On Monday night the Vancouver City Council unanimously voted to extend its moratorium on new or expanded large-scale fossil fuel facilities, such as LNG or LPG train terminals. The Council's vote will continue to protect Vancouver communities from the health, safety, and environmental impacts of new, large-scale fossil fuel facilities.
Update: Vancouver City Council Votes Unanimously to Extend Moratorium on Large-Scale Fossil Fuel Facilities
(Vancouver, WA) On Monday, December 6, 2021, the Vancouver City Council voted unanimously to extend by 6 months a moratorium that prohibits the establishment or expansion of large-scale fossil fuel facilities. Existing facilities are permitted to continue operation, but the City is exploring a policy that would prohibit the construction of new facilities such as LNG-by-rail or LPG-by-rail terminals.
During the hearing on Monday, Vancouver resident and activist Cathryn Chudy read a statement from the Alliance for Community Engagement,
...the Vancouver City Council had the forethought and courage to establish a moratorium on bulk fossil fuel terminals in its jurisdiction. Your leadership carries a lot of weight on this issue as a City that faced the threat of the largest oil-by-rail terminal in North America. We applaud your action and ask that you continue on course to turn the moratorium into an updated code, in spite of the delay due to the procedural appeal by the Western State Petroleum Association (WSPA.) WSPA is an industry group representing some of the largest fossil fuel companies, including Exxon, Shell, and Marathon, the company that now owns what was once Tesoro. ACE contends that WSPA should not have an outsized voice in a process designed to protect Vancouver.
Approximately 20 people testified during the hearing, and over 100 Columbia Riverkeeper members signed a letter of support for the moratorium extension.
The City's vote sets the stage for City staff to prepare an environmental review document, which will be available for public comment in early 2022.
Thank you to the many people who weighed in with the City of Vancouver to continue their moratorium that currently protects Vancouver communities from polluting, dangerous fossil fuel terminals.
For questions, reach out to Dan Serres, dan@columbiariverkeeper.org.
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