One of the Pacific Northwest's remaining coal export facility proposals was dealt what could be a final blow in state court last week. Some are describing such projects as zombies "shambling forward unaware that their heart has stopped beating…"
"A judge has reaffirmed Oregon's rejection of a project that would've turned the state into a way station for coal exports to Asia," reports Rob Davis.
"An Oregon administrative law judge ruled that Oregon Department of State Lands acted lawfully when it rejected a developer's proposed coal export terminal at the Port of Morrow in 2014."
The decision sided with Oregon over the case made by the states of Wyoming and Montana—that Oregon's decision to block the coal facility "impeded interstate commerce."
Davis describes the ruling as a "coda" for coal exporting plans in Oregon. Back when coal was peaking, in 2010, Oregon and Washington was faced with nice export terminal project proposals. Since coal prices have collapsed, "just one export proposal remains alive, in Longview, where a major backer, Arch Coal, recently sold its 38 percent stake," reports Davis.
FULL STORY: Oregon lawfully rejected Morrow coal export terminal, judge rules
Judge Overturns Township’s Ban on Cemeteries
Brooks Township in Michigan ran afoul of the state constitution when it instituted a blanket cemetery ban with the intent to block a green cemetery.
Charlottesville Comprehensive Plan Update Attracts Opponents
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ADUs, Minimum Lot Sizes, and Quadplexes Under Discussion in Traverse City
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What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
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‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
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Downtown Los Angeles on the Rise: A Promising 2025
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Report: Transportation Equity Requires More Than Electrification
Lower-income households often lack the resources to buy electric cars, signaling a need for a more holistic approach to improving mobility and lowering transportation costs.
Supporting Indigenous Land Reclamation Through Design
Harvard students collaborated with the Sac and Fox Nation to develop strategies for reclaiming and co-managing ancestral lands in Illinois, supporting Indigenous sovereignty through design, cultural storytelling, and economic planning.
A Plan to Expand Tree Canopy Across Dayton
Dayton is developing an urban forest master plan, using a $2 million grant to expand its tree canopy, address decades of tree loss, and enhance environmental equity across the city.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research