VICTORY: Beaverton, Oregon passes resolution against coal exports

The coal industry wanted to turn the Pacific Northwest into North America’s largest hub for shipping dirty coal to Asia. Coal is the dirtiest and most toxic fossil fuel because of the heavy metals it contains and because it produces the greatest quantity of CO2 per BTU of heat. The comparatively miniscule coal traffic through the Columbia Gorge Area was already a major source of pollution along the route, so increasing it would be terrible. Dozens of cities in the region passed resolutions declaring their opposition to coal exports or their concerns with coal export terminal proposals, but Beaverton, Oregon hadn’t weighed in.

Thanks to grassroots activism, which included almost 500 petition signatures, the Beaverton City Council approved a strong resolution against coal exports with a 3–2 vote.