Methanol: What Tacoma needs is green industry

Re: “Tacoma must not repeat methanol plant debacle” (editorial, 4-21).

Your editorial cites baseless fear as the motive behind activists’ resistance to a methanol plant. It’s just not that simple. Activists worked to stop this egg from being hatched for a number of solid reasons.

Many find the idea of helping anyone to produce plastics unwise environmentally. Others question the claim that methane, a nonrenewable energy source, is greener than coal. It’s better to break someone’s arm than to kill him, but wouldn’t it be best to do neither?

Still others justifiably find the vast amount of our water that the plant would use a serious danger.

Finally, the public’s faith in environmental reviews has understandably eroded in recent years. Too many accidents, in spite of environmental reviews and promises of safety, have created a Catch-22. Most people don’t know enough science to determine the risks for themselves, but they know enough to see a pattern of studies and promises followed by disaster. That’s well-earned distrust, not baseless fear.

Let’s seek an industry for that property that is truly green, one that enhances Tacoma’s reputation as a great place for travelers, industries and families. We deserve that.

This story was originally published April 21, 2016 at 12:24 PM with the headline "Methanol: What Tacoma needs is green industry."