Wyoming governor: Coal exports critical to state’s industry

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead continued his trade mission to the Northwest on Tuesday, emphasizing to the governor of Oregon that the future of Wyoming’s coal industry requires getting access to deep-water ports to allow exports to Asian markets.

Mead’s meeting with Oregon Gov. Kate Brown followed his meeting Monday with Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. Mead is a Republican while both other governors are Democrats.

Oregon and Washington have been cool to the prospect of allowing the heavy train traffic necessary to haul millions of tons of coal annually to ocean ports from the huge mines in the Powder River Basin, straddling the border between Wyoming and Montana.

In a telephone interview with The Associated Press before heading back to Wyoming, Mead said Tuesday he met with Brown in Portland.

“I don’t know that we’re on the same page with regard to coal, but she gave me a good amount of time and was very cordial and listened to what I had to say,” Mead said.

Wyoming is the nation’s leading coal-producing state. However, lower natural gas prices and increasingly stiffer federal emissions regulations are driving down domestic demand and leaving the state under pressure to find new markets.

Mead said he and Brown agreed not to discuss the state of Wyoming’s pending appeal of a decision by Oregon regulators to deny an application to build a coal terminal at the Port of Morrow, on the Columbia River.

Wyoming and Montana have appealed the decision by the Oregon Department of State Lands denying the Port of Morrow application. A hearing is set early next year.

Brett VandenHeuvel, executive director of Columbia Riverkeeper, an Oregon-based environmental group, said Tuesday that he’s confident Oregon’s denial of the permit application submitted by a subsidiary of Ambre Energy will withstand the legal challenge.

Columbia Riverkeeper, the Sierra Club and several Indian tribes have entered the appeal to argue for upholding Oregon’s permit denial.

“Nothing has changed,” VandenHeuvel said. “Oregon denied the Ambre Energy coal terminal because of the impact to the Columba river and salmon. And I don’t see how that is going to change based on political visits.”

Mead on Monday toured a potential coal port site near Longview, Washington. State regulators there are considering the global effects of allowing exports through the planned facility.

State officials in Oregon and Washington have said any analysis of exports needs to look at the prospect of ultimately burning coal in Asia and the effect on global climate change.

Mead, however, said he believes Wyoming has a right under interstate commerce to export coal. And he said exporting low-sulfur coal from Wyoming could ultimately reduce emissions in Asia because it would supplant dirtier coal that otherwise would be burned.

Mead said he told Brown that Wyoming believes that proposed export facilities need to be considered through the normal environmental impact statement process.

“But when you start getting into this global impact, then that causes us some heartburn because I think it’s difficult to measure,” he said.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead continued his trade mission to the Northwest on Tuesday, emphasizing to the governor of Oregon that the future of Wyoming’s coal industry requires getting access to deep-water ports to allow exports to Asian markets.

Mead’s meeting with Oregon Gov. Kate Brown followed his meeting Monday with Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. Mead is a Republican while both other governors are Democrats.

Oregon and Washington have been cool to the prospect of allowing the heavy train traffic necessary to haul millions of tons of coal annually to ocean ports from the huge mines in the Powder River Basin, straddling the border between Wyoming and Montana.

In a telephone interview with The Associated Press before heading back to Wyoming, Mead said Tuesday he met with Brown in Portland.

“I don’t know that we’re on the same page with regard to coal, but she gave me a good amount of time and was very cordial and listened to what I had to say,” Mead said.

Wyoming is the nation’s leading coal-producing state. However, lower natural gas prices and increasingly stiffer federal emissions regulations are driving down domestic demand and leaving the state under pressure to find new markets.

Mead said he and Brown agreed not to discuss the state of Wyoming’s pending appeal of a decision by Oregon regulators to deny an application to build a coal terminal at the Port of Morrow, on the Columbia River.

Wyoming and Montana have appealed the decision by the Oregon Department of State Lands denying the Port of Morrow application. A hearing is set early next year.

Brett VandenHeuvel, executive director of Columbia Riverkeeper, an Oregon-based environmental group, said Tuesday that he’s confident Oregon’s denial of the permit application submitted by a subsidiary of Ambre Energy will withstand the legal challenge.

Columbia Riverkeeper, the Sierra Club and several Indian tribes have entered the appeal to argue for upholding Oregon’s permit denial.

“Nothing has changed,” VandenHeuvel said. “Oregon denied the Ambre Energy coal terminal because of the impact to the Columba river and salmon. And I don’t see how that is going to change based on political visits.”

Mead on Monday toured a potential coal port site near Longview, Washington. State regulators there are considering the global effects of allowing exports through the planned facility.

State officials in Oregon and Washington have said any analysis of exports needs to look at the prospect of ultimately burning coal in Asia and the effect on global climate change.

Mead, however, said he believes Wyoming has a right under interstate commerce to export coal. And he said exporting low-sulfur coal from Wyoming could ultimately reduce emissions in Asia because it would supplant dirtier coal that otherwise would be burned.

Mead said he told Brown that Wyoming believes that proposed export facilities need to be considered through the normal environmental impact statement process.

“But when you start getting into this global impact, then that causes us some heartburn because I think it’s difficult to measure,” he said.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

The Washington State University Snohomish County Extension building at McCollum Park is located in an area Snohomish County is considering for the location of the Farm and Food Center on Thursday, March 28, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Year-round indoor farmers market inches closer to reality near Mill Creek

The Snohomish County Farm and Food Center received $5 million in federal funding. The county hopes to begin building in 2026.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.