WOODLAND — The Woodland City Council approved in a split 4-2 decision to approve a letter from Mayor Will Finn in support of a $1.8 billion methanol production project in Kalama, with some council members lauding the economic benefit while others questioned the need to break neutrality on the issue.
The letter stressed the economic boon that the project would have regionally, explaining the project, a gas-to-methanol production plant to be put on land owned by the Port of Kalama, “can be viewed as a stimulus agent to the city’s overall economic development promoting commercial growth.”
Northwest Innovation Works (NWIW), the company behind the project, was scheduled to present before the board last week, however a mixup of scheduling resulted in NWIW officials to not be present at the meeting, Darlene Johnson, treasurer of the Woodland Chamber of Commerce, explained. She, however, spoke on behalf of the development, explaining that NWIW officials were present at the chamber’s meeting earlier Tuesday to provide information.
Johnson stressed that the development would provide family-wage jobs, citing the nearly $110,000 average annual salary plus benefits of the roughly 192 permanent employees stated by the draft environmental impact statement for the project required under the state Environmental Policy Act. In more local effects, she added that the development, cited as a $1.8 billion investment by NWIW, would increase the countywide tax base, having effects on county levies.
Johnson said that at the chamber meeting the Port of Woodland mentioned they had already received inquiries to supply the industry should it move in. She said that the chamber has not taken a position on the matter as in reaching out to find people on the “con” side of the issue turned up fruitless, adding that they would redouble their efforts to find individuals to present the negatives of the issue before taking their stance.
Two council members explained their support of the letter. Councilor Al Swindell brought up that the money for the project was coming from international sources for an investment that will produce an export in a role-reversal of the outsourcing more commonplace of U.S. industry. A parent company of NWIW is incorporated in China.
“I think it’s a win-win for us, for our whole area; not just for Kalama, but for Woodland, for Cowlitz County,” Swindell said.
“It’s going to help our whole county, and that’s important,” Councilor Susan Humbyrd remarked, mentioning the ancillary jobs resultant of the economic development.
Council Mayor Pro-tem Marilee McCall argued against the letter, specifically regarding the council voting on showing support for the project. She said as the letter was not available on the city of Woodland’s website there was no chance for constituent support, reasoning that for council members to vote on behalf of the city was unwise.
“When we are going to sign pen to something to say the city of Woodland is for something, there needs to have been a forum for the citizens of Woodland to have spoken for and against it,” McCall said.
“I would have believed three months ago that everyone supported this,” McCall said about the project, adding that it was only when she ran for Cowlitz County Commissioner this year she encountered constituents against the development.
She said the city of Kalama has determined to stay neutral on the issue, citing residents both for and against the development.
McCall said her vote against the motion was not against the project at the center of the letter, but was a vote for the city to remain neutral on the issue.
The vote was 4-2 with McCall and Councilor Jennifer Heffernan voting against the motion. Councilor Benjamin Fredricks was absent.
