Coal ports: Economic plus or minus?
“All
But opponents of the terminals and the increase in coal trains that would feed them say there are negative impacts, too, that the state should study. . .
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But opponents of the terminals and the increase in coal trains that would feed them say there are negative impacts, too, that the state should study before the Gateway Pacific and Millennium terminals are approved. That would include the cost of upgrading rail crossings to handle the increased traffic and delays for more and longer trains where communities are divided by tracks.
“There are huge economic impacts,” Rep. Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle, said. “You have to look at the whole picture, both sides of the coin.”
The study, by Professor Steven Globerman of
Trade with Asian countries would expand, offering the state “a unique opportunity to become economically wealthier by intensifying its long-standing competitive advantage as a gateway to trade,” Globerman wrote. He couldn’t quantify the growth, but believes previous studies have underestimated the total economic benefits.
Hard numbers is what the state should seek, of both economic pluses and minuses, in a comprehensive analysis of the proposed coal ports, Carlyle said. Legislative proposals to require such an analysis have not yet been successful but “we’re not letting it go.”