“The Scrub the Hub coalition is here today to make sure Portlanders’ worries concerning Zenith’s dangers get the attention they deserve. We are here because we refuse to be ignored. We are here to tell City Council that it doesn’t matter who holds the gavel… listen to the people”
I will get right to the point: the City must rescind the LUCS [Land Use Compatibility Statement] that was erroneously granted to Zenith Energy in October by Commissioner Dan Ryan. We must clean up the mess he made before Zenith makes a dangerous, deadly mess of our Willamette River.
This was an opportunity for the City to be the climate leaders you pretend to be, for real. You failed, you caved to the usual business interests, and betrayed the community. You can fix this, hold a public hearing
ANCE (Act Now for Climate Emergency) Report By Diane Meisenhelter During 2022, XRPDX’s ANCE work group monitored and protested the City of Portland’s inaction on reducing GHG emissions. Early in the year we pressured the City … Read more
RE: Zenith’s 2022 LUCSDear Commissioner Dan Ryan,cc: Mayor Ted Wheeler, Portland City Council, Bureau of Development Services We are writing on behalf of a coalition of environmental groups in the Portland area toexpress our serious … Read more
Relying only on a promise that FIVE years from now, and more than 7 years on from Portland’s Climate Emergency Declaration, Zenith would be transporting 100% renewable fuels, the Bureau of Development Services agreed that continuing to transship fuels from dangerous oil trains running through the Columbia River Gorge and Portland neighborhoods is actually a “compatible” use of the land between the Willamette River and Forest Park.
The City needs to stay strong and not grant Zenith the LUCS that it wants. Train watching in the spring showed that the vast majority (95%+) of the trains at Zenith were carrying crude oil, not renewable diesel.
Renewable diesel is still diesel, with the known risks of spills, fires, seismic concerns and polluting emissions…
given the uncertainty about the benefits of renewable diesel, a skeptical voice needs to be raised and the precautionary principle applied. Renewable diesel is only a short-term solution that contains several potential negative consequences.
or both climate and public health, businesses and industry should not get off the hook for the next 10 years with no expected reductions in emissions