Terminal 5 at Port of Vancouver USA, with Mt. Hood in the background.
The port’s decision in 2009 to export potash rather than coal positioned it to accomplish long-term economic development objectives.
It also enabled the port to sidestep a growing controversy over whether Washington state should become a big player in exporting coal, primarily to Asia.
Although the Port of Vancouver now says it’s not interested in coal and is focusing on potash, officials aren’t completely taking coal off the table.