Coal Foes Claim Victory Over Export Terminal

[Willinois]

The US has more power than many people realize to determine whether emerging economies become dependent of fossil fuels or build an energy independent economy. This is an opening skirmish in an ongoing battle to determine whether western ports will ship coal to countries that will exacerbate the climate change crisis.

Coal Foes Claim Victory Over Export Terminal

Quote:Environmental groups claimed a victory Tuesday when a unit of Australia-based Ambre Energy Ltd announced it withdrew its permit application for a proposed export terminal to ship coal mined in Montana and Wyoming to Asia via the Columbia River port of Longview, Washington.

Millennium Bulk Terminals LLC's withdrawal follows months of protests by citizens opposed to construction of the terminal, which was permitted by Cowlitz County officials in November. Millennium Bulk Terminals said it would reapply for a permit to export from the Columbia River port after conducting a new environmental impact study. The project's budget was about $100 million, the company said, and was one of several coal-exporting terminals coal producers are seeking to develop on North America's Pacific coast to meet booming demand for U.S. coal in China.