This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Thank goodness Oakland has blocked the shortsighted move of the Utah Legislature when they (probably illegally) set aside $53 million to contribute to the proposed shipping docks for coal in Oakland.
What foresight our Legislature demonstrates!
They saw fit to spend that much money in another state to support a dying industry by sending our coal to China, who has made it fairly clear they don't want it. They have chosen to continue to pollute the air in the face of a global problem of climate change.
That $53 million would have been so much better used for retraining and relocation of coal miners who are facing a disastrous economic future because coal is inevitably becoming an obsolete product. Now they have a chance to correct their error and use the money for a lasting benefit to the coal minors. Let's hope they will do so.
Diane St. Clair
Salt Lake City