The City of Portland is advancing efforts to enhance safety and regulate development at the Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub, a crucial area in northwest Portland. This initiative seeks to update the Comprehensive Plan and amend the Portland Zoning Code to improve safety standards at bulk fuel facilities, reducing risks associated with accidents or earthquakes. The CEI Hub, a six-mile industrial zone along the Willamette River, holds 90% of Oregon’s liquid fuel supply and is vulnerable to natural disasters, posing significant risks to human health and the environment.
The project has proposed four preliminary alternatives for policy and zoning amendments, each offering varying degrees of safety requirements and expansion limitations. These alternatives were developed with input from environmental groups, neighborhood associations, experts, and industry representatives. Public feedback is crucial in refining these proposals, as each alternative balances risk mitigation with economic considerations.
Residents can learn more and provide input through virtual events, written comments via the project’s Map App, or at an in-person open house. Following the public comment period, one alternative will be recommended to the Planning Commission, with further opportunities for public testimony before the City Council makes the final decision. Staying informed and involved is encouraged through email updates on project milestones and testimony opportunities.
