Federal Way Says No Way to Proposed Methanol Plant

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — The Federal Way City Council voted unanimously Thursday night to officially oppose a proposal to build the world's largest methanol processing plant on Tacoma's Tide Flats area, which is less than one mile from Federal Way's city line.

At an emergency meeting called by Mayor Jim Ferrell, Federal Way residents made an impassioned plea to the project planners.

"The public process for the scope of the environmental impact study is a process that closes next week," said Ferrell. "That's why it's critical that we get our voice out there and say everything that we know about this project signals danger."

Although the majority of residents spoke in opposition to the plant, some argued for it, saying it will be built somewhere, and building it in the U.S. would ensure safety and environmental security.

''I've reviewed the process," said Mark Spoure, a chemical engineer from Federal Way. "I'm convinced that the construction and operation can be done in an environmentally sensitive manner. It can be done safely."

The $3.4 billion methanol plant is proposed by NW Innovation Works, a company controlled by the Chinese government. The proposal would build the plant over 125 acres on Taylor Way.

Planners say the project would keep 1,000 construction workers employed for years building the plant, and 260 full-time workers when it would be running in 2024. The plant would use natural gas fed by underground pipes to process methanol into olefins -- compounds which are the building blocks of plastics and fabrics. The olefins would then be shipped to China for manufacturing.

The process could also use up to 10,000 gallons of water taken from Puget Sound per minute.

Three House Republicans are also pushing a bill to stop the proposal, saying fumes from burning massive amounts of natural gas would potentially reduce air quality in the region.

Cox Media Group