Mat-Su Assembly votes 5-1 to back Wishbone Hill coal mine

Matanuska-Susitna Borough residents came out in force Tuesday night at an Assembly meeting to discuss the controversial Wishbone Hill coal mine outside of Sutton. According to KTUU-Channel 2, the regularly-scheduled meeting was moved to the Palmer Railroad Depot because of an expected large turnout. But even that facility proved too small for the crowd that turned out. After hearing comments, the Assembly voted 5-1 to back the coal mine, though the decision has no legal bearing. Even though the vote was nearly unanimous, opponents in attendance didn't give up any ground. "You wouldn't do this in the middle of Anchorage," said Heather McCausland, outreach coordinator with the Mat Valley Coalition, told the Frontiersman. "People choose the Valley because they think we're not going to say anything." Read much more about the controversy at the Frontiersman.