Zenith Energy, Portland's notorious climate villain, is trying to quietly sneak out of town by selling its dangerous facility to I Squared Capital, an international private equity firm worth $60 billion in worldwide assets. Given the history of City officials breaking laws and straying from established processes to protect Zenith, and the immense dangers the Zenith facility poses to our region, Portlanders deserve more information, transparency, and a thorough investigation of this business deal, specifically the transfer of Zenith’s “franchise agreement” (a legal contract that would grant I Squared a license to operate in a public right of way) to I Squared. City Council must conduct a thorough review of this franchise agreement transfer with substantial community involvement, and is due to deliberate and vote on this imminently.

I Squared Capital has no previous connection to Portland. There is no reason to expect it would behave any differently than Zenith Energy. The last thing our community needs is another faceless, out-of-town fossil fuel company operating a dangerous, polluting facility in our City.

Let City Council know you're concerned about this process and demand public input, transparency, and accountability.