Two years ago, an explosion at a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in eastern Washington forced hundreds to evacuate their homes, injured five workers, and caused $69 million in damages. It was one in a string of accidents at The Williams Companies’ natural gas facilities that in the last three years has killed five workers … Read more
Tacoma may soon be home to a $275 million liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility. Where does the project currently stand and what will it mean for the surrounding community? Next Thursday, join Sightline senior research associate Tarika Powell for a community information session about this proposed LNG project. Bring a friend and a few questions to ask during … Read more
Editor’s note: The graphic “Purpose of Proposed Tacoma LNG Facility” was updated 11/22/2017 to most accurately reflect language of source material. Puget Sound Energy (PSE), a regional utility, plans to build a multifarious liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Tacoma. The plant won the second of two leases the Tacoma Port Commission recently signed with companies promising … Read more
Few infrastructure projects in the Northwest have engendered as much controversy as the $3.4 billion methanol production facility proposed for Tacoma. In the coming months, Sightline will explore some of the more complex facets of the proposal, but as a starting point, we have compiled some of the key features of the project. At a … Read more
Here’s the latest in a string of petrochemical developments across the Northwest: the oil company Tesoro plans to spend $400 million upgrading its Anacortes refinery to add a xylene extraction facility that could pose serious environmental risks to the Salish Sea. The public has a limited opportunity to weigh in—from right now until April 15. … Read more
Editor’s note: This article originally appeared on Oil Check Northwest. It it reprinted here with permission. Earlier this month, in a decision that caught everyone from activists to the Governor’s office by surprise, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) rejected plans to build a massive liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal, known as Jordan Cove, in Coos … Read more
Next Wednesday, join Sightline policy director Eric de Place to learn what the proposed methanol plant would mean for Tacoma and beyond. Eric will sit on a panel with speakers from Northwest Innovation Works, Citizens for a Healthy Bay, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Tacoma City Club will host this luncheon and panel discussion. What: Luncheon: Tacoma’s Proposed … Read more
Want to learn more about the proposal to build the world’s largest methanol plant in Tacoma, but don’t have time to dig through the facts? You’re in luck! Last month, Sightline policy director Eric de Place gave a presentation on methanol in Tacoma and the entirety of his presentation was recorded below. Enjoy the video … Read more
Following coal exports and oil trains, fracked fuel and petrochemicals are an unexamined third wave in Northwest fossil fuel projects. Notable among the Northwest projects is a controversial proposal to build the world’s largest methanol plant in Tacoma. Next Thursday, Eric de Place will join Robert Mack of Tacoma Public Utilities and Dan Kirchner of Northwest Gas Association to … Read more
Sightline is publishing a new report today: Fracked Fuel and Petrochemical Proposals in the Northwest. It provides the first regionwide inventory of a new class of projects under consideration. Although these proposals encompass an array of fuels and technologies, they share core features: they are possible in large part because of new oil and gas … Read more