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Coal Exports Through the Pacific Northwest

Coal Exports Through the Pacific Northwest. Martin Donohoe. Coal. Provides 30% of world’s energy needs and 41% of global electricity US: 31% natural gas, 30% coal Accounts for 44% of carbon emissions from fuel. Coal. Top five producers: China, US, India, EU, Australia Five largest users:

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Coal Exports Through the Pacific Northwest

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  1. Coal Exports Through the Pacific Northwest Martin Donohoe

  2. Coal • Provides 30% of world’s energy needs and 41% of global electricity • US: 31% natural gas, 30% coal • Accounts for 44% of carbon emissions from fuel

  3. Coal • Top five producers: • China, US, India, EU, Australia • Five largest users: • China, US, India, Russia, Japan • Largest coal reserves: • US, Russia, China, Australia, India • Top five exporters: • Australia, Indonesia, Russia, US (9%, $11 billion), South Africa

  4. Plans • Powder River Basin coal → China and India • Federal land • Americans own most of Powder River Basin (40% of America’s coal supply)

  5. Coal Economics • Cheap: • Sold to coal companies for as low as $1/ton (usually non-competitively) • U.S. price = $9/ton; sold to China for $80 -$123/ton • Uncompetitive leasing and poor oversight have cost U.S Treasury $29 billion since 1982 army

  6. Plans • 100-150 million additional tons/yr • 20 trains/day • 4 diesel engines/train (100-120 cars per train) • 12 barges/wk

  7. Plans • Would dramatically increase U.S. coal export capacity • 2006 - 50 million tons/yr • Current - 127 million tons/yr • With active proposals – additional 100-150 million tons/yr • Through Columbia River Gorge (National Scenic Area)

  8. 48 mmt/yr coal 10 mmt/yr coal 15-30 mmt/yr coal 44 mmt/yr coal 8 mmt/yr coal 10 mmt/yr coal Total: 150 mmt/yr coal

  9. Health Consequences of Coal Mining • Respiratory diseases (including Black Lung Disease) • Heart disease • Cancers • Low birth weight • Birth defects

  10. Environmental and Animal Health Consequences of Coal Mining • Depleted aquifers • Decreased land for ranchers for grazing • Dust pneumonia in cattle and horses • Deception

  11. DECKER MINE: DECKER, MONTANA

  12. Accidents • Almost 40 train derailments over last 2 years • 250 deaths/yr in U.S. from all rail transport accidents • Barge accidents • Risk of fires at coal terminals • Special firefighting equipment and training needed • State oversight of rail safety and local fire/disaster preparedness weak

  13. Coal Train derailment near Baltimore, OH Coal train derailment from coal dust buildup near Baltimore, Ohio (2012). Photo from Reuters.

  14. Mesa, WA Coal Train Derailment(2012)

  15. The same trains that would carry coal through the Pacific NW– Wisconsin, 2013

  16. Fire at Westshore Coal TerminalBritish Columbia, 2013

  17. Barges • Risks: coal and fuel spillage, collision, grounding, congestion, emissions, habitat disruption, and fish mortality from wake and propellers • Estimated 24 barge accidents/yr on Columbia, one/yr involving spill of coal or fuel

  18. Barges • Columbia Gorge tourism $746 million/yr • $233 million/yr of this represents labor income to people who live and work in the Gorge • $1.5-4.5 billion salmon habitat placed at risk • Annual economic value of negative externalities produced by Morrow Pacific barges: • Pollution = $17.8 million • Greenhouse gasses = $22.8 million

  19. Coal-laden ship breaks up off coast of South Africa (2013)

  20. Barge Accident at Westshore Coal Terminal in BC (2012)Photo from CKNW News Talk 980.

  21. Accidents(Preventable) • Sago and Upper Big Branch (West VA) mine explosions/cave-ins • Elk River (WVa) coal terminal leak/contamination • Others

  22. Trains • Wear and tear on RR tracks • RR limited by federal law from paying more than 5% costs for improvements in at-grade crossings, bridges, tunnels, and overpasses • Costs will be borne by local municipalities, state and federal taxpayers

  23. Health Effects • Diesel particulate matter: • impaired lung development • pulmonary inflammation and lung cancer • increased risk of heart attacks/strokes/cancer/asthma

  24. Health Effects • Diesel particulate matter: • increases cardiopulmonary and all-cause mortality • developmental neurotoxin • Perinatal exposure increases risk for autism spectrum disorder, ADHD-related symptoms

  25. Health Effects • Coal Dust: • Up to 645 lbs. (3%) lost per car during transit • Surfactant decreases, but does not eliminate, risk

  26. Health Effects • Coal Dust: • Chronic bronchitis/emphysema/pulmonary fibrosis • Exposure to heavy metals • 3-fold increased risk of cancer in coal terminal workers in Australia • Organic gardeners/farmers

