04/28/2014
GOOD NEWS FROM OREGON GOVERNOR KITZHABER
Thank you Richard Ellmyer for summarizing.
"It is time to once and for all to say NO to coal exports from the Pacific Northwest." Governor John Kitzhaber April 19, 2014*
With this statement alone Governor John Kitzhaber joins the pantheon of former impressive governors of Oregon, Oswald West and Tom McCall. Their love for Oregon rose them above the political morass and guided their inspired and righteous decision making to the benefit of future generations. Thank you.
With this statement alone Governor John Kitzhaber assures the active and enthusiastic support from the majority of Oregonians who want to keep Oregon one of the last clean and green states in America.
"The Australian corporation proposing a coal export terminal in Boardman has repeatedly failed to provide requested information about its proposal. More recently, several Columbia River tribes have provided documentation that the proposed facility would destroy at least three Native American fishing sites protected by treaty. This information, along with prior submittals, also shows that increased barge traffic would interfere with fishing and other public uses of the Columbia River.
Ambre Energy has been given two years to show that its proposal will meet Oregon’s regulatory standards and to date has been unable to demonstrate its ability to do so. The time has come to call the question and I expect the Oregon Department of State Lands to make its final decision by no later than May 31, 2014."
Mary Abrams, executive director of the Department of State Lands and the only person with the statutory authority, will actually make the decision on any fill/removal permit. Nevertheless, Kitzhaber's strong and unequivocal statement against coal exports tells us that he and his administration are fully prepared to go to court, if necessary, to defend a denial of the fill/removal permit for the Ambre Energy proposed Coyote Island coal terminal at Port Morrow near Boardman, Oregon.
Kitzhaber goes on:
"Unfortunately, Oregon law is more limited in terms of what we can consider in reviewing large-scale projects such as the proposed Ambre coal export facility. I assure you, however, that we are carefully reviewing all of the issues under our authority, and that I will do all that I can within the context of existing Oregon law to ensure that we do not commit ourselves to a coal-dependent future.
Furthermore, I have asked my staff to develop proposals for the 2015 Oregon Legislature that, going forward, will assure that there is a comprehensive public review of the costs and benefits of significant development proposals like the coal export facilities now on the drawing boards.
The future for Oregon and the West Coast does not lie in nineteenth century energy sources. The 21st century will mark the transition to clean energy sources, and the regions that lead this transition will be the places where our families will find the jobs of the future. I intend that this will be one such region."
Kitzhaber's strong and unequivocal statement against coal exports tells us that he and his administration are fully prepared to do whatever it takes to stop coal exports through Oregon.
Ambre Energy stockholders should demand that their corporate executives immediately withdraw their Coyote Island coal terminal proposal.
Failure of Ambre Energy directors to see the futility of continuing to spend their shareholders' scarce financial reserves on a project that is destined to fail would be a breach of their fiduciary duty and subject them to shareholder accountability.
Richard Ellmyer
Read the whole speech here:
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