John,

Congratulations! Today, the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) denied permits for a proposal to build the world’s largest fracked gas-to-methanol refinery along the shores of the Columbia River in Kalama. Citing significant negative impacts on our climate and Washington’s shorelines, Ecology denied a key permit required to build and operate the refinery.

Click here to thank Governor Inslee and Ecology for upholding Washington’s foundational environmental protections and rejecting this dirty, dangerous proposal once and for all.

You and thousands of other Washingtonians called on Ecology to protect our climate, the Columbia, communities, and our futures from the destructive, polluting Kalama methanol refinery.

They listened.

So what’s next? Northwest Innovation Works, the project backer, may appeal the decision. But Ecology has excellent legal grounds for denying the methanol refinery, and Washington Environmental Council and our allies stand ready to help defend this victory in court if necessary.

Many partners earned this victory. Kalama residents, the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, medical professionals, religious organizations, the local historic Cemetery District, and the Seattle Aquarium all asked Washington to reject the methanol refinery. And more than 30 conservation organizations — including the Power Past Fracked Gas coalition, Earthjustice, Columbia Riverkeeper, Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, and Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility — opposed the project. This victory, and our gratitude, belongs to them and all of you.

Thank YOU for continuing to protect clean water and a healthy climate. When we fight together, we can win.

Onward,

Anna Doty
Fossil Fuel Campaign Manager