Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub Platform

Created by a coalition of community organizations,
return to main 350PDX Climate Justice Platform 2024

Context

What is the CEI Hub?

The Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub is a six mile stretch of industrial-zoned properties along the lower Willamette River. Over 350 million gallons of liquid fuels and other toxic materials are transported to/from and stored in large bulk storage tanks at the CEI Hub. This includes over 90% of the liquid fuel used in Oregon. The tanks are located on unstable soils in a dangerous seismic zone, and in a wildland-urban interface fire zone that is also a railroad corridor. An accident in the CEI Hub would prove catastrophic to the ecological and social systems in Portland and the region, and have economic consequences statewide.

Principles:

  • Flammable and toxic materials should not be transported to/from or stored on seismically unstable soils.
  • Portland should pursue projects that further the city’s commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 without
    violating the city’s commitment to equity or its duty to protect public and environmental health.
  • The public should be informed about the dangers posed by the CEI Hub and how to protect themselves.
  • Portland should do no harm; the city should not take actions that would increase dangers posed by the CEI Hub.
  • Mechanisms should be put in place to ensure that industry bears the costs of inevitable disasters.

Actions

  1. City Council CEI Hub Committee: City Council should establish a standing CEI Hub committee charged with holding public hearings on CEI Hub dangers and options for prevention and risk mitigation within six months of the new term (July 2025), and with issuing a public report and recommendations for action within twelve months of the new term (Jan. 2026). The needs and concerns of all impacted groups must be considered.
  2. Work with Other Governments: City Council should authorize a liaison or task force to work in conjunction with county, regional, state, federal, and tribal governments to develop prevention and risk mitigation measures, including risk bonding, monitoring and relocation, that are beyond the purview of the city to accomplish alone.
  3. Public Education: Information about the dangers posed by the CEI Hub should be part of emergency and disaster preparedness programs for both the public and emergency responders; and all public programs should be developed with an equity lens to inform residents and businesses how to prepare for and respond to a CEI Hub disaster.
  4. Overlay Zones: The City should create three overlay zones for sensitive industrial areas. All properties in the city have what the city designates as a “base zone.” CEI Hub properties are base-zoned Heavy Industry. In addition, Portland zoning code includes provisions for “overlay zones.” An overlay zone establishes additional land use regulations on top of the base zone regulations in order to address a specific concern(s). [see 400s Overlay Zones | Portland.gov]
    • Create a Stable Soils overlay zone for all lands zoned Heavy Industry, that prohibits storage of any flammable or toxic materials from being located on liquefaction or other unstable soils. The overlay must be required for new owners, change in a business’ operations, or new facilities.
    • Create a Public Health overlay zone for all lands zoned Heavy Industry that prohibits any activities that threaten the health of people, the river, or fish within a two-mile radius. The overlay must be required for new owners, change in a business’ operations, or new facilities.
    • Create a Riparian corridor overlay zone for all lands zoned Heavy Industry along the Willamette River. Require a minimum 100-foot buffer between the river and industrial lands, consistent with Portland Comprehensive Plan 2035 and Oregon’s Willamette Greenway Goals.

Important Stakeholders

  • CEI Hub Task Force
  • Rumble on the River Community Forums
  • Risky Business
  • 350PDX
  • Tank the Tanks
  • Frog Ferry
  • Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility
  • Braided River Campaign
  • Portland Clean Air
  • XR PDX
  • Mobilizing Climate Action Together [MCAT]
  • Climate Jobs
  • Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
  • Portland Harbor Community Coalition
  • Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group
  • EcoFaith Recovery

Case Studies

Eugene, OR has adopted a public health overlay zoning policy, see information here.

Local Policies for Environmental Justice: A National Scan,” The New School: Tishman Environment and Design Center, Natural Resources Defense Council, February 2019

Revealing the Vulnerability of People and Places: A Case Study of Georgetown County, South Carolina,” Annals of the Association of American Geographers

Citations

Cleaning Up Portland’s Anticipated Oil Spill Could Cost $2.6 Billion, Report Finds,” Portland Mercury, February 7, 2022.

Multnomah County CEI Hub Seismic Risk Analysis summary, with links to full report and other data.

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality slideshow, “Overview of CEI Hub and CSZ Earthquake.”

Portland neighbor groups urge officials to address Oregon fuel hub’s earthquake vulnerabilities,” KGW, April 16, 2024.

Portland State University “Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub Assessment Findings,” May 2019.

Endorsed by:

Endorsed full Climate Justice Platform:

Laura Streib (D2)
Jonathan Tasini (D2)
Brian Conley (D3)
Chad Lykins (D4)
Moses Ross (D4)
Sarah Silkie (D4)
Andra Vltavín (D4)

District 1

Doug Clove
Terrence Hayes

District 2

Marnie Glickman
Sameer Kanal
Chris Olson
Jennifer Park
Laura Streib
Jonathan Tasini

District 3

Brian Conley
Chris Flanary
Kelly Janes
Daniel DeMelo
Tiffany Koyama Lane
Angelita Morrilo
Cristal Otero

District 4

Eli Arnold
Lisa Freeman
Mitch Green
Ben Hufford
Chad Lykins
Chloe Mason
Stanley Penkin
Moses Ross
Andra Vltavin
Bob Weinstein

Mayor

Liv Østhus
Keith Wilson