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Event
Bellingham City Club Program August 27th
Join us on Wednesday, August 27th for a program of significant interest both locally and throughout Washington State.
From the Powder River coal mines in Wyoming and the North Dakota Bakken Oil Fields, trains are rolling across our state filled with "black gold." If all known proposals for coal and oil terminals and expansions are built as planned, there will be 57 mile-long coal trains traversing our state every day.
Communities along the way from small towns to big cities are beginning to grapple with the safety and pollution concerns, the impact on grain and other commodity shipments and the budgetary impacts to upgrade infrastructure to handle congestion and access to services.
Eric de Place, policy director for Sightline Institute, a Northwest think tank devoted to sustainability issues, will speak about the statewide implications of this march to fuel the developing world. Shannon Wright, executive director of Communitywise Bellingham, will report on probable local impacts. We have invited a representative from Burlington Northern but have not yet received a response.
Speakers:
Eric de Place is policy director at Sightline Institute, the Northwest's leading think tank on issues related to sustainability. A researcher, writer, speaker, and policy analyst, Eric spearheads Sightline's work on energy policy. He is known as a leading expert on coal and oil exports, and is considered an authority on a range of issues connected to fossil fuel transport including carbon emissions, railway congestion, coal dust, water pollution, and economics. Regional and national media routinely cite his work, and he is widely sought after as a speaker, presenter, and spokesperson. Before coming to Sightline he worked with the Northwest Area Foundation on rural economic development.
Shannon Wright is the executive director of Communitywise Bellingham (CWB). Over the last two decades, Shannon has worked with a wide range of people and organizations, from farmers' groups and indigenous peoples' federations to solar energy companies and parents' networks, promoting sustainable economies and community development. CWB was founded in 2O11 by Bellingham residents. It focuses on researching and disseminating factual information about the Gateway Pacific Terminal proposed for Cherry Point, identifying potential impacts on our community, and watchdogging the public process.
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LocationNorthwood Hall Event Center (View)
3240 Northwest Ave.
Bellingham, WA 98225
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: No |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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