Religious Leader Sign-On Letter Against Coal Export

Clergy and religious leaders of Washington State, many of you have been champions in protecting God’s good gift of creation, from preaching in churches to testifying in Olympia. With your help and support, Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power & Light successfully passed a bill to end the burning of coal for power in our state while investing in a growing clean energy sector. Our neighbors and all of God’s creation are healthier as a result.

Now big coal companies want to ship dirty Montana and Wyoming coal through our state to be burned in Asia. If these coal export terminals are built, mile-and-a-half long uncovered coal trains will disrupt local communities, coal dust will pollute surrounding neighborhoods, and harbors and fishing grounds will be damaged.

Burning this dirty coal in Asian power plants will poison the air and water, and pollution will blow back over the Pacific to give our children asthma, disrupt the climate, and acidify Washington waters. It makes no difference to Earth’s atmosphere if the coal is burned in China or Centralia, it warms our planet and threatens our future wherever it is used.

You can help us stand in protection of God’s creation here in our state and stop the export of dirty coal overseas.

 Please read and sign your name to this letter to Peter Goldmark, Washington Superintendent of Public Lands, to let him know that religious leaders oppose coal export from Washington ports. Together, we can make a real difference for our common future. Thank you!