No oil trains or tar sands in Portland! Take action to Stop Zenith.

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No tar sands or oil trains in Portland! Take action to Stop Zenith!

A critical moment is upon us! We need you to join us to stop Zenith Energy from continuing to put our communities at risk with its dangerous oil-by-rail operation.

In a matter of weeks, the City of Portland will make a critical decision that will impact the immediate health & safety of Portland’s residents and the integrity of the climate. The City will decide whether Zenith’s facility in NW Portland is consistent with the City’s land use goals. The obvious answer: It’s NOT!

Years of your hard work and advocacy have led to this decision point. Now more than ever, we need you to use your voice to demand that the City of Portland deny any new permits for Zenith. In the face of the climate emergency, Portland has the opportunity to say “NO!” to this dirty oil company and assert our vision for a sustainable city—one that values community and environmental health over profits for fossil fuel companies.

It’s critical that any decision on this dangerous fossil fuel project be throughly investigated, including an analysis of the risk and harm to existing land uses, health and safety, and tribal resources.

Now is the time to mobilize and we need you to join us. Here is the most important thing you can do to help us stop Zenith:

  • Call Portland City Council Members to demand they say no to Zenith oil-by-rail and to conduct a thorough tribal consultation process:
    • Dan Ryan
      Dan Ryan oversees the Bureau of Development Services (BDS), which will make the decision regarding Zenith’s Land Use Compatibility Statement (LUCS).
      CommissionerRyanOffice@portlandoregon.gov
      503-823-3589

      Mingus Mapps
      MappsOffice@portlandoregon.gov
      503-823-4682

      Ted Wheeler
      mayorwheeler@portlandoregon.gov
      503-823-4120Jo Ann Hardesty
      joann@portlandoregon.gov
      503-823-4151

      Carmen Rubio
      Comm.Rubio@portlandoregon.gov
      503-823-3008

Celebrating major victories against Jordan Cove LNG & Kalama Methanol!

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Celebrating major victories against Jordan Cove LNG & Kalama Methanol!

On Tuesday, January 19, two major fossil fuel projects we’ve been campaigning against for years alongside our coalition partners— Jordan Cove LNG and the Kalama Methanol Refinery—were dealt major setbacks and permit denials. These are huge wins for our entire movement, region, and futures.

This is yet another example of how people power and grassroots organizing works, and how powerful we are when we work together in coalition across the region.

Early that morning, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) upheld the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s denial of the key Clean Water Act permit for the proposed Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline. The Jordan Cove LNG project cannot move forward without a Clean Water Act approval from the state of Oregon.

This is the latest in a series of regulatory losses for Jordan Cove LNG, representing a huge blow to the 15-year-old proposal that has been vehemently opposed by Tribes, impacted landowers, fishermen, climate advocates, and others. The project has also not qualified for other critical state, federal, and local permits needed to move forward. Pembina is hanging on by a thread, and still wasting money trying to push this project through without a viable path forward. Read what our coalition partners in Southern Oregon and across the state have to say about this huge news here!

Then, just about an hour later, the Washington Department of Ecology issued a major decision to deny the key Shorelines permit for the proposed fracked-gas-to-methanol refinery along the Columbia River in Kalama, Washington.

The state agency denied the fossil fuel processing and export proposal after deciding it would have a significant negative impact on the climate, Washington’s shorelines, and the public interest. Read what our coalition partners in Kalama and across the region have to say about this huge news here!

These victories come after thousands of us have spoken up at every hearing, every comment period, and every town hall. It comes after dozens of letters to the editors in local papers, hundreds of calls and emails to decision makers, countless hours campaigning and educating the public. These are victories we’re able to celebrate today because of the hard work of everyday people like us, led every step of the way by community members facing these disastrous projects in their own neighborhoods.

While the fights against Jordan Cove LNG and Kalama Methanol aren’t over just yet, today’s victories are both major setbacks for Pembina and Northwest Innovation Works, putting these disastrous projects in an even more precarious place. We’re winning. We won today, and we’ll continue to win tomorrow, and the next day, and every day ahead.

Don’t frack with me: How to stop the Jordan Cove/Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline

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The Jordan Cove Methane Monster

Imagine that in 40 years’ time you are hiking the Eagle Creek trail with your favorite children and teens. It is 85 degrees in early March, and you remember a time when temperatures were much cooler. You think back before greenhouse emissions started to level off, to the fire of 2017. That was the summer of smoke and ash. That’s when Portlanders got a reminder that clean air, never to be taken for granted, can change as quickly as the wind changes direction. The water still falls in cascades in the Gorge, past lichen that grows nowhere else on the planet. Although there are signs of devastation on the trail, you also see abundant green signs of a forest recreating itself.

One of the young people asks you about that year of the fire, the hurricanes, and the floods, when it became so clear that climate disruption was escalating. She says, “People knew about the dangers of fracked gas and methane then, right? Did you know?” She pauses, “What did you do to stop it from coming to Oregon?” Read more

Speaking Up Against The Carty Gas Plants

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On February 23rd, some fellow Sierra Club members trekked out to Cousins’ Country Inn in The Dalles.  The Energy Facility Siting Council (EFSC) was holding one of their regular meetings where they discuss and eventually vote on which sites are granted the right to produce energy.  Thus, they can either approve or deny the Carty/Boardman gas plants.  Although the Carty gas plants were not on the agenda, public comment (of any sort) was – and thus a few of us wanted to voice our concerns with the proposed PGE gas plants.

The meeting took place in a small conference room, thus it was a very intimate setting.  One very significant bit of information was gifted to us at the very beginning of the meeting.  Very briefly, the secretary of the council informed the other council members that they received a complaint from the contractor that installed the initial gas plant pipes – which has been up and running since July 2016. Read more

The Fossil Fuel Industry is Fighting Back

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Today 350PDX is proud to officially support the efforts of the City of Portland and our allies at Columbia Riverkeeper, Portland Audubon, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility and Center for Sustainable Economy in opposing the industry challenge to the fossil fuel terminal ban.

Want to take action to protect the fossil fuel infrastructure ban?

Call the office of Ted Wheeler and let his office know you support The City of Portland doing everything it can to defend the Fossil Fuel Terminal Zoning Code Amendments.

Call Ted Wheeler at: 503-823-4120
Email Ted Wheeler at: mayorwheeler@portlandoregon.gov

Read our joint press release and visit the web page on the LUBA appeal for more info. Read more

The Fossil Fuel Industry Will Not Grow in the City of Portland

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ffp-code-nov10-7-705x470After the second of two public hearings, Portland City Council is poised to set a historic national precedent by halting the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure and prohibiting new fossil fuel terminals as well as expansions of existing facilities within Portland. At Wednesday’s hearing, Council members voted 3-0 on amendments that further restrict fossil fuel infrastructure. While the final vote is scheduled for December 8, the Council made its intentions clear today: the fossil fuel industry will not grow in the City of Portland. The vote was met with a standing ovation from enthusiastic community members who were instrumental in shaping this proposal over the last year.

Read more

PDX Final Hearing to Ban Fossil Fuel Infrastructure

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Portland has the chance to prohibit all new fossil fuel terminals and require our existing facilities to make much needed seismic safety improvements.

On Thursday, November 10th, The Portland City Council will hold the final public hearing on the fossil fuel zoning code changes that could legally prohibit new fossil fuel terminals in the City of Portland! Please attend (wearing red!) and testify to support the strongest fossil fuel code changes possible.

WHAT: Final Hearing to Ban Fossil Fuel Infrastructure
WHEN: Tuesday November 10th. Hearing 2-5PM, Rally 1:15.
WHERE: Portland City Hall (1221 SW 4th Avenue)
RSVP: Online or via Facebook.

Why does this matter? Fossil fuels are inherently unsafe throughout their entire lifecycle from extraction to combustion. In order to prevent uncontrollable catastrophic climate change, we need to prohibit ALL NEW FOSSIL FUEL PROJECTS and begin a managed decline of our existing fossil fuel facilities.

Huge thanks to all the groups working on this including, Portland Audubon, Columbia Riverkeeper, Climate Action Coalition, Friends of the Columbia Gorge, OR Physicians for Social Responsibility, Center for Sustainable Economy, the Sierra Club and more!

Update: Struggle for Clean Water and Tribal Sovereignty Intensifies in North Dakota Against the Dakota Access Pipeline

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no_dapl-holding_the_line-courtesy_honor_the_earth-1A U.S. District Judge ordered Native American protesters Wednesday to stop blocking the construction of a $3.8 billion oil pipeline set to cross four states and major rivers, said a Sioux official.

The temporary restraining order follows days of protest which have halted construction at the site.

As of today, Wednesday, August 17th, 28 people total have been arrested at the construction area by the Sacred Stone Camp, home base for those defending the land and water from this pipeline. Highway 1806 near Mandan has been closed and traffic has been re-routed. At least 1,000 people are protecting this area as best they can with non-violent civil disobedience and ceremonies. Read more

Vancouver bans oil terminals!

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Rally Supporting The Ban

Portland’s neighbors in Vancouver, WA have taken a bold stance against oil terminals. The City Council voted unanimously 7-0 to prohibit crude oil storage, handling, and refining facilities in Vancouver’s industrial zones. Council chambers were packed full, and an overflow room opened to accommodate the crowd of 150 supporters whom stayed into the late evening to participate in this historic vote. Columbia Riverkeeper, a local non-profit, has been central to the organizing efforts to pass this important ordinance. Read a full report-back from them about the event.

The ordinance recommends code amendments to make permanent the current, temporary moratorium on building or expanding crude oil storage facilities, which expires in August, 2016. Read more

Portland Fossil Fuel Policy – Breakfast Rally

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ffp-breakfast-2On the morning of July 13th, 40 people gathered outside City Hall to eat breakfast, have inspiring conversation, and attend City Council’s open testimony to support Mia Reback and Nick Caleb. Mia and Nick were testifying on the Fossil Fuel Code discussion draft, which will be the legally binding version of the Fossil Fuel Infrastructure ban resolution that was passed November last year. The Fossil Fuel Code falls well short of the original resolution, and is less a ban on fossil fuel infrastructure and more a few regulations tailored to fit the needs of the fossil fuel industries and their interest to grow. By testifying at City Council, Mia and Nick are drawing Council’s attention to the disparity between the resolution as passed and the current draft. (draft analysis)

Audio Interviews During The Rally

Read more