Faux Environmentalists Continue to Stifle Coal Exports; Slow Montana's Economy -- Nothing To Do With The Bakken
Link here to Fairfield Sun Times.
Although the benefits of an expansion at the Spring
Creek mine are obvious, whether the project will be able to proceed is
far from certain. Global demand for coal is projected to increase
significantly in coming years, but existing shipping ports on the West
Coast are currently at capacity. In order to ship more coal, grain, and
other Montana commodities to overseas markets, new terminals need to be
built. Environmental groups have launched a new campaign against the
ports to delay or prevent their construction.
Summary:
An economic analysis of a proposed expansion of the
Spring Creek Mine near Decker shows significant, positive impacts for
Montana, including over 1,400 new jobs, a nearly $60 million increase in
income for Montanans, and over $70 million in new tax revenue for state
and local governments.
Data points (numbers rounded; exact numbers at link):
- 1,500 jobs, in many sectors, all regions of Montana
- $60 million in income on an annual basis; $50 million after-tax for household spending
- $70 million/year in state government revenue
- the current worker at the Spring Creek Mine: $100,000 in wage and benefits, far above median wage in Montana
Doggone it!
ReplyDeleteIt is singularly inappropriate to call those folks "environmentalists" and exclude the rest of us. You have never ever met a sentient adult who is not an environmentalist.
Everybody cares. We should care enough to keep extremists from stealing our word.
If you must, call them environmental activists, or environmental extremists or even environmental attorneys (if it fits). But never,ever call them environmentalists in a way that discredits citizens who have expertise and experience.
My bad. I generally refer to them as faux-environmentalists.
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