Inslee’s smelter contradiction

Governor Inslee’s secretive, toxic Newport silicon smelter has been thrust upon Newport without citizen input, and contradicts the Washington state Growth Management Act.

Inslee’s CO2-emitting smelter will use coal as the carbon “reductant” and will emit hundreds of tons of greenhouse gases and other coal toxins annually. The carbon footprint will be tremendous. The Pend Oreille River Valley, the Little Spokane Watershed and North Idaho will be blanketed with toxic emissions.

Now we discover that the smelter’s carbon emissions will be exempt from Initiative 1631. From the online voter pamphlet I-1631, “Exemptions: fossil fuels and electricity sold to and used on-site by a designated energy-intensive, trade-exposed (EITE) facility[10].” Footnote 10: “Examples of industries in the EITE sector include glass, steel, metal casting, paper, aluminum, and chemicals.”

The Canadian mining company HiTest Sands (now PacWest) received a $300,000 grant from Inslee to locate this coal-burning smelter within a mile from downtown Newport; and now I-1631 will allow the smelter to pump CO2 and other toxins into the air with impunity.

Inslee’s contradictory words and actions are disturbing, and undermines the integrity of I-1631 and an honest approach to battling climate change that is so desperately needed.

John Endres

Newport