Oregon is celebrated for its leadership on addressing climate change. This winter the Portland City Council unanimously approved a first-in-the-country ban on new bulk fossil fuel storage facilities that exceed two million gallons as well as the expansion of existing terminals. Last year, the Oregon Legislative Assembly approved a landmark bill that commits the state to eliminate its use of coal power by 2030 and double the amount of clean, renewable energy serving Oregonians to 50 percent by 2040. But beneath the veneer of this cheery news for the environment, there are other actors trying to undo these achievements.
On this episode of Locus Focus, we talk with Dan Serres, Columbia Riverkeeper's conservation director, about Portland General Electric's plan to replace the Boardman coal-fired power plant with one fired by natural gas. And we'll also talk about a lawsuit filed in January by the Western States Petroleum Association, Columbia Pacific Building Trades Council, and Portland Business Alliance to challenge Portland's historic bulk fossil fuel storage ban.
Dan Serres's work as Conservation Director for Columbia Riverkeeper includes protecting the Columbia River from a barrage of dirty fossil fuel export proposals including LNG export terminals, coal export terminals, oil-by-rail facilities, and power plants.
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