Washington denies permits for massive fracked gas-to-methanol refinery
“Today’s science-based decision helps ensure Washington’s promise of a livable planet for generations to come.”
In a recent decision, the Washington Department of Ecology rejected the proposal of a massive methanol refinery in Kalama, WA. Ecology denied permitting to Shoreline Management Act, which stops Northwest Innovation Works and the Port of Kamala from beginning construction on any of the refinery’s infrastructure.
The decision came after science-backed research concluded the refinery would have significant climate impact including the shorelines of Washington.
“Today’s decision keeps fossil fuels in the ground where they belong,” Kristen Boyles, Earthjustice staff attorney, said. “Governor Inslee and Ecology put people over polluters by stating once and for all that a clean energy future cannot be built on the back of dirty energy infrastructure.”
By Kathi O Shea January 20, 2021 8:17 am
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OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) Officials in Washington state denied a key permit for a large proposed methanol plant in Kalama.
The $2 billion Northwest Innovation Works plant would have taken natural gas from Canada and converted it into methanol.
It then would be shipped to China to make compounds used in everything from fabrics to medical equipment.
The Department of Ecology on Tuesday said the plant would increase greenhouse gas emissions and was inconsistent with the Shoreline Management Act.
Developers said they would appeal, pointing to a state study released last year that found a “high likelihood” that the project would actually slow the rise in global greenhouse gas emissions in the methanol industry.
Ecology denies key permit for proposed Kalama methanol plant
Greenhouse gas impacts key for denial of $2.3 billion project at the Port of Kalama By KATIE FAIRBANKS, The Daily News
Published: January 19, 2021, 12:59pm
Share: The site at the Port of Kalama where NW Innovation Works is proposing a 90-acre methanol plant. (NW Innovation Works)
LONGVIEW The state Department of Ecology Tuesday denied a key permit for the $2.3 billion proposed Kalama methanol plant, citing a “significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions and inconsistencies with the Shoreline Management Act,” as principal reasons.
In December, Ecology released the final analysis of the proposed plant’s greenhouse gas emissions. The study found while the plant could result in less global emissions, levels would still be “significant” even after mitigation efforts.
NWIW says $2.3B methanol plant construction project will need 1,434 workers By Barry Holtzclaw, The Daily News
Published: January 18, 2021, 6:02am
Share: Northwest Innovation Works hopes to build a methanol plant at the downstream end of the Port of Kalama property. Daily News files
LONGVIEW The owners of a proposed methanol plant at the Port of Kalama this month released their own final economic analysis that predicted the three-year construction project will create 1,434 new full-year jobs, with 192 permanent full-time jobs.
The report, conducted for Northwest Innovation Works by ECONorthwest, said the company will spend $728 million on local labor, goods, fees, sales taxes and services in connection with the construction of the facility, located on 90 acres at the Port of Kalama. Total construction costs are estimated be about $2.3 billion.
Letter: Economy doesn’t run on methanol By Thomas Gordon, Washougal
Share:
I thank The Columbian for opposing the proposed methanol refinery in Kalama. Aside from the pollution increase mentioned in the Cheers & Jeers editorial on Dec. 26, the proposed refinery would only create about two jobs per acre according to Northwest Innovation Works, the proposed refinery’s owner. Other businesses would create far more jobs and the building trades would construct even more facilities than for the methanol refinery.
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