Canada public pension managers questioned on U.S. fossil fuel investments
Public-sector pension plan managers in Canada are being asked to explain their investments in an energy company building a new fossil fuel facility on the West Coast.
The US$310-million liquefied natural gas facility, called Tacoma LNG, is being built at the Port of Tacoma by Puget Sound Energy (PSE), a utility in the state of Washington, and is expected to be completed next year.
Proponents of the facility, like the utility, the port and a union working on the project, hope that it will spell the end of the dirty diesel or bunker fuel that ships usually use.
These fuels emit harmful air pollutants like sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter, as well as pollute port waters. But the project has attracted considerable controversy. Washington Gov.
Jay Inslee has come out against it, saying he “cannot in good conscience” support its construction given the scientific consensus around the impacts of natural gas production and distribution.
As well, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians has passed a resolution against the project. The Puyallup Tribe sees it as a threat to its lands and waters and has led protests against the project, saying it wasn’t meaningfully consulted.
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