British Columbia moves to ban US coal transport in retaliation for softwood lumber duties

[mahatmakanejeeves]

I had not known that some U.S. coal ended up at ports in British Columbia.

BC moves to ban US #coal transport in retaliation for #softwoodlumber duties http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-moves-to-ban-u-s-coal-transport-in-retaliation-for-softwood-duties-1.4086688 … #bcpoli #uspoli #cdnpoli

Link to tweet

B.C. moves to ban U.S. coal transport in retaliation for softwood duties

'We've gone from seeing Americans as being good trading partners to being hostile trading partners.'

By Karin Larsen, CBC News Posted: Apr 26, 2017 11:28 AM PT| Last Updated: Apr 26, 2017 9:23 PM PT

In the wake of the U.S. imposing new penalties on Canadian softwood lumber imports, B.C. Premier Christy Clark is asking Ottawa to ban the shipment of all thermal coal — including U.S. thermal coal — through British Columbia.

"We've gone from seeing Americans as being good trading partners to being hostile trading partners," said Clark when asked why she was making this move now.

On Monday, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced its first batch of duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports, ranging from three to 24 per cent, a move that could have serious consequences for B.C.'s large forestry industry.
....

In a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Clark says,"For years, American thermal coal exports through Canada have been increasing due to a shortage of U.S. port capacity." ... "By eliminating thermal coal shipments from British Columbia ports, we can open up additional capacity for metallurgical coal that is used to make long-lasting steel, not burned to produce short-term electricity."

[pscot]

1. Excellent

No more coal trains trundling through through Pugetopolis.

[elleng]

2. Interesting lesson here, in case anyone wants to learn.

[saidsimplesimon]

3. Thank you jeeves

My comment would also fit the categories of Science and the Environment. This is from my simple layman's understanding of the coal industry and the environmental impact. My first priority remains, "Save the Planet". Join the scientists at the Peoples Climate March tomorrow if you can.

Sooner or later, we will have to recognise that the Earth has rights, too, to live without pollution. What mankind must know is that human beings cannot live without Mother Earth, but the planet can live without humans. Evo Morales

Union of Concerned Scientists main website
http://www.ucsusa.org/

http://www.ucsusa.org/center-for-science-and-democracy/empowering-citizens-and-scientists/how-join-peoples-climate-march
Peoples Climate March in Washington, DC on 4/29, details and blogs at website

http://www.resilience.org/stories/2014-06-24/the-vanity-costs-of-burning-coal-in-arizona/
THE VANITY COSTS OF BURNING COAL IN ARIZONA
By Nancy LaPlaca, originally published by Energy & Policy Institute
June 24, 2014
…..
When it comes to clean energy, Arizona is on par with Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and the entire Southeastern U.S. Arizona is far, far behind California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho – even coal-dominated Wyoming has a larger percentage of clean energy.
I want to make it clear that Arizona burns much of its coal to make electricity for air conditioning. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, coal-fired power is the largest single source of heat-trapping CO2, as well as a host of other toxics including mercury. Burning coal to make electricity for air conditioning is not a long-term solution, as it creates far more heat than cooling over time. Burning coal for electricity essentially makes Arizona — and the planet — uninhabitable.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Category:Existing_coal_plants_in_Arizona

Arizona has 16 operating coal-fired power units at six locations totaling 5,681 megawatts (MW).
Abitibi Snowflake Power Plant
Apache Generating Station
Cholla Generating Station
Coronado Generating Station
H. Wilson Sundt Generating Station

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Arizona_and_coal

Arizona produces approximately 12 million tons of coal per year, all of which is extracted from the Black Mesa field in the northeastern part of the state, an area subject to Indian land leases. In 1992, tribal royalties from coal sales were $33 million. Black Mesa coal is burned at the Mohave Generating Station owned by Southern California Edison in southeastern Nevada, and is delivered via the nation's only long distance slurry pipeline.[1]

In addition to burning its own coal, Arizona imports coal from New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah.[1] Coal-fired power plants produce approximately 23 percent of the electricity generated in Arizona. Arizona's average retail price of electricity is 8.24 cents per kilowatt hour, the 21st highest rate in the nation[2] In 2003, Arizona emitted 89 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, ranking it 24th in the nation overall.[3]

http://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/energy/2016/09/29/srps-northern-arizona-coal-plant-one-biggest-carbon-emitters-country/88583302/

SRP's northern Arizona coal plant one of the biggest carbon emitters in the country
Ryan Randazzo , The Republic | azcentral.com 6:06 a.m. MT Sept. 29, 2016
An electric train delivers 240 cars of coal to the Navajo Generating Station each day, dumping the black fuel into a pile roughly twice the size of the Walmart shopping center in nearby Page.

Each day the plant burns 24,000 tons of that coal, and in doing so, creates nearly double that amount of carbon dioxide pollution, making it the third-largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the country.
Over the years, upgrades have reduced the amount of other pollutants released by the plant's three generators. But the only way to reduce carbon emissions, which gain atomic mass on release, is to reduce how often the plant runs.
…….
Top carbon emitters
The EPA's 2014 list of largest carbon-emitting facilities includes several coal-fired power plants either in Arizona or that are partially owned by Arizona utilities.
No. 3: Navajo Generating Station, co-owned by SRP, APS, Bureau of Reclamation, TEP and NV Energy.
No. 31: San Juan Generating Station in New Mexico, where TEP is one of multiple owners. It plans to close a portion of its share.
No. 47: pringerville Generating Station, owned by TEP, SRP and Tri-State Generation.
No. 55: Craig Station in Colorado, where SRP is one of five owners. A plan released Sept. 1 would close one of its three units.
No. 78: Four Corners Power Plant in New Mexico, partially owned by APS, PNM Resources Inc., SRP, El Paso Electric and TEP. Partially closed in 2013.
No. 84: Cholla Power Plant, partially owned by APS and Tri-State. One unit closed last year and others are slated to switch to natural gas.