In the debate over the proposed coal port at Cherry Point I have seen and heard little about China's future energy plans. According to Forbes, July 27, 2012, China has been investing billions on research and development in renewable energy - $52 billion last year and "...will spend $473.1 billion on clean energy over the next five years." We must ask where this is heading. China's leaders realize the affects and the costs of their horrible air pollution and of CO2 pollution/climate change. It would seem that China's coal-energy plans may be no more than a temporary bridge to a renewable-energy future for them. So - after all the local change, disruption, attendant problems, as well as huge expense caused by this project, as China makes the transition to clean, renewable energy, what is to become of our coal port, its purported jobs and the attendant infrastructure that we who live in Whatcom County will be paying for? On top of infrastructure that we may still be paying for, I think that the coal industry's record of making huge messes that are left for the public sector to clean up on our own dime speaks for itself.

It is imperative that our county executive, council and all other local officials involved in this controversy perform due diligence in assessing the potential liabilities caused by allowing this coal port. It is up to us as citizens to see that they do so. Make yourselves heard.

Marc Hurlbert

Ferndale