14 DAY TRIAL // A report recently made public by US' National Wildlife Federation maintains that, should this country engage in export activities involving coal, the environment and public health run significant risks of being negatively affected.
As explained in this study, several American coal producers are now looking into the possibility of entering the Asian market, primarily because the use of this renewable energy source is on the rise nationwide, and this means that the profits they make on US soil will considerably diminish.
Two of these coal producers are Peabody Energy and Arch Coal.
However, exporting coal means establishing new trade routes and export terminals, activities which are quite likely to further disturb the natural balance of several regions, as coal trains and coal barges are to pass through them ever more often.
As well as this, given the fact that pollution-driven climate change and global warming are global phenomena, it does not really matter if the US cuts down on burning coal if this industry is to move to Asian nations instead.
The National Wildlife Federation also draws attention to a most troubling situation: apparently, the fastest way to export coal from the Powder River Basin to said destinations is straight through the Pacific Northwest, presently one of the cleanest regions in the US.
Moreover, it seems that plans are made to build six export terminals in Washington and Oregon, two states which are well known for their rich fisheries.
Because of diesel emissions from various means of transportation, coal dust and increased land and sea traffic, it is quite likely that air and water quality might be affected. This, in turn, will translate into industries such as agriculture and fishing losing some of their ability to fend for the people and support the national economy.
From where we stand, the National Wildlife Federation makes some very valid observations in its “The True Cost of Coal” report, and we stand by its proposal to oppose these plans made by various coal companies.