It is a complex situation, but one that is definitely on our radar… and should be on yours. The Circumstances: Last year, the U.S. District Court in Washington enforced a ruling from an International Chamber of Commerce tribunal that awarded more than $1 billion to an India- based start-up company called Devas Multimedia. The ruling […]
Category: Blog Post
What Does Ecology’s Decision Mean for Future Projects in Washington?
Last month’s decision by the Department of Ecology to deny Millennium Bulk Terminals – the proposed export terminal in Longview – its water quality permit was a shocking announcement. The decision makes a mockery of the state’s regulatory review process and will have broader implications on Washington. Check out the document below to learn more about […]
Tacoma’s Decision on Tideflats Will Impact Future Investment
Last year, plans to bring a methanol plant to Tacoma were cancelled, costing the city a $3.6 billion investment. Sound familiar? All over Washington, worthwhile developments in our state’s energy infrastructure are being delayed and ultimately given up on as a result of lengthy reviews and opposition from special interest groups. Now, as Puget […]
Increase Economic Potential by Supporting Infrastructure Projects
Washington plays a unique role in the Northwest economy. The state’s deep-water and inland waterway ports and geographic location make Washington a natural gateway for U.S. consumer goods, agricultural products, and raw materials headed overseas as well as a wide array of imported parts, equipment, and resources critical to the American manufacturing sector. But these […]
Coal, oil train ban: Ballot consequences ‘are immense’
Spokane radio listeners had the chance Tuesday to learn a little more about a ballot measure that could dramatically alter the future of rail exports in the Inland Northwest. The measure, known as Proposition 1, would ban rail shipments of coal and oil through the city of Spokane. Rail car carriers would be subject to […]
In Focus: Vancouver Energy
Last week, you may have read the profile on Vancouver Energy from Mike Richards at Lens. The project, a joint effort by Tesoro and Savage, would create an oil transfer terminal at the Port of Vancouver USA. Operation of the terminal would represent a major step toward increasing U.S. energy security, potentially replacing 30 percent of foreign crude oil used […]
ICYMI: Ecology Director Maia Bellon on Inside Olympia
Recently, TVW’s Austin Jenkins interviewed Washington Department of Ecology (DOE) Director Maia Bellon on the public affairs show, “Inside Olympia.” Included in the hour-long discussion: a focus on the agency’s final environmental impact statement for Millennium Bulk Terminals and the requirement to mitigate foreign emissions for exported coal. Jenkins raised concerns from industry and labor […]
Time is money: Permitting ‘shot clock’ now reality in Washington
When it comes to economic development, time really is money. That’s why having regulatory certainty – clear timeframes and regulatory milestones – is critical in the attraction and retention of investors and developers. So the good news out of Olympia recently was the signing of a bill to put in place the regulatory equivalent of […]
Vancouver Maritime Federation Event Focuses on Permitting
Maritime experts from Southwest Washington heard first-hand how Washington’s extensive permitting process is affecting infrastructure investments in our state. At a May 12 gathering of the Maritime Federation in Vancouver, representatives from two of the state’s largest private infrastructure projects, Vancouver Energy and Millennium Bulk Terminals, shared how regulatory delays are affecting their efforts to […]
The Columbian – Longview coal terminal environmental review released
The Columbian | April 29, 2017 By Brooks Johnson, Columbian Business Reporter The Millennium Bulk Terminals coal-export proposal in Longview would bring up to eight coal-carrying trains of 125 cars each through Vancouver every day, according to new information included in a state environmental review released Friday. Release of the massive study is a major […]