  27. “Plumes of coal dust can often be seen from passing coal trains. When standing near the rail lines, I have often had to avert my face when a loaded coal train passes to avoid being pelted with coal particles.” William VanHook, Assistant VP, BNSF

  28. Health Effects • Noise: • Cardiovascular disease • Stroke • Cognitive impairment in children • Exacerbation of mental health disorders • Sleep disturbances

  29. Health and Environmental Effects • Worst effects on: • Communities of color, children, older adults, and low income citizens • Native Americans • Tribal fishing sites (Native American fish consumption up to 10X U.S. avg. of 14 lbs/yr) • Organic gardeners • Quality of life for all

  30. Frequent, Long Train Crossings • Delayed EMS and fire department response times • Increased accidents, traumatic injuries, deaths

  31. Consequences of Burning Coal • Increased ground level ozone • Mercury (and other heavy metals) neurotoxic • Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD, lowered IQ, anxiety, depression, aggression, and social problems

  32. Consequences of Burning Coal • Mercury: • 300,000-600,000 U.S. women of reproductive age with toxic levels • EPA states 75,000 newborns/yr in US have increased risk of learning disabilities associated with mercury exposure in the womb • Vast amounts of water needed for cooling and processing

  33. Consequences of Burning Coal • Air pollution: • 200,000 premature deaths/yr in U.S. • 7 million worldwide (1/8 deaths) • 2.1 – 3.3 million (outdoor air pollution) • 2-3.5 million (indoor air pollution)

  34. Consequences of Burning Coal • Fine particle air pollution from existing coal plants caused over 13,200 deaths in the US in 2010 • Government program promoting coal use in Northern China may cut life expectancy of 500 million people by average 5 yrs

  35. Consequences of Burning Coal • Global warming: • 400,000 deaths and 5.0 - 5.5 million disability-adjusted life years lost per year (WHO, UN Environment Program) • Expected to double by 2030 • Weather extremes • Power from Coal (sponsored educational curriculum from American Coal Foundation): “The earth could benefit rather than be harmed by increasing carbon dioxide.”

  36. True Cost of Fossil Fuels • Global tax benefits and fossil fuel subsidies = $5.3 trillion • Higher than what governments worldwide spend on public health • If all such benefits and subsidies were stopped, 1.6 million preventable deaths/yr would be averted

  37. True Cost of Fossil Fuels • U.S. = $502 billion in fossil fuel subsidies in 2012 • Subsidies for polluting energy sources greater than 12 times subsidies for renewables (excluding military costs) • Public health costs = 2X electricity rates

  38. True Cost of Fossil Fuels • When subsidies and externalities taken into account, renewables look great • Even so, Peabody Energy attempting to rebrand coal as a cure for poverty

  39. Jobs • Progressives (who oppose coal exports) traditionally support unions, green energy jobs, living wage, health insurance for all, etc. • Coal exports - Short-term, unhealthy jobs

  40. Jobs and Property Values • Effect on local retailers and their often low wage employees • Rail capacity limited, Montana farm exports may suffer • Seattle study predicts rail crossing congestion could cost up to $455,000/yr in lost revenue plus an additional $475 million in diminished real estate values • Negative effects on tourism

  41. Jobs Jobs program for pulmonologists, special ed teachers, and morticians

  42. Recent Developments Show Coal’s Future is Bleak • Coal export prices down dramatically: 2011 ($130/ton) → 2015 ($58/ton) • Investors abandoning coal • World Bank and U.S. sharply restricting funding of (overseas) coal plants (2013)

  43. Recent Developments Show Coal’s Future is Bleak • Average U.S. coal plant is 42 yrs. old • Last Oregon coal plant (Boardman) to close in 2020 • 11/15 proposals to build major new coal export facilities in the US defeated or cancelled between 2013 and 2015 • 2016: Oakland, CA bans coal hauling and storage, dooms planned terminal

  44. Recent Developments Show Coal’s Future is Bleak • Chinese demand expected to drop with development of nuclear and renewables (currently coal = 66% of China’s energy consumption) • Air pollution situation “grim” (1.23 million premature deaths in China in 2010)

  45. Recent Developments Show Coal’s Future is Bleak • China has banned new coal plant production near Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou and promised to close 2,000 small coal mines by 2015 • Banning coal sales and use in 6 main districts of Beijing by 2020 • Plans to increase renewables and nuclear energy

  46. HOWEVER… • 2015: US Interior Department’s Regional Management Plan authorizes sale of $10.2 billion of Powder River Basin coal (on 106,000 acres of public land) at far below market prices • Would negate most other Obama administration actions to control carbon emissions

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