McMorris Rodgers, Newhouse criticize Inslee on carbon efforts

OLYMPIA – Two Republican members of Congress from Eastern Washington think it’s great their Democratic governor is helping to boost foreign trade, but they want him to back off on carbon reduction plans and any efforts that could block new coal terminals.

A spokesman for Gov. Jay Inslee said their opposition to his efforts to cut carbon pollution isn’t surprising. But spokesman David Postman said the representatives are wrong in implying Inslee has made up his mind on proposals to build new seaports to ship coal to Asia after it has been hauled across the state by rail.

“He hasn’t indicated a position on those, but he has asked for a thorough review,” Postman said Wednesday.

The letter from Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Dan Newhouse begins by commending Inslee for a “recognition that international trade is vital to the economic health of our state” and calls for strengthened trade ties, particularly to the Pacific Rim. Dated Wednesday, it comes on the eve of Inslee’s nine-day trade mission to South Korea and Japan but doesn’t specifically mention the trip, which starts Friday.

The letter quickly pivots, however, to criticism of other Inslee initiatives.

“We are very concerned that certain proposals and policies promoted by your administration do not align with pro-growth trade policies,” the representatives write.

Efforts to reduce carbon pollution from energy sources are unnecessary because the state already gets much of its power from low-emission energy like hydroelectric dams, the letter said. Carbon reduction regulations would be expensive for businesses, commuters and utilities and would “place our job creators at an increased disadvantage compared to both foreign competitors and other states,” they wrote.

Postman said, “Their opposition to action on carbon is pretty much the standard you hear from industry.”

Inslee has instructed the Ecology Department to explore carbon-reduction strategies within current laws.

McMorris Rodgers and Newhouse wrote they also were concerned with “potential impediments” to proposed export terminals near Bellingham and Longview. They cite support for the terminals from farm and business groups and labor unions, although they don’t mention the projects are opposed by environmental groups, some tribes and communities along the rail routes.

The Ecology Department has ordered an extended environmental impact report on the terminals that studies their effects on surrounding areas as well as on communities where coal is extracted, shipped and used. The draft report is due later this year.