In a letter to Gov. Jay Inslee, state Sen. Dean Takko Wednesday blasted the state Department of Ecology over its decision to delay approval of a key permit for the proposed $2 billion Kalama methanol project.
“The department’s decision is a cowardly swipe at our ambition to bring prosperity back to Southwest Washington,” Takko’s letter says.
“Beleaguering this project despite its overwhelming practical and environmental benefits sends a clear message that the needs of the people of Southwest Washington are not a concern for your administration,” he said.
The letter was released to the press late Wednesday afternoon, making it too late for obtain immediate comment from the governor’s office before Thanksgiving. The governor made battling climate change the centerpiece of his failed campaign for president. An Ecology spokesman said the department received the letter late Wednesday and hasn’t had a chance to review it so the agency “can’t comment further.”
Ecology announced Nov. 22 it will perform a new environmental study of the plant’s greenhouse gas emissions, calling the study that Cowlitz County and the Port of Kalama submitted early this month insufficient. The process could take up to a year, adding to five years the project has been undergoing environmental review.
Ecology’s decision is holding up a shorelines permit, the last major remaining clearance the project needs.
Environmental groups applauded the decision as a way to hold Northwest Innovation Works “accountable to the plant’s potential impact.” Columbia Riverkeeper said the port/county analysis relies on “dubious claim that (the plant) is going to replace dirtier methanol made from coal.”
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Takko, a Longview Democrat, said he was “dismayed” by the way Ecology has managed the permitting process for the plant, which the company says will create 1,000 construction jobs, nearly 200 permanent jobs and generate millions in tax revenues. Takko said Inslee’s decision to reverse his earlier support for the project was a “blow to me and the people of my district.”
Northwest Innovation Works wants to build the methanol refinery on leased land at the Port of Kalama. It would convert natural gas into methanol that the company says would be shipped for Asia for use in plastics production. It would be one of the world’s largest methanol refineries.
The project has had widespread support from local officials and local construction trades unions. And in a Port of Kalama commissioner general election race that was a de facto referendum on the project, incumbent commissioner Alan Basso easily beat challenger Gary Wallace, an outspoken critic of the plant.
The results of the port race should “dispel claims of local opposition,” Takko said.
Takko said it’s “outrageous” a project that will make a “significant contribution to addressing climate change while bringing powerful economic benefits to a struggling region would be treated with disregard” by Ecology.
Northwest Innovation Works has pledged to offset all its in-state greenhouse gas emissions, and the climate change analysis submitted earlier this month concluded that the Kalama project would reduce global emissions by at least 10 million metric tons per year, or the equivalent of about 2 million cars.
“How is NWIW, or any another company contemplating a project in Southwest Washington supposed to trust the state to treat them fairly?” Takko said. “It compounds the difficulties of the people I represent who fear yet another opportunity for a brighter economic future is slipping away.”
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But Mr. Takko,
The case has not been proven that the project will make a “significant contribution to addressing climate change . . . . "
It's not over until it's over...the decision has a final ruling a year from now. Even then the appeals process isn't exhausted. By the time it is maybe we'll have a new governor by then!
If you are a true Democrat, why aren’t you supporting their platform? It states: “We must strive to be responsible stewards of the environment, our communities, and our planet. We must proactively address climate change as a crisis. All people, including future generations, have the right to clean air, water, and a healthy natural environment.” It also says: “We call for protection of our communities from any unsafe shipping of coal, oil, bitumen or any fossil fuels.”
This Chinese company has requested millions of dollars in tax exemptions or loans, as well as millions of taxpayer dollars to build several infrastructure needs. The project will use huge amounts of our clean water, gas and electricity to produce methanol to make plastics or sell as fuel for China’s benefit. China has dirtied their country – now they want to pollute ours.
Another corporate dem. Won't somebody please run against this guy? Is he up for re election in 2020?
The sad part is that those who are keeping family-wage jobs from Cowlitz County don't live here. It's fringe groups like Columbia Riverkeepers who keep sticking their nose into our business. Please let the people of this county decide which industries are acceptable for us.
Put your energy into figuring out how to recycle the plastics that fill our landfills and oceans.
Well, at least we have all of those high tech and white collar corporations moving in.
Kiss this baby good bye. Another one bites the dust. Democrats want to keep you poor, uneducated and dependent. My question is, are they unable, unwilling or just incompetent. Obviously all three. Judge people by what they do, not what they say.
Yet at the same time, democrats fully funded Washington education, made the first two years of college free, and are pushing for more renewable energy development, which will create many more jobs suitable for those living here in SW Washington.
The World is changing from fossil fuels guys. We can argue about the Chinese jobs that will be lost or the short term domestic jobs losses after it was built, but there is an agenda. That agenda has to do the future of the air and water in Cowlitz County. Just because our parents were bamboozled by the rich, and the transparency of the Trump Administration on how business has and is being conducted in this country. Chinese Communist money is not going to buy my air and water in my country.
Speaking of the uneducated, and don't take this personally Scott, but in case you have been too busy to pay attention, while you think the Dems want to keep us uneducated and poor its way better than being a communist. The current administration, if you pay attention wants the American people to be subservient and do as they say for little pay. And don't have a different opinion or you'll pay. It used to be ok to have a different opinion in this country. Our president has secret meetings with Russia and Ukraine. In case your education was not as good as some, the Chinese and the Russians are Communist's we are not(yet). This is the land of the free not the land that is for sale.
They are our adversaries, enemies if you will. They don't like us, they never have. I don't want their money to buy my fresh air and water and pollute it. Do you? This is the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Not a shipyard in India or Turkey. I give a darn about the quality of air and the water my children are going to have. Don't you?
I'm not convinced that some of the people who comment here aren't Russian Intel or Chinese Intel. I've noticed these people who comment here have a few things in common. They like to divide the American people(dem/rep), promote sarcasm with childish schoolyard points of view, are willing to sacrifice/sell their land, water and air to their enemies without even questioning their real intentions. Its for fuel not plastics!
Basically what I get from them is, all they want are jobs. Then move to where the jobs are! You can't use the reason you live in the Pacific Northwest for the air and water quality if this meth plant goes in. So there's really no reason for you to be here if you only want short term jobs. Cowlitz doesn't have jobs. If you don't like it get off your EZ chair and go find one somewhere else. Like California maybe. They have all kinds of jobs for you and your mentality there. I live here for the nature and beauty, not for the jobs.
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