Washington Youth Say “No” to Coal Exports on Earth Day

By scott parkin

Petition delivery photo via Cascade Climate NetworkThe nationwide mobilization to stop the export of dirty energy from America to overseas markets is gaining momentum.

Today in Olympia, WA, Evergreen University students celebrated Earth Day by delivering over 7,000 petition signatures gathered by Rainforest Action Network and Washington PIRG to WA Gov. Chris Gregoire’s office in the capitol. The petition calls on Gregoire to keep Washington beautiful, be a clean energy leader, and stop coal exports in the northwest.

The group also delivered a letter signed by student government associations from campuses all over Washington asking Gregoire to act on the coal exports.

Today’s event in Olympia is part of a state-wide Earth Day of action organized by the Cascade Climate Network to call attention and raise awareness about the construction of coal export terminals in Longview and Bellingham, WA.

In Longview, Arch Coal and Ambre Energy are working to annually ship up to 60 million tons of coal to Asia, while in Bellingham, Peabody and SS Marine are working to ship 50 million tons of coal to Asia. The issue has mobilized a nationwide campaign to stop coal exports.