Plans to build enormous methanol refinery in Tacoma canceled
Apr 19, 2016, 2:09 PM
Iinadequate time and pollution were the reported reasons for cancelling Tacoma methanol refinery plans. (KIRO 7)
(KIRO 7)
Plans to build the world’s largest methanol refinery in Tacoma have been canceled.
Residents have sounded off for months about the possible $3.4 billion refinery, which would have been built by Northwest Innovation Works Northwest Innovation Works at the Port of Tacoma.
Vee Godley, the president of Northwest Innovation Works, told the Tacoma News Tribune that regulatory uncertainty was the reason for the cancellation.
KIRO 7 reporter Kevin McCarty says NWIW blames “inadequate time” and “pollution” for cancelling the refinery plans, not public opposition.
The facility would have converted natural gas into methanol. It would have provided 250 jobs. The methanol produced at the plant would have been exported to China for the production of plastics.
Gov. Jay Inslee reportedly supported the project, calling it “a greenhouse emissions win” for China to get methanol from natural gas, instead of coal. Local environmentalists believe methanol is highly flammable and worry about the potential daily use of 10.4 million gallons of treated water.
The plant would have been on the site of the former Kaiser property.
