Give testimony on a recommendation to City Council to limit development activity and reduce fuel storage at the Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub

In this article

On Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at 2 p.m. the Portland City Council will hold a public hearing on the Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub Policy Project package. City Council will hear testimony on both the Recommended Draft and the Bulk Fuel Terminal Capacity Reduction Regulations. The hearing will be held in a hybrid format with options to participate either in person at City Hall, 1221 SW 4th Avenue, Council Chambers, or virtually using a computer, mobile device, or telephone. You must sign up in advance to testify. Registration for virtual testimony closes one hour prior to the Council meeting. In-person testifiers must sign up before the agenda item is heard. You can register online or over the phone by calling 311. The agenda and a link to the oral testimony registration will be available online the Friday before the hearing.

Prior to the hearing, City Council will hold a work session on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at 2 p.m. The work session will include a presentation by City staff followed by a City Council question and answer session. The work session will take place in the Council Chambers at City Hall. Watch the live stream and recorded video.

About the project

The Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub Policy Project aims to further regulate bulk fuel facilities and support safety upgrades to reduce risks in the event of an accident or earthquake. This will be accomplished by updating policies in the Comprehensive Plan and amending the City code. The project will also support convening local, state and federal agencies to strengthen coordination needs to improve risk mitigation and response efforts among various agencies regulating the CEI Hub.

What is the CEI Hub?

The CEI Hub is a six-mile stretch of industrial land in northwest Portland along the Willamette River that stores 90% of Oregon's liquid fuel supply. Studies show that this area is vulnerable to earthquakes and other natural disasters, posing human health and environmental risks.

City Council package

There are two components of the project that will be considered by City Council:

1. The Recommended Draft, which represents Planning Commission's recommendation to City Council on zoning code and Comprehensive Plan amendments.
2. The Bulk Fuel Terminal Capacity Reduction Regulations - or Capacity Reduction Program for short- which proposes a 20% reduction in fuel storage capacity by 2035. This program would be implemented through Title 17, the Public Improvements Code.

About the Recommended Draft

The Recommended Draft outlines the draft comprehensive plan policy and zoning code amendments to support risk reduction at bulk fuel terminals. The proposed amendments to the zoning code and the Comprehensive Plan were recommended to the City Council for approval by the Planning Commission in March.

Key elements of the proposal include:

• New and revised Comprehensive Plan policies related to the CEI Hub that support emergency preparedness, climate resiliency, and environmental protection,
• A prohibition on the expansion of storage tank capacity for all fuel types except aviation fuel.
• A limited 5 percent capacity expansion for aviation fuel storage
• Allowing for the transfer of fuel capacity from one site to another at another 20 percent reduction,
• Limiting the expansion of infrastructure that transfers fuel between storage tanks and different modes of transportation, also known as transloading infrastructure.

Read the Recommended Draft

About the Capacity Reduction Program Regulations

In addition to the proposed amendments to the zoning code and comprehensive plan, the City Council will consider adoption of a Bulk Fuel Terminal Capacity Reduction Program.

Key elements of the proposal include:

• Storage capacity requirements: Bulk Fuel Terminals must reduce their storage capacity by at least 20 percent by 2036.
• Inventory requirements:
• Terminals must provide a January 2027 inventory of existing capacity to serve as the baseline for the required capacity reduction.
• Terminals must provide a December 2036 in-service storage capacity inventory showing compliance with the proposed regulations.
• Review and compliance processes, and a penalty structure.

Read the Capacity Reduction Program Regulations

How to submit testimony

There are two ways to submit testimony to the City Council:

1. Submit written testimony through the project's Map App by Thursday, Sept. 24 at 2 p.m. Written testimony for the Recommended Draft and the Capacity Reduction Program will be accepted separately.
   • Submit written testimony for the Recommended Draft
   • Submit written testimony for the Capacity Reduction Program
2. Give oral testimony at the hearing on Thursday, Sept. 24. Registration for oral testimony will become live on the Council Clerk's website on Friday, Sept. 18 at 9 a.m.

Other project updates

In response to questions and concerns about the proposed CEI Hub regulations and the possible impact and future fuel supplies, the City of Portland commissioned an independent Economic Impact Analysis. This analysis includes an evaluation of the fuel demand model that informed the proposed regulations, and an economic assessment to understand how fuel prices might impact Oregon's economy.

Learn more about the Economic Impact Analysis.

Learn more and sign up for updates

More information about the project is available on the project website. You can also contact project staff with comments or questions by email at [email protected].

Sign up for project updates