Legislators Pass Coal Subsidy

Washington legislators passed a transportation package that includes $84.5 million to build a controversial rail overpass that will benefit a proposed coal export terminal in Cowlitz County. The funding will subsidize the proposed Millennium coal export terminal: the state’s own data show that polluting coal trains create three-quarters of the projected need for the expensive overpass. We are disappointed in the legislature’s decision to support coal export. State leaders should not force taxpayers to subsidize dirty coal export.

Earlier this year, the Washington House pulled the funding for the $84.5 million overpass, but legislators reinserted the subsidy final negotiations, despite strong concerns from Longview residents and climate activists. The (very thin) silver lining is that legislators delayed the bulk of the funding for the overpass, $62M, until 2021. This gives the people of Washington plenty of time to defeat the Millennium coal export terminal. Take action today to protect the Columbia River from coal export.