Tacoma: We seem to be past 'considering' methanol plant

Matt Driscoll’s column (TNT, 2-11) concludes with the impression that opponents of the proposed methanol plant somehow haven’t already examined the scientific and engineering risks of this project, but “for the rest of us, since Tacoma is considering a methanol plant, having a rational, factual conversation seems like the least we can do.”

The problem (and what has stirred up so much ire) is the fact that the considering part of the equation was determined when the Port of Tacoma commissioners signed a 30-year lease with Northwest Innovation Works, a limited liability company made up of an unknown faction of the Chinese government and British Petroleum.

Because the contract was signed, this has now become a rear-guard action and somewhat of a David and Goliath struggle to ensure that the environmental impact statement recognizes the folly of this project.

This story was originally published February 12, 2016 at 2:39 PM with the headline "Tacoma: We seem to be past 'considering' methanol plant."