Portland Fuel Hub Faces Pressure to Accelerate Seismic Risk Reduction Plan

The City of Portland’s proposal to implement a 20% reduction in fuel storage capacity at the Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub (CEIH) by 2036 has ignited a dispute with community and environmental advocates who argue the timeline is dangerously slow. The CEIH, a six-mile stretch along the Willamette River, houses over 400 aging tanks owned by eleven companies and handles more than 90% of Oregon’s total fuel supply, including significant volumes of aviation fuels, crude oil, and diesel. The conflict came to a head at a recent Planning Commission hearing where city staff outlined the decade-long plan.

Multiple seismic risk assessments confirm that the CEIH is highly vulnerable to liquefaction during a major Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake, potentially leading to catastrophic spills and explosions. City staff justified the 2036 deadline by noting it aligns with the state-mandated timeline for companies to complete seismic tank upgrades monitored by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Furthermore, officials estimate the 10-year window is necessary for companies to reconfigure remaining capacity without disrupting fuel supply reliability.

Activists, including tribal representatives and neighborhood groups, strongly criticized the lack of interim requirements and demanded the drawdown begin immediately upon policy adoption. Opponents argue that the city's 20% target—based on federal data showing tanks are 70% full on average—is too conservative. They presented state fire marshal data indicating that tanks are only 40% utilized on average, suggesting a much stricter and immediate capacity reduction is feasible. The Planning Commission will discuss the proposals during work sessions in early 2026 before voting on a final recommendation to the City Council.