Just say no to Refineries on the Columbia River!

I love the lower Columbia River near Kalama, Washington. There is no better place to paddle my kayak, watch the birds, and fall in love again with the beauty of the earth. Kalama, halfway between Portland and Longview is near Sand Island, where I have overnighted with my kayak, waking up to morning bird song. It's a little bit of paradise.

The Action of the Week is to protect the lower Columbia River and speak out against a proposed methanol refinery in Kalama. If built, this single refinery would consume more fracked gas every day than all households and power plants in the state of Washington. 

By 2025, the Kalama methanol refinery would be Washington’s number one cause of greenhouse gas pollution.

And for what?

Fracked natural gas would be sent to Kalama via trains, barges or pipeline. With much of it coming through the Columbia Gorge. It would be unloaded and refined into methanol at the refinery. This polluting gas would then be shipped overseas to China to make plastic, only to be shipped back to us as finished products. All part of the more economy!

Oregon and Washington have formed a thin green line against new fossil fuel infrastructure. We have been saying no to pipelines, refineries and transfer ports to pressure this industry to stop oil and gas extraction. We need a NEW economy that doesn't rely on fossil fuels. 

​Join Columbia Riverkeeper's petition to Governor Jay Inslee to stop this refinery. Click Here!

In Love and Faith,
Rev. Katie Larsell​