Summary: As I've documented in previous posts, the organized environmental left is marshalling forces to oppose Powder River Basin (PRB) coal exports to Asia via ports in the Pacific Northwest. Despite their best efforts at fear mongering about supposed environmental effects, local officials are beginning to push back against the prevailing narrative. Realizing that the opposition is based on faulty premises, and realizing the potential economic impact, several local officials are beginning to come out of the woodwork to support this idea. In an op-ed in the Bellingham Herald earlier this month, city councilors from Ferndale and Blaine came together to advocate for the 'family wage' jobs the proposed terminal would bring to Whatcom County: Our good-paying industrial job base has been shrinking over many years, to the extent that Whatcom County's average wage is now about 20 percent lower than the state average. We need to do everything we can to attract businesses that pay family wages and offer good benefits. Every lost opportunity extends the pain of financial stress for too many families. And less citizen spending power means fewer customers at local businesses and less tax revenue to support local schools and other vital services. Once Gateway Pacific Terminal is operational, it will be the second-largest property tax payer in the county. The terminal would benefit the Ferndale and Blaine school districts, paying property taxes in both. These districts have voter-approved levies funded from the taxes paid by property owners in the district. The taxes paid by GPT would take the load off of other property owners in these districts by over $2.2 million every year. The points being made are pretty obvious here:· Gateway Pacific Terminals's taxes would take the load off of other property owners in the area by over $2.2 million every year; · Gateway Pacific Terminal would create new property tax revenues of roughly $4.8 million; · More than $600,000 in annual tax revenues could go to local fire district and $300,000 to local libraries; · Nearly $1.8 million of tax revenue would go toward Whatcom County and $1.7 million to Washington state; · Sales taxes would add an additional $700,000 annually to local jurisdictions in Whatcom County and an estimated $2.5 million annually to Washington state; · Once Gateway is up and running, economic studies show that more than 1,250 jobs will be created, with an estimated annual payroll of about $128 million; · These workers will likely spend about $17.1 million at local stores, restaurants and businesses each year; · During the two-year construction phase alone this would mean $12.3 million in local sales and use tax revenue, mainly in Bellingham, Ferndale, Blaine and Lynden; · Washington state would receive $44.3 million in sales and use tax revenue during the construction phase. A press release a few days ago from The Alliance for NW Jobs & Exports highlighted more statements from local officials who see the benefits of these terminals: “Exports are a critical component to economic growth. The proposed bulk terminal facilities in the Northwest are just one example of the type of investment opportunities that could be harmed by federal export controls,” said Rich Hadley, CEO of Greater Spokane Inc. “Nearly 40% of jobs in Washington can be linked to trade. I’m troubled by any effort to erect new barriers to exports that would put the U.S. at a disadvantage globally.” The infrastructure investments generated by the terminals – which will export coal along with other commodities such as grain, potash, and timber – are gaining support among Washington’s agriculture, labor and business communities. “From our perspective, our trading partners in Asia need access to affordable energy, and we have an opportunity to benefit by
