Methanol: Port officials can stop this boondoggle

In two years, we are still no closer to knowing the “facts” about the proposed methanol refinery than we were when the lease was signed. The Port of Tacoma, the city and our community have lost patience and trust and are starting to see that this emperor isn’t wearing any clothes.

Rather than engage with the community and reveal specific project details as promised, Northwest Innovation Works has instead used the requested “pause” in the environmental review process to shore up slipping support in Kalama and retool its PR campaign with the “greenwashing” firm EnviroIssues.

It’s starting to be clear that this project has all the makings of a long, drawn-out boondoggle. Our city’s future was beginning to look so bright, but now I fear the negative economic impacts and opportunities lost if we continue to be mired in this fiasco for years to come.

On April 25, the Port of Tacoma has probably the best and last opportunity to stop this project by voting against extending the feasibility terms of the lease with NWIW. Residents should contact the port commissioners and tell them to hold the company accountable to the original terms of the lease.

This story was originally published March 22, 2016 at 10:26 AM with the headline "Methanol: Port officials can stop this boondoggle."