"SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Democrats in the California Senate on Wednesday approved legislation that would delay a proposed export facility in Oakland to ship coal to Asia, a project that's drawn fierce opposition from environmentalists.

Senators voted to require a more rigorous environmental review of the plan.

The possibility of a coal shipping terminal has roiled Oakland for more than a year as environmentalists worry about the health impact of sending millions of tons of the fossil fuel annually through the city on its way to Asia.

California Gov. Jerry Brown, who has worked to build an image as a global leader in the fight against climate change, has remained quiet on the proposal. Brown is a former mayor of Oakland. Brown spokesman Gareth Lacey confirmed that the project's lead developer, Phil Tagami, and the governor are friends."

Jonathan J. Cooper reports for the Associated Press June 1, 2016. [2]