Lighthouse Resources is an energy supply chain company whose subsidiaries own and operate coal mines in Montana and Wyoming. Lighthouse Resources is also the corporate parent of Millennium Bulk Terminals-Longview (MBT-Longview), which is redeveloping a brownfield site for coal export on the Columbia River. The site currently receives coal for local use and is ready to receive other bulk commodities.
“It’s no secret that Washington state officials are philosophically opposed to coal,” said Everett King, president and CEO of Lighthouse Resources. “But that does not give them legal authority to discriminate against this project and block foreign trade and interstate commerce.”
Lighthouse’s complaint outlines how the defendants allegedly violated the dormant foreign commerce clause by unilaterally imposing an embargo on new coal exports and by discriminating against Lighthouse’s efforts to transport into Washington coal that is being mined in Montana and Wyoming and other western states.
The complaint also alleged that the state’s actions are preempted by both the ICC Termination Act, which gives the federal government jurisdiction over the regulation of railroad operations, as well as the Ports and Waterways Safety Act (PWSA), which allows for the operation of vessels in U.S. harbors.
In its complaint, Lighthouse seeks, among other things, a declaration by the court that the denial by the state is unlawful and an order directing the state to continue processing any and all current and future permit applications.
If the permits were to be approved, the new export facility could help boost annual U.S. coal exports by 44 million metric tons and increase the annual value of U.S. exports by more than $2.5 billion. This, in turn, would significantly reduce the U.S. trade deficit with these nations and provide our allies and trading partners with a reliable, diverse, and secure supply of energy, Lighthouse said.
Additionally, the expanded port facility will add more than 1,300 construction jobs and 135 family-wage jobs in the local community and support thousands of other direct and indirect jobs across the coal supply chain in neighboring states and throughout the country, the company added.
As stated in the complaint, Washington officials allegedly ignored their own greenhouse gas emissions report that found that sourcing coal from U.S. mines has a net reduction on global greenhouse gas emissions by displacing mining performed in other parts of the world with more environmentally friendly U.S. mining conditions.
“This export facility will create U.S. jobs, shrink the U.S. trade deficit, and reduce carbon emissions,” said King. “Unfortunately, these benefits will never be realized if Washington state continues to obstruct and block approval of this energy infrastructure project.”
