Inslee’s ironic carbon tax

Last Sunday’s article regarding Gov. Inslee’s climate-change advisers (“Inslee’s climate-change advisers draw scrutiny,” Jan. 14) was both timely and ironic.

One representative states: “the main issue is complete lack of transparency from the governor’s office.” Well, we know all about that up in Newport. Newport-area citizens have been shocked to discover that a silicon smelter is coming right in our backyard. Without citizen input, Gov. Inslee, state representative Shelly Short, and local county officials have decided that a polluting coal—and wood-fired silicon smelter is just the thing for Newport and the surrounding area.

Annual toxic smelter emissions will include 320,000 tons of carbon dioxide, 1,400 tons of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides (acid rain), 111 tons of particulate matter (silicon dust and other particulates), plus other emissions. The carbon footprint will be tremendous.

Citizen health, the environment, and the recreation attributes of this area (hunting, fishing, camping, etc.) will be laid to ruin.

The lack of transparency of government and HiTest officials is unconscionable. And what about the climate change and carbon tax initiatives being pushed by our governor? Didn’t the state of Washington learn anything from the still toxic effects from the Tacoma smelter?

John M. Endres

Newport