International Law

For All The Coal In China, Shipped Through Longview, Washington?

By Dan

China needs more coal. The United States has more coal than it needs. President Obama is vowing to double U.S. exports. Sounds like we have everything in place for increased coal shipments from the United States to China, right?

Maybe.

In an article entitled, "Coal Foes Play China Card: Critics of Export Terminal Warn of Environmental Harm Abroad From U.S. Fuel," the Wall Street Journal does a truly great job explaining what is going on with attempts by big-Coal and Longview, Washington to start shipping U.S. coal to China from the U.S. West Coast. 

To grossly summarize the article (which I strongly urge you to read), the divide is betweenthose who favor converting the Port of Longview into a port capable of shipping coal to China from Montana and Wyoming. Those who oppose the port being used for this purpose oppose coal going to China at all. Those who favor the coal shipments argue that the mining and shipment of the coal will create American jobs and provide China with less polluting coal than it currently uses. Those who oppose the shipments argue that the mining, shipping and eventual use of the coal will cause environmental and climate change damage.  

Fascinating.

Where do you stand?

Full post as published by China Law Blog on February 04, 2011 (boomark / email).