Current:Home > BackPortland Passes Resolution Opposing New Oil Transport Hub-InfoLens
Portland Passes Resolution Opposing New Oil Transport Hub
View
Date:2024-12-23 14:57:52
Portland’s city council voted unanimously on Wednesday for a resolution opposing new projects that would increase oil train traffic near Oregon’s capital and in the neighboring city of Vancouver, Wash.
The resolution, which was approved by Portland Mayor Charlie Hales and the three city commissioners present Wednesday, comes as Washington Gov. Jay Inslee mulls the fate of what would be the country’s largest oil terminal, proposed for the Port of Vancouver. It would be located less than 10 miles away from downtown Portland across the Columbia River.
If approved, the $190 million complex would handle up to 360,000 barrels (or 15 million gallons) of oil a day. Much of it would travel by rail through Portland and surrounding communities.
“With this amount of oil comes an enormous amount of risk,” Cristina Nieves, policy advisor and executive assistant to the bill’s primary sponsor, Commissioner Amanda Fritz, said at the meeting. Nieves listed several fiery oil train accidents that have jolted communities North America, most notably a train explosion that killed 47 people in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec in July 2013.
The project also has a huge estimated carbon footprint. If all the incoming oil is burned, it would release more than 56 million metric tons of carbon pollution annually. That’s almost the same greenhouse gas pollution generated by 12 million cars, estimates the environmental group Columbia Riverkeeper.
Vancouver’s city council passed a resolution last June denouncing the project based on its risks to public health and safety, as well as the environment, which it said outweighed any associated economic opportunities, such as jobs and tax revenue.
Portland’s resolution, co-sponsored by Mayor Hales, “makes clear our support of Vancouver City Council’s decision and … I hope the resolution will urge Governor Inslee to oppose the project as well,” said Nieves.
Inslee will make a decision after he receives a recommendation in the next two weeks from members of the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC). When EFSEC hands over all the project-related documentation to the governor, the package will include Portland’s resolution, which does not prevent new oil projects from being constructed but instead puts the city’s disapproval on record.
Another resolution was proposed by Hales and Fritz on Wednesday that would effectively ban new fossil fuel projects in Portland. A vote on that resolution, which climate activist and 350.org founder Bill McKibben called “visionary” in a recent editorial, was postponed until next week.
If it passes, a proposed propane facility in Portland would likely be blocked; however, it would not impact the Vancouver terminal because it is located across the state border in Washington.
About 100 people came to testify Wednesday on the resolutions, a diverse group that included longshoremen, middle schoolers, physicians, economists, and singing grandmothers.
The Pacific Northwest has received roughly 12 proposals for new oil transport and storage facilities in recent years. Energy companies are trying to make the region the country’s next major oil export hub, but they’ve faced increasing pushback from residents. Protests have included fossil fuel divestment campaigns, rallies, and dramatic efforts to stall Royal Dutch Shell’s Arctic-bound ships, such as blockades by kayaktivists in Seattle and activists dangling off the St. John’s bridge in Portland.
veryGood! (8577)
Related
- Mike Tyson concedes the role of villain to young foe in 58-year-old’s fight with Jake Paul
- Small Business Administration offers $30 million in grant funding to Women’s Business Centers
- The Best Concealers, Foundations, Color Correctors & Makeup Products for Covering Tattoos
- J.Crew’s Effortlessly Cool & Summer-Ready Styles Are on Sale up to 60% Off: $12 Tanks, $19 Shorts & More
- What is best start in NBA history? Five teams ahead of Cavaliers' 13-0 record
- US Olympic track and field trials: Winners, losers and heartbreak through four days
- Pirates of the Caribbean Actor Tamayo Perry Dead at 49 After Shark Attack in Hawaii
- Caitlin Clark wins 2024 Honda Cup Award, adding another accolade from Iowa
- Nearly 80,000 pounds of Costco butter recalled for missing 'Contains Milk statement': FDA
- Josh Duggar's Appeal in Child Pornography Case Rejected by Supreme Court
Ranking
- Federal judge denies request to block measure revoking Arkansas casino license
- Cleveland Cavaliers hire Kenny Atkinson as new head coach
- Dearica Hamby will fill in for injured Cameron Brink on 3x3 women's Olympic team in Paris
- Biden and Trump face off this week in the first presidential debate. Here's what we know so far about the debate, prep and more
- Tua Tagovailoa playing with confidence as Miami Dolphins hope MNF win can spark run
- Travis Kelce Shares When He Started to Really Fall for Taylor Swift
- College World Series 2024: How to watch Tennessee vs. Texas A&M final game Monday
- 'Pirates of the Caribbean' actor, lifeguard Tamayo Perry dies from apparent shark attack
Recommendation
4 arrested in California car insurance scam: 'Clearly a human in a bear suit'
Disputed verdict draws both sides back to court in New Hampshire youth detention center abuse case
Kylie Jenner, Jennifer Lopez, Selma Blair and More Star Sightings at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week
Texas A&M baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle pushes back speculation about Texas job
Elon Musk says 'SNL' is 'so mad' Trump won as he slams Dana Carvey's impression
Catastrophic flooding in Minnesota leaves entire communities under feet of water as lakes reach uncontrollable levels
Traffic fatalities declined about 3% in 1st quarter, according to NHTSA
Tornado confirmed in Dublin, New Hampshire, as storms swept across New England on Sunday