Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub Tour with Tank the Tanks

Today I joined a number of District 3 candidates in the Linnton neighborhood, where local activist group Tank the Tanks invited us in to tour the Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub. Although I had seen the storage tanks in passing before, I never knew the magnitude of the facilities and the environmental risks they pose to Portland.

The CEI Hub is a six-mile stretch along the Willamette River that hosts a cluster of 10 major fuel terminals, which in total store 90% of Oregon’s liquid fuel and 100% of the aviation fuel used at PDX. Given that the vast majority of the storage tanks are not seismically sound and are situated on landfill, this fossil fuel ecosystem poses one of the most imminent climate emergency threats in the region. Thankfully community groups like Tank the Tanks and 350PDX are working to inform Portlanders about the risks and engage elected leaders to take action.

Onward, Together

Luke Zak, Candidate for Portland City Council District 3