Gov. Jay Inslee sent a stern letter today, co-signed by Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber, to Nancy Sutley, Chair of President Obama's Council on Environmental Quality, questioning the wisdom of the coal export proposals (including the Cherry Point Pacific Gateway Terminal proposal)—that would export about 100 million tons of coal per year to Asia, noting that while U.S. reliance of coal has declined, coal consumption in Asia has "more than doubled" in the last 10 years. 

We cannot seriously take the position in international and national policymaking that we are a leader in controlling greenhouse gas emissions without also examining how we will use and price the world's largest proven coal reserves.

Inslee doesn't full on come out against the proposal, which would run 18, mile-and-a-half coal trains per day through Seattle up to the Gateway Pacific terminal outside Bellingham, but the letter paints a dark context—"coal is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions" ... "the public health costs [include] ... increased atmospheric deposition of mercury in drinking water sources, as well as costs resulting from ocean acidification, rising sea levels, widlfires, and shrinking snow packs..."—and goes on to say this:

We cannot seriously take the position in international and national policymaking that we are a leader in controlling greenhouse gas emissions without also examining how we will use and price the world's largest proven coal reserves.

The decision to go forward with the coal transports—Oregon faces similar coal transport projects—is up to the feds, but would rely on state permitting.

Local hearings, like one in Seattle in December at the convention center, drew thousands of public comments in opposition to the project. The comments have run 90 percent against the project, which—in addition to perpetuating coal prodcution—would jam up traffic in downtown Seattle.

Inslee and Kitzhaber state: "No final decisions have been made on the relate applications for state permits for these facilities. Our agencies are committed to a rigorous, fair and objective process to review these applications, within the scope of our respective authorities. ... We urge the Council on Environmental Quality in the strongest terms possible to undertake and complete a thorough examination of the greenhouse gas and other air quality effects of continued coal leasing and export before the U.S. and its partners make irretrievable long-term investments in expanding this trade."