Washington state environmental regulators killed the Millennium Bulk coal terminal on Tuesday by denying it a key permit approval.
The terminal, which has faced huge opposition from environmental groups, was meant to begin shipping coal mined in the western part of the country to be burned for electricity at coal plants in Asia.
The terminal would have played into President Trump’s pro-growth energy dominance agenda that relies on energy exports to create jobs and expand revenue from trade.
The state Department of Ecology denied the environmental permit because of the harm it would cause in nine areas, including rail safety, air pollution, noise pollution and tribal resources, according to the Seattle Times.
“There are simply too many unavoidable and negative environmental impacts for the project to move forward,” said Ecology Director Maia Bellon on Tuesday, according to the Seattle Times.
It would be the largest coal-export terminal in the country if built, with developers proposing to move up to 44 million metric tons of coal annually. The state’s decision denied the facility a crucial water permit to begin dredging in the Columbia River and fill 24 acres of wetlands.
Another proposed terminal at Cherry Point was denied last year by the Army Corps of Engineers for the threat it posed to tribal fisheries.
