WEST COAST — The Paris Climate Change Conference has started several west coast cities working towards blocking coal shipments through their cities or ports.

The Oakland, California city council wants to prevent coal shipments from passing through a planned $250 million terminal. Portland, Oregon is working to stop the creation of new fossil-fuel infrastructure. Cities in both Oregon and Washington have passed resolutions opposing mineral shipments. These cities argue that carcinogenic coal dust will harm residents and that it makes no difference where it is burned, burning fossil fuels here or overseas contributes to climate change.

With increasing regulations on the coal industry and pressure from Washington, Wyoming may have to find a different source of income to cover some of its governing costs and employ several of its workers. Sending coal overseas to recoup the lost cost of coal not selling in the U.S. was a possible solution. However, if these cities are successful is baring coal shipments through their existing or future infrastructure, there could be a difficult future ahead for Wyoming.