Cheney Says Washington State Terminal Denial Unconstitutional
Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney says Washington state's denial of a coal export terminal to send Wyoming coal to Asian nations violates the U.S. Consitution.
The Biden Administration has come out in favor of dismissing a lawsuit by Millenium Bulk Terminals against Washington state for denying permits for an export facility.
That prompted Cheney to issue these comments:
“This case should not be dismissed and the Biden Administration is wrong to ignore the important constitutional questions that it raises. It’s a violation of the Commerce Clause for one state to undermine another state’s economic activity, and that’s exactly what Governor Inslee is doing by attempting to deny a permit for a terminal to export Powder River Basin coal.
“This is an important project that must be allowed to move forward. Washington’s policy objection – which is rooted in their radical environmental beliefs rather than the facts – is not an excuse for ignoring the law and infringing on the rights of Wyoming and our state’s energy producers.”
The states of Wyoming and Montana are asking the U.S. Supreme to review the lawsuit. Washington state has rejected permits for the export facility on environmental grounds.