Updated September, 2011

As North America’s appetite for coal wanes, coal companies are looking to China and other Asian markets to sell US-mined coal. Yet before large volumes of coal can be exported overseas, new shipping terminals would need to be built at port sites in the Northwest. In a new fact-finding report, Sightline examines the potential benefits and potential risks of coal export facilities.

Sightline's Coal Export FAQ answers some common questions about the effects of coal exports in our region, including:

• Why care about coal exports?
• What export proposals are on the table?
• Isn't it good for our economy to export coal?
• Are coal terminals good neighbors?

For Sightline's latest work on coal in the Northwest, read our blog series "The Dirt on Coal," or subscribe to our email updates.

Coal stack photo courtesy of flickr user richard.brand under a Creative Commons license.