In the last several years, Cascadia has seen a tsunami of proposals to expand the region’s capacity to ship coal and oil throughout and out of the region. More recently, a third wave of proposals has emerged: fracked gas and petrochemicals, including methanol.

In fact, the world’s largest methanol refinery and export terminal is proposed for the Columbia River in Southwest Washington. This refinery would consume more gas than any sector of Washington’s economy, requiring gas pipeline expansions through King County, and opening the floodgates for fracked gas usage and exports in our state. Methanol comes at a high cost. Sometimes pitched as green, there is no evidence to support the project’s hype of environmental responsibility. The plants that produce it require massive amounts of energy and water, even as they spew out wastewater and heavy metals and fill the air with toxic and climate-warming pollution.

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    Thanks to Christopher Muller for supporting a sustainable Northwest.

  • Sightline policy director Eric de Place will join Mark Vossler of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility and Jessica Zimmerle of Earth Ministry to speak about the impacts of fracked gas and petrochemicals and steps communities can take to stop these proposals.

    Read Eric’s research here.

    Event “Keep Fracked Gas Out of Washington”

    Sea Tac, Washington

    • When: Wednesday, September 6, 6:30 – 7:30 PM
    • Where: Valley View Library, 17850 Military Rd S, SeaTac, Washington 98188
    • Sponsors: South Seattle Climate Action Network, Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, Sierra Club, 350 Seattle
    • Tickets: This event is free and open to the public.
    • RSVP and more information here.

    Redmond, Washington

    • When: Thursday, September 14, 7:30 – 8:30 PM
    • Where: Redmond Library, 15990 NE 85th Street, Redmond, Washington 98052
    • Sponsors: Earth Ministry, Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, Sierra Club, 350 Seattle
    • Tickets: This event is free and open to the public.
    • RSVP and more information here.