Tacoma: Methanol plant not worth the risks

Ready for the big one? Is a methanol plant?

The Tacoma earthquake fault runs right under the Tacoma Tideflats, an area likely to liquefy during an earthquake.

The Tideflats could be home to a Northwest Innovation Works (NWIW) plant storing 300,000 metric tons of volatile methanol. Natural gas and methane in new pipeline extensions provide additional potential for explosion.

Practically next door, the liquid natural gas (LNG) plant planned by Puget Sound Energy and permitted by the City of Tacoma will store natural gas, cooled to subzero temperatures in an 8 million gallon tank. The LNG plant will also use significant volumes of flammable refrigerants.

Would you okay this plan?

Additionally, NWIW’s plant would have enormous water and power demands, release toxic emissions and contribute to greenhouse gases. The natural gas is obtained by fracking.

Are our decision-makers so afflicted with tunnel vision that they ignore the obvious hazards of siting this plant so near residences in pursuit of profits and a few jobs? Where will the plant owners be during a big blast? In China?

For NWIW plant commenting instructions, see the city’s web site: cityoftacoma.org. Search for NWIW methanol scoping. For LNG water permit instructions, see ecy.wa.gov. Search for Tacoma lng.

This story was originally published January 4, 2016 at 2:02 PM with the headline "Tacoma: Methanol plant not worth the risks."