Utah Passes Bill to Invest $53 Million in Oakland Coal Terminal
Despite widespread opposition in Utah and Oakland, the Utah state legislature has approved a bill to invest $53 million of public funds in a high-risk scheme to ship millions of tons of Utah coal through the proposed Oakland Bulk and Oversized Terminal (OBOT).
The Utah Community Impact Board (CIB) originally proposed to subsidize the Oakland export plan using protected funds that are derived from royalties on fossil fuel extraction and dedicated to community investments in Utah. When legal challenges to that plan arose, Utah State Senator Stuart Adams introduced a bill ...
City Council Defers Hiring of Private Consulting Firm to Weigh in on Coal
On February 16, 2016, the Oakland City Council removed an agenda item about coal that was scheduled for discussion and possible vote that evening. This was a proposal to have an environmental consulting firm review all the documents submitted regarding the use of the Oakland Bulk and Oversized Terminal (OBOT) for the storage of coal.
Coal campaign activists were concerned about this proposal for many reasons:
We do not believe such a review is necessary in order to establish that “substantial evidence” has been submitted that the storage and associated transport ...
Sen. Hancock Introduces Four Bills to Restrict Coal Exports
From Sen. Loni Hancock's press release
February 19, 2016
Four-bill package introduced in California Legislature
OAKLAND – Citing health and environmental threats posed by increased coal shipments in and out of California, Sen.Loni Hancock today introduced four proposed laws to restrict exports of the pollution-inducing fuel source.
“I was shocked when I first learned that a development project on the former Oakland Army Base would export millions of tons of coal to China and other countries,” Hancock said during an announcement ...
Faith Leaders Oppose Oakland Coal Exports; Voters Agree
Poll Reveals that over 75 percent of Oakland Voters Oppose Export Proposal
Oakland, Calif. - Today, leaders from diverse faith communities came together to oppose the proposal to export coal through Oakland, and to call on the Oakland City Council to protect their communities by standing up to out of state coal companies. At the faith leaders rally, which was followed by a prayer vigil, the Sierra Club also released a new poll that found that 76 percent of Oakland voters oppose the coal export proposal.
The poll found that 47 percent of Oakland voters have heard about ...
‘The Tides Are Turning’: Portland Passes Landmark Resolution Against Fossil Fuel Infrastructure
Orginally published on Friday, November 13, 2015 by Common Dreams
'It’s a powerful sign that the the fossil fuel era is beginning to come to an end'
by Andrea Germanos, staff writer
In what climate activists are celebrating as a "landmark" win, the Portland (Oregon) City Council on Thursday unanimously voted to pass a resolution opposing the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure in the city and its adjacent waterways.
"This is a huge victory for the movement and for climate stability," stated Mia Reback, climate ...