By Lisa Balick, KOIN
“Zenith needs a new air quality permit from the state, and to get that, it needs another city council permit. Dozens of members of the public also weighed in on whether the city should give Zenith the new permit.
In response, the new city council members — not career politicians — told city staff and Zenith that they want a lot more background on this along with clearer explanations.
‘Oil trains derail, spill, and explode, just like one did near the Columbia Gorge town of Mosier in 2016 forcing students to evacuate a nearby school,’ Damon Motz-Storey, the director of the Sierra Club’s Oregon chapter said. ‘Zenith Energy is not needed in Oregon and has an untrustworthy reputation. It is up to Portland leaders to do the right thing and insist upon clarity, consistency, and a livable climate future for all people, animals, and places.’
…This decision from the city council demonstrates a fresh approach in asking a lot of questions, digging deeper into some of these big issues, and demanding a lot more information before giving any approvals.” Read more here.