Recent U.S. thermal-coal investment \u2018no benefit\u2019 to White Rock, Surrey<\/p>\n
Published 11:30 am Monday, July 13, 2026<\/p>\n
A recent hefty investment in the coal industry south of the border has prompted a call for White Rock and Surrey residents to renew the push for Canada\u2019s government to keep its promise to phase out thermal coal exports by 2030.<\/p>\n
The $700 million in funding, reportedly supporting more than 40 coal mines across nine states, including Wyoming, was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump in early June.<\/p>\n
While hailed as financially positive for American citizens, opponents in B.C. say residents here will pay with their health, and more.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are getting no financial benefit from it and instead we\u2019re having all the health concerns,\u201d Candela Cerpa, coal-campaign organizer for Vancouver-based Stand Earth, told Peace Arch News.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese trains spread coal dust, disrupt walks with noisy trains, fill the air with diesel exhaust, and pose a risk of derailment (like the one that happened in Surrey on Feb. 5) and land and water contamination.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coal trains have long run through the Semiahmoo Peninsula via the White Rock and Crescent Beach waterfronts, headed to Roberts Bank and Vancouver.<\/p>\n
Over the past decade-plus, headlines in PAN regarding the issue have included Coal-train opponents take fight door-to-door <\/a>(2013), when members of Semiahmoo Peninsula\u2019s Communities and Coal group stepped up efforts to raise awareness of the impact of coal trains; Fewer coal trains as U.S. firm halts exports<\/a> (2015); It\u2019s \u2018wonderful\u2019 permit has been cancelled for coal transfer project at Fraser Surrey Docks, opponent says <\/a>(2019); and, LETTER: Stop coal trains from travelling through White Rock <\/a>(2025).<\/p>\n In 2017, then-premier Christy Clark called on the federal government to ban the shipment of U.S. thermal coal through B.C. Four years later, the Liberals announced their 2030 promise.<\/p>\n In 2024, a post to the South Surrey\/White Rock Community Group Facebook page questioning why coal from Wyoming is travelling through White Rock on its way to China garnered 134 comments, including one noting the debate is an old one \u201cthat the people lost,\u201d another noting the railway has been moving goods through since the early 1900s, providing jobs in B.C., and one other responding that the U.S. \u201cwill not allow coal to be sent from any U.S. ports in Washington and Oregon.\u201d<\/p>\n Cerpa said West Coast ports south of the border won\u2019t handle U.S.-mined thermal coal due to associated environmental risks, meaning it is \u201cjust a product in transit\u201d for Canada \u2013 one that is mined, consumed, purchased and owned by non-Canadians, and not subject to import tariffs, carbon tax or other levies.<\/p>\n