Methanol plant in Tacoma cancelled

Chetanya Robinson

Chetanya Robinson Jun 28, 2025

Jan 12, 2018

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                <h1>Methanol plant in Tacoma cancelled</h1>
                <h2><p>The Port of Tacoma's plan to build the world's largest methanol plant is no more, The News Tribune reports

The plant was originally proposed by Northwest Innovation Works, a Chinese-owned company, in May of 2014, and would have cost $3.4 billion. According to Vee Godley,</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/chetanyarobinson-gmail-com/">Chetanya Robinson</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Jan 12, 2018</time></p>
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            <p>The Port of Tacoma's plan to build the world's largest methanol plant is no more, <a href="http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/business/article72656907.html?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">The News Tribune reports</a></p><p>The plant was originally proposed by Northwest Innovation Works, a Chinese-owned company, in May of 2014, and would have cost $3.4 billion. According to Vee Godley, Northwest Innovation Works president, money troubles played a role in the project's cancellation. It turns out the project would have to be delayed another three years for environmental review, which would cost another $30 to $40 million, he told The News Tribune today. Though the project was opposed and protested by South Sound residents, opposition from the public was not part of the decision to cancel the project, Godley said.</p><p>The Port of Tacoma methanol plant was one of three proposed plants in the Northwest, to aid in shipping methanol from the Northwest to China. The two smaller projects, at Port of Kalama and near Clatskanie, Oregon, are still being proposed.</p>
          </article>

The Port of Tacoma's plan to build the world's largest methanol plant is no more, The News Tribune reports

The plant was originally proposed by Northwest Innovation Works, a Chinese-owned company, in May of 2014, and would have cost $3.4 billion. According to Vee Godley, Northwest Innovation Works president, money troubles played a role in the project's cancellation. It turns out the project would have to be delayed another three years for environmental review, which would cost another $30 to $40 million, he told The News Tribune today. Though the project was opposed and protested by South Sound residents, opposition from the public was not part of the decision to cancel the project, Godley said.

The Port of Tacoma methanol plant was one of three proposed plants in the Northwest, to aid in shipping methanol from the Northwest to China. The two smaller projects, at Port of Kalama and near Clatskanie, Oregon, are still being proposed.

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By Chetanya Robinson

Chetanya Robinson is a former intern with Crosscut. He was born and raised in Seattle and graduated from the University of Washington in fall 2016. He enjoys reporting on an eclectic range of topics,