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.

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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

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Fossil Fuel Policy Testimony at City Council

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On July 13th, 2016, Mia Reback and Nick Caleb testified at City Council on the proposed draft code regulations as put forth by the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. The draft falls far short of the intent of the resolution banning new fossil fuel infrastructure as passed by City Council last November. Here is the video of their testimony:

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To Stop Oil Trains, I Spent My Honeymoon in Jail

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Mosier Solidarity-34

It was a few days after my wedding. I was supposed to be honeymooning at a nearby winery with my newly minted husband, celebrating our unlikely marriage at age 55.

Instead, I was sitting on the railroad tracks in the pouring rain. Along with 20 other brave souls, some weeping, some singing, I was facing down a locomotive in a town — Vancouver, Washington — that many fear will be forced to accept the largest oil-by-rail terminal in the country.

Why would anyone do something like that? Read more

Mosier Solidarity Rail Blockade

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Mosier Solidarity-7On June 18th over 100 activists joined together to stop rail traffic in Vancouver, WA in protest of the continued dangerous oil-by-rail shipments. 21 courageous people, dubbed the Vancouver 21, were arrested after blocking the tracks for over three hours. Among those arrested were 350 PDX leaders Adriana, Bernadette, Barbara and David.

At the pre-action gathering point, the Fire Chief of Mosier spoke to the crowd to get people hyped to resist oil-by-rail. From there everyone made their way to the tracks and gathered in a large circle spanning all the rail lines. There were a variety of colorful banners and signs. Then everyone sat down and a megaphone was at hand for people to come up and speak. Person after person stood up and spoke beautifully of their concerns for the environment, the safety of those who live near the passing oil trains and why they were occupying the tracks. There were teachers, some folks from Mosier and surrounding areas, and people of all ages. Read more