Resource Capital Funds' Risky Bet on Coal Exports
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Opposed by tribes and communities
Elected officials, health professionals, tribal leaders, and concerned citizens are speaking out against coal export proposals in the Pacific Northwest, and thousands of people have called on Resource Capital Funds to stop funding these controversial proposals.
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Both of Resource Capital Funds' coal export proposals have faced widespread opposition from communities that would be impacted by increased rail traffic, coal dust, and disruption to tribal fishing areas. In August 2014, the Oregon Department of State Lands denied a required permit for the Morrow Pacific coal export proposal, because it "is not consistent with the protection, conservation and best use of the state's water resources." 

In particular, Oregon regulators determined that the coal export proposal would interfere with Columbia River tribes rights' to use traditional fisheries, and tribal leaders applauded the decision:

“Today’s landmark decision reflects what is in the best interest of the region, not a company’s pocketbook,” said Carlos Smith, chairman of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission and a member of the Warm Springs Tribal Council. “This decision is one that we can all celebrate. It reaffirms the tribal treaty right to fish and is in the best interest of the Columbia Basin’s salmon populations and our communities. It is a reflection of what is best for those who would be forced to live with the consequences of Ambre’s proposal, not what is best for those who would profit from it. This is the beginning of the end for this toxic threat – the tribes will stand with the State to protect its sound decision.”

Resource Capital Funds' other, larger coal export proposal is also opposed by health professionals, elected officials, and concerned residents throughout the Pacific Northwest - the Associated Press reported that "Regulators have received an unprecedented number of public comments on a disputed proposal to export millions of tons of coal to Asia from a facility along the Columbia River in Longview." In response, Washington regulators announced they would undertake a broad review of the environmental impacts of the Millennium Bulk coal export proposal, including "coal dust around the terminal, rail traffic and coal dust including in Montana, Idaho and the Columbia River Gorge, and the effects of coal combustion in China on Washington state, in particular carbon and mercury pollution."

Columbia River tribes have also expressed opposition to the Millennium Bulk coal export proposal, including the Cowlitz tribe and the Yakama tribe: 

First and foremost, given the direct and indirect impacts that the coal export proposals would have on the Yakama People and our Treaty-reserved rights and resources, Yakama Nation is fully opposed to all coal export proposals, including the Millennium Bulk Terminal project at the Port of Longview. 

As Resource Capital Funds increased its control of Ambre Energy's coal export proposals, thousands of people are calling on the private equity fund to drop its investment - join them here and learn more about how communities are working together to stop coal export proposals at http://www.powerpastcoal.org/
ResourceCapitalFunds-Exposed.com is a collaborative project by researchers, activists, and concerned citizens focused on the financial backers of coal export proposals, facilitated by Greenpeace USA. If you'd like to get involved or have questions, click here to email us.