Portland > Propane Export

Earlier this month, Portland Mayor Charlie Hales announced he had withdrawn his support for a propane export

terminal that Pembina Pipeline Corporation had proposed at the Port of Portland’s Terminal 6 on the Columbia River. Mayor Hales was inspired by YOU to speak out against propane export, saying, “At some point, those of us in power have to listen to those who put us there.” The previously scheduled public hearing on June 10 at City Hall has been cancelled and according to city staff, there are no plans to reschedule it. Thank Mayor Hales for his bold position that protects Portlanders and our climate.

An About-Face Move by Pembina
“If it turns out the citizens of Portland don’t want this, then we don’t have deal” stated Pembina CEO Mick Dilger when he first announced plans to export propane from Terminal 6 in September. Months later, without support from the mayor or any north and northeast Portland neighborhood association (they’re unanimously opposed it, in fact), Pembina is pressing on. A recent news article about Pembina reports the energy giant known for its central role in mining in the Alberta tar sands is lobbying the remaining city councilors to force their issue to a vote.

If our city council stands with Portland and Mayor Hales, Pembina will quickly realize that their controversial project is at a dead-end. Make sure Mayor Hales knows you support him by sending a note to him now. This will make important ripples throughout City Hall.

Background on Pembina and propane export
The largest pipeline company in the Alberta tar sands mining industry, Pembina, wants to export propane from the Port of Portland’s Terminal 6 on the Columbia River to Asian markets. Pembina’s proposal would create: more profits for fracking and tar sands companies; more mile-long unit trains of explosive propane cutting through our communities; dangerous, pressurized propane storage tanks endangering workers and neighborhoods; and propane supertankers on the Columbia River with the possibility of large ‘security zones’ that restrict other ships and recreational boats. Even more, Pembina’s proposal comes at a time when the City of Portland is attempting to establish itself as a leader in climate policies and sustainability.

Pembina proposes to send mile-long pressurized unit trains of propane to the Port of Portland. From the trains, the propane would be stored in massive storage tanks (up to 33 million gallons) that are refrigerated to negative 44 degrees Fahrenheit. After storage, the LPG would be transferred by pipeline across an area currently protected from this type of industrial activity onto massive ships. Because piping propane through an Environmental Conservation Zone is prohibited, Pembina is must receive an amendment to Portland’s Conservation Habitat zoning from the Portland City Council – a change the council can reject.

The first phase of Pembina’s propane export proposal would bring one unit train in or out of the facility daily and load 2-3 outgoing ships of propane per month. However, Pembina has already stated plans to double the size in the future, shipping nearly 80,000 barrels of LPG per day and doubling rail and ship traffic.

Columbia Riverkeeper worked with a broad coalition of groups to ensure that Pembina’s controversial propane export plan did not go uncontested. We want to thank the Audubon Society of Portland, Portland’s Longshore union (ILWU Local 8), north and northeast neighborhood Portland associations, faith and health organizations and numerous climate change organizations associated with the Climate Action Coalition.

Please send your thank you note to Mayor Hales and place individual phone calls to the Portland City Council asking for their support to keep dangerous propane export out of Portland.

  • Commissioner Nick Fish: 503-823-3589
  • Commissioner Amanda Fritz: 503-823-3008
  • Commissioner Steve Novick: 503-823-4682
  • Commissioner Dan Saltzman: 503-823-4151