The controversial silicon smelter proposed for Newport Washington is now coming under fire from the Democratic Party, even though Governor Inslee has been supportive of the project.
The proposed Hi Test Smelter received support from the state when it was declared a project of “statewide significance” and received 300 thousand dollars in state funds to begin studies on the construction.
Governor Inslee was one of several lawmakers who touted the fact that the plant would bring good paying jobs to an economically depressed region of the state.
But now, the Washington State Central Democratic Committee is declaring opposition to the plant, and sent a letter outlining their concerns to Governor Inslee’s office.
Ed Wood, the chair of the Spokane County Democratic Central Committee, says the main concern is the threat the plant would pose to the environment.
“It’s going to be adding tons of CO2 and other chemicals into the air, and of course silicon dust is so fine it can’t be filtered, so they can’t be filtered out, and it would be going into the pristine areas of the mountain of Northeast Washington and North Idaho,” said Wood.
Wood says they also listened to concerns posed by the Kalispel Tribe about the jobs that such a plant would bring. He says despite claims the jobs would be high paying, they felt most of the jobs available to the Newport community would be the lower paying positions. Wood says the resolution will be sent to Governor Inslee this week.
It was passed unanimously by about 200 Central Committee members.
