Portland mayor pulls support for fracked gas terminal amid protests

[Judi Lynn]

Portland mayor pulls support for fracked gas terminal amid protests

Charlie Hales cancels city council meeting with Canada’s Pembina amid overwhelming opposition to building $500m facility to ship propane gas

Chris McGreal in Portland, Oregon
Wednesday 13 May 2015 17.17 EDT

Portland’s mayor has all but killed off a plan to build a $500m terminal to ship fracked gas from Canada in the face of overwhelming popular opposition and fears about damage to the city’s progressive image.

The mayor, Charlie Hales, has cancelled a council hearing scheduled for next month to hear a planning application by a Canadian company, Pembina, to build one of the largest industrial facilities in Portland to deliver propane gas, mostly to Asia.

Hales backed the plan as “great news” when it was announced in September, saying it would create jobs, earn tax revenues to pay for schools and police, and help the environment by reducing dependence in China and other countries on dirtier fuels, such as coal.

But the mayor turned against the plan in the face of a burgeoning popular campaign which claimed the terminal was in conflict with Portland’s green policies and claims to be an environmentally conscious city.

More:
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/may/13/portland-oregon-canada-fracking-gas-pembina

[Champion Jack]

1. Great news!

[Divernan]

2. Rule, Portlandia!!! Portlandia Rule the Waves!

The "waves" being the mighty Columbia River - shipping route from Portland to Astoria.

(With a slight play on Rule Britannia)

The states not so blest as thee
Must, in their turn, to tyrants fall,
While thou shalt flourish great and free:
The dread and envy of them all.

Thee haughty frackers ne'er shall tame;
All their attempts to bend thee down
Will but arouse thy generous flame,
But work their woe and thy renown.

To thee belongs the rural reign;
Thy cities shall with commerce shine;
All thine shall be the subject main,
And every shore it circles, thine.

The Muses, still with freedom found,
Shall to thy happy coasts repair.
Blest isle! with matchless beauty crowned,
And manly hearts to guard the fair.

Portland never, never, never shall be fracked!

This would make a great two part episode on Portlandia.