Commentary: Oil terminal’s promise of jobs comes at huge cost

By Jim Luce

A July 19, Herald commentary by the self-styled Washington Coalition for Energy Independence, “Vancouver oil terminal necesseary to state, U.S. energy needs,” deserves a response.

In the depths of the mid-1970’s economic recession, I served as the city of Everett’s economic programs manager. Then, like now, there were business groups who strongly supported economic development despite environmental risks. They did so in the name of “jobs.”

Their target was Jetty Island. Their plan was to build a bridge to Jetty Island, pave it over, and create an industrial park. Everett citizens organized a “Save Jetty Island” campaign and Mayor Anderson stood with us. Thankfully, that crazy idea was abandoned. Today, Jetty Island is an environmental sanctuary which is loved by all and is a major tourist attraction.

I make this point because the same mentality that wanted to pave over Jetty Island today wants to build the largest oil terminal in the United States on the banks of the Columbia River. And like Jetty Island, to do so in the name of “jobs.”

Everett’s “Save Jetty Island” campaign is Vancouver’s “No Oil Terminal” and “Save Our Waterfront” campaign.

In 2001 I retired as chairman of the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, the panel hearing the Vancouver Energy proposal. Before I left the council I met briefly with the Vancouver Energy developers. They believed Vancouver an easy target because our community — like Everett in 1974 — was in a deep recession.

They told me that their major concern was Gov. Jay Inslee. That was because Gov. Inslee makes the final decision and they believed his environmental leanings might influence him against the project.

I hope they are right. Inslee does make the final decision. The Legislature made it so because it is a political decision. And while I am confident he will say “no,” any other decision, even a conditional approval, would risk oil spills that would place our salmon resources at risk and further undermine Vancouver’s long term “waterfront” vision.

And the “energy independence” slogan is just that, a slogan.

Jim Luce was Everett’s Economic Program manager in 1974 and later served as a deputy prosecuting attorney for Snohomish County. He is now an attorney living in Vancouver, Washington.