BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- A new survey of residents in Washington, Oregon and Idaho shows a majority of those polled support new coal-exporting facilities, like the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal.

John Horvick with BHM research in Portland says of the 1,200 people they polled, 55 percent said they support coal transportation through the northwest, and only 27 percent said they were opposed.

He says 17 percent were undecided.



Among the majority, 39 percent said they were somewhat supportive, and 17 percent said they strongly support transporting coal through the Pacific Northwest and exporting it to other countries.

Sixty percent of those polled said their main concern about coal was climate change, while 52 percent expressed concerns about coal dust.

The survey was conducted for Earthfix, which is a collaboration of Pacific Northwest Public Radio Stations.