Last year we thought Portlanders had won an existential battle against Zenith Energy and their deadly Oil Trains when, after months of escalating protests and direct actions, the City denied Zenith a crucial permit. But early this year we were betrayed by Portland Commissioners Dan Ryan and Carmen Rubio in a backroom deal with Zenith, permitting the facility to endanger Portland with another five years of explosive oil trains. We demand the City Council cancel this dirty deal.

Portland City Council needs to hear this from us: you serve the people of Portland, not a Texas-based fossil fuel corporation trying to wring a few more million dollars out of a dying, deadly industry. Call and write to City Council TODAY!

Carmen Rubio
Comm.Rubio@portlandoregon.gov
503-823-3008

Dan Ryan
CommissionerRyanOffice@portlandoregon.gov
503-823-3589

Ted Wheeler
mayorwheeler@portlandoregon.gov
503-823-4120

Mingus Mapps
MappsOffice@portlandoregon.gov
503-823-4682

Rene Gonzalez
gonzalezoffice@portlandoregon.gov
503-823-4151

BACKGROUND: Public records requests revealed how these two commissioners and their staff facilitated and coordinated the entire process of Zenith’s permit from start to finish. The City keeps telling us that this was just a run of the mill administrative decision made by bureau staffers, but records show that while the city was shutting out public participation, Zenith was treating Rubio and Ryan to VIP boat tours and site visits as early as July 2022. This appearance of impropriety taints the city’s decision and we deserve more transparency about the extent and nature of the back room coordination between elected officials, city staff, the City attorney, and Zenith.

Thousands of Portlanders have taken action against Zenith Energy’s plan to increase oil train traffic through its terminal on the Willamette waterfront, because it presents a clear and present danger to our communities. The people of Portland, and allies all over the country, say no.

Nothing meaningful about Zenith Energy’s operations has changed: these trains are still dangerous, bakken shale oil is highly explosive, tar sands crude is still dirty and the vast majority of the fuel still won’t even be used here in Portland. Commissioner Ryan made this backroom deal based on nothing but a half-baked promise from Zenith that it would begin the process of transitioning to transporting “renewable fuels” in five years. There is nothing in the deal to hold them to that promise.

Now, the City Council is closing ranks around the deal, claiming they don’t have the authority to revisit the decision or rescind the certification. But Oregon law clearly says they can. This plan goes against the promises and priorities the City of Portland laid out in 2020’s Climate Emergency Workplan, and the City Council has a responsibility to do what it can to stop it.