Last week we spread the word about a little-noticed $85 million giveaway to coal companies hidden in the Washington State Senate’s Transportation package.
Many of you responded in force – and it worked. The House removed the coal project from their version of the proposal.
Now, will you help us say thanks to the leaders that helped make this happen? Governor Inslee, House Transportation Chair Judy Clibborn, and other members of the Transportation Committee all helped remove this unacceptable provision that would have paid for a rail crossing to benefit the proposed coal export terminal in Longview.
There were many problems with the Senate’s transportation proposal – the poison pill pitting clean fuels and transit funding against each other being the most prominent – so it would have been easy for the coal subsidy to get lost in the shuffle. But it didn’t.
Please email Governor Inslee, Rep. Clibborn, and the other transportation leaders to thank them for standing strong against needless giveaways to the coal industry.
Here's a reminder of what was at stake:
The Senate included a little-noticed $85 million giveaway to coal companies in their transportation package. This provision would have paid for a rail crossing that would see significant use only if the Longview coal terminal moves forward. As you know, that speculative coal export terminal project has been in the planning phase since 2010, and is a terrible deal for all of us from a pollution, traffic, and climate perspective.
Thank you so much for speaking out and making a difference. Please thank the leaders that helped prevent this giveaway!
Author Bio
Joëlle engages community members and diverse constituencies—faith, health, youth, parents, business—to make their voices heard for climate solutions. She led the team of organizers to ensure we stopped any coal export from the U.S. West Coast over the past decade. On offense, she co-led the Field team to help pass the 100% Clean Electricity (Clean Energy Transition Act in 2019) and in 2022 collaborated with the Field team to ensure that all new buildings (commercial and residential) will be built with heat pumps per the State Building Code Council. She continues to conspire for good with them on many other local and state initiatives.
Joëlle was the Regional Outreach Coordinator of National Wildlife Federation where she focused on mobilizing hunters, anglers and concerned citizens around solutions to global warming. Previous work with Climate Solutions includes the NW Climate Connections partnership, serving as the Field Assistant for the successful Clean Cars campaign, and Field Director of the Renewable Fuel Standard, which passed in April 2006.
She previously served on the boards of Earth Ministry, Solar Washington, and Sierra Club Executive Committee. She’s currently President of the board of her 3 year-old!
Joëlle is Northwest born and raised who loves to hike, dance, travel and explore the natural world.
Her favorite quote is “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” — Mary Oliver
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