Bill Wyatt says Hales’ actions are adversely affecting city’s relationship with businesses.
BY JACOB PALMER | DIGITAL NEWS EDITOR
The mayor of Portland abruptly reversed course on a propane pipeline terminal several weeks ago, dealing another blow to an already-reeling port.
The executive director of the Port of Portland, Bill Wyatt, is displeased.
From the Portland Tribune:
“Hales said the project does not comply with Portland’s values. But what does that mean for other companies that do business at the port? Ford ships cars to China. What if someone decides they don’t get enough mileage? Or what if someone thinks we shouldn’t be shipping GMO corn to Korea?” Wyatt asked.
The council had been scheduled to consider the land use change on June 10, but Hales removed it from the calendar. He had submitted the original request for a land use change to the Planning and Sustainability Commission. That is a change from how similar requests are handled. Typically, the party seeking the land use change submits the request.
Responding to concerns about the safety of a propane terminal located at terminal 6, Wyatt took a veiled shot at the city: “You have a greater chance of being hit by a TriMet bus,” he said at a Westside Economic Alliance event in Tigard.
Capitalizing on the suddenly-stalled Pembina project, Oregon’s Climate Action Coalition aims to ban on all fossil fuel exports from the region.
Portland Business Journal reports:
“There’s no way to call yourself a green city and a sustainability leader and be a gateway for fossil fuel,” said Caleb.
In the meantime, questions remain over whether the city should be allowed to rezone the property on which the Pembina facility would sit. The city continued to investigate whether the project is entitled to a hearing. Either way, the Climate Action Coalition plans to make its voice heard. The coalition mounted a fierce public and private battle against Pembina and the port. The city’s planning and sustainability commission signed off on an environmental amendment for the project, but tacked a $6.2 million carbon charge to its recommendation the full city council approve the change.
