A debate is in full-swing in northwest Washington state about the energy, economic, and environmental future of the region, where coal export terminals have been proposed to send U.S., and potentially Canadian coal to Asia.

A plan to build a sprawling $665 million coal terminal northwest of Bellingham,  Washington has been the focal point of this debate. (See: “Seeking a Pacific Northwest Gateway for U.S. Coal“) On one side is the assessment of the jobs associated with the coal terminal.  Our analysis indicates, however, that a far more beneficial use of this money would be to fund energy-efficiency and renewable-energy projects. Per dollar invested, efficiency and renewables generate many more jobs than fossil fuels.

Modern coal terminals are highly mechanized facilities,