LNG plant: Tacoma shouldn't rush to be first

A fossil fuel export plant being proposed for Coos County, Oregon, would be the first of its kind on the West Coast, and would provide liquefied natural gas for export.

Is there any chance the Tacoma City Council could fast track the permits that good old Puget Sound Energy needs to build its fossil fuel project on the Tideflats? Perhaps, then PSE could proudly claim to be first of its kind to supply LNG on the West Coast.

However, the permit process will have to speed up, since the Trump administration is prepared to give the green light to the Coos County project. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission earlier denied the request by the builder on the basis that demand was lacking, and because it had negative impacts on landowners. But the Trump fossil fuel experts have already indicated they will permit an LNG export facility in the Northwest.

This story was originally published May 21, 2017 at 6:59 PM with the headline "LNG plant: Tacoma shouldn't rush to be first."