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Legal Victory: Key Permit for Goldendale Pumped Storage Project Denied The massive pumped storage hydroelectric project along the Columbia River’s banks in Klickitat County, Washington, near the John Day Dam will irreparably destroy religious cultural resources and has been vocally opposed by the Yakama Nation since its inception. The Washington Department of Ecology denied the project a key permit noting the application lacked sufficient information necessary for the agency to approve. |
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Victory Over Fracked Gas Refinery The world’s largest fracked gas-to-methanol refinery proposed in Kalama, Washington, is officially dead! The project’s funders abandoned the project and terminated their lease. Thank you to everyone who supported this fight. |
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In the News: Clean Water Act Columbia Riverkeeper applauds the Biden administration’s effort to restore Clean Water Act protections. Trump gutted a part of the Clean Water Act that states used to protect clean water from coal trains, fracked gas export terminals, and the impacts of dams. We are confident that the Biden administration will respect our states’ environmental goals. |
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City of Roses or Oil by Rail? Portland will soon decide whether Zenith’s oil-by-rail facility complies with the Rose City’s land use goals. Check out our top ten reasons that the City of Portland should say NO to Zenith, and find out how you can help. |
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Groups Ask EPA for New Superfund Listing on Columbia River The Trump administration failed to list Bradford Island as a Superfund site, meaning that this very contaminated part of the Columbia will not receive critical cleanup funds. Today the question is: will the Biden administration heed renewed calls by Oregon, Washington, Yakama Nation and 17 national and local NGOs? |
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Stand in Solidarity with Tribal Nations In Washington’s latest slight to Tribal sovereignty, Gov. Jay Inslee recently vetoed Tribal consent provisions in the Climate Commitment Act. The vetoed provisions would have required Tribal government consent for energy projects harming cultural, archeological, or sacred sites. |
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Partner Spotlight: Oregon Clean Energy Opportunity In case you missed it: The Energy Affordability Act passed the Oregon Senate! The bill was the first of the Oregon Clean Energy Opportunity campaign’s three proposed bills to pass the legislature! Next up: 100% Clean Energy For All (House Bill 2021) and Healthy Homes (House Bill 2842). Get involved and help pass these laws for energy justice today. |
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Take Action:
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Act Now for Hanford: Call on the Biden administration to rescind a dangerous nuclear-waste rule that threatens people’s health and the Columbia River.
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Clean Up Bradford Island: Urge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to list the Bradford Island cleanup site on the National Priorities List.
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Save Snake River Salmon: Tell your Governor and representatives that time is short and they must secure funding for dam removal now.
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Shop for