columbia, where coal trains have left dust in the water and on the ground as well as in the air. The Sierra Club plans to sue six coal companies and BNSF railroad, who transports their coal, for violating the Clean Water Act.

The protest against coal is having an effect: a coal mine in Wyoming has ceased operations due in part to lack of transport to the Pacific. In case anyone is concerned about the local economy and jobs, there’s a wind farm just up the ridge from the mine that has 80 windmills providing cleaner energy not from fossil fuels. If coal continues to diminish as a commodity as it has been, perhaps its empty niches will be filled by more sustainable options. It’s already happening in the Pacific Northwest.

There’s still work to be done, though. Every time a coal train derails, there’s a mess left behind. In the U.S. alone, there have been thirty derailments in the past year, over a third of those since 2013 began.

I’ll keep you folks posted on news as I get it. In the meantime, if you’re absolutely craving news about the Columbia River, you can read about my adventures in keeping my little adopted stretch of it clean over at Therioshamanism. For those wanting to response with a bit of slacktivism, here’s a petition asking Interior Secretary Jewell to stop the federal coal leasing program. And, of course, if you can, cut down on your consumption of energy, especially fossil fuel energy. If you’re a Portland General customer, for example, there are a few options for switching your electricity to greener sources; I swapped mine out in the fall, and my winter electric bills were barely higher than last year even living in the same place. Seattle also has similar programs, including a neat-looking solar community program. Check with your local utility provider to see if there are green options available.