A coalition of tribal leaders and politicians gathered in Seattle Monday to announce the formation of a new group that opposes coal exports in the Northwest.
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and State Representative Reuven Carlyle were among a group of Washington politicians and tribal leaders who announced the creation of the Leadership Alliance Against Coal. The group says it will work to “raise awareness about the damaging economic, cultural and health impacts of coal trains and coal exports”.
The coal would be transported by train from mines in Wyoming and Montana, then loaded onto ships bound for Asia.
Leaders from the Tulalip, Swinomish and Lummi tribes have joined the coalition against the proposed coal terminals. So have the mayors of Edmonds, Bainbridge Island, Shoreline, and Marysville along with councilmembers from Spokane and Seattle.
But proposals to export coal have strong support in the region as well.
Supporters include the mayor of Ferndale and the Northwest Chapter of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The Association for Washington Business and several prominent labor unions in the state also support exporting coal.
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