Recent U.S. thermal-coal investment ‘no benefit’ to White Rock, Surrey

Stand Earth urging locals to press MPs to hold feds to 2030 phase-out promise

Recent U.S. thermal-coal investment ‘no benefit’ to White Rock, Surrey Published 11:30 am Monday, July 13, 2026 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’s government to keep its promise to phase out thermal coal exports by 2030. 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.

While hailed as financially positive for American citizens, opponents in B.C. say residents here will pay with their health, and more. “We are getting no financial benefit from it and instead we’re having all the health concerns,” Candela Cerpa, coal-campaign organizer for Vancouver-based Stand Earth, told Peace Arch News. “These 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.”

Coal trains have long run through the Semiahmoo Peninsula via the White Rock and Crescent Beach waterfronts, headed to Roberts Bank and Vancouver. Over the past decade-plus, headlines in PAN regarding the issue have included Coal-train opponents take fight door-to-door (2013), when members of Semiahmoo Peninsula’s 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 (2015); It’s ‘wonderful’ permit has been cancelled for coal transfer project at Fraser Surrey Docks, opponent says (2019); and, LETTER: Stop coal trains from travelling through White Rock (2025).

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. 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 “that the people lost,” 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. “will not allow coal to be sent from any U.S. ports in Washington and Oregon.”

Cerpa said West Coast ports south of the border won’t handle U.S.-mined thermal coal due to associated environmental risks, meaning it is “just a product in transit” for Canada – one that is mined, consumed, purchased and owned by non-Canadians, and not subject to import tariffs, carbon tax or other levies. And despite the Liberals’ phase-out promise, “it has been increasing.” “We are hoping to bring some awareness and have some community voices to call for a policy passed to put that thermal coal phase-out for exports into practise,” she told PAN.

“I think we need to follow through.” Trump’s “shocking” announcement – which Cerpa said has essentially flown under the radar locally – included US$75 million for a delayed coal-export terminal in Oakland, Calif. It’s reportedly now expected to be operational by 2028, shipping some 12 million tons of American coal to Asian markets annually – through B.C. municipalities and out of Lower Mainland ports.

“This investment feels like such a step back. In a sense, the U.S. is backsliding... and I don’t want Canada to get dragged into that,” Cerpa said. “We just need to be more focused, more intentional with the way we are implementing those international commitments that we’ve been making.”

Increased exports of the coal through ports such as Robert Banks also translates to lower capacity for greener, Canadian-owned-and-operated companies, she added, describing that scenario as “ridiculous.” “Every bit of coal ... is an opportunity lost.” While Cerpa, 29, calls Vancouver home, she said she is familiar with both the White Rock and South Surrey waterfront tracks.

This past spring, she heard trains roll by as she helped with a Green Team project at Ruth Johnson Park, and in May, she took in the annual Alex Fest in Crescent Beach. She acknowledged the fact coal exports are managed by the federal government makes what can be done by local residents “a little tricky,” but encouraged those who have concerns to share them with their MPs and push for action. Communities like Portland, Ore. have been successful at saying no, she noted.

“I think when we give up the hope, we really lose.” Stand Earth is planning to launch a petition, and is partnering on their campaign with Ecojustice, which has its own petition already live at ecojustice.ca For more information on how to get involved, Cerpa may be reached at candela.cerpa@stand.earth