Port of Tacoma: Moratorium on fossil-fuel plants

Re: Matt Driscoll: “Tacoma’s a target for fossil-fuel development” (TNT, 7/1)

Thanks to Matt Driscoll for drawing our attention to the dire situation confronting our Port.

Right now the liquefied natural gas plant is being built, despite a court battle with the Puyallup Tribe. Another company, Targa, seeks to store and ship toxic “natural gasoline.” Powerful, carbon-fuel profiteers view the Northwest as its gateway to the rest of the world, planning to make our nation a principle source of fracked gas.

Tacoma and the Northwest could truly do the world good by resisting fossil-fuel companies. As Driscoll wrote, places like Hoquiam, Aberdeen, Vancouver, Whatcom County, Spokane and Portland are already doing so. We have an opportunity to join them; we could lessen pollution not only here but abroad, where the fracked gas is to be shipped.

Long-overdue interim plans to protect the Port are being considered, but they will be time-consuming, costly and challenging. The required step then is to put a moratorium on all fossil fuel companies’ efforts to build in our Tide Flats. Humanity must face reality. We must restore Mother Earth and develop sustainable, clean energy sources.

This story was originally published July 7, 2017 at 5:49 PM with the headline "Port of Tacoma: Moratorium on fossil-fuel plants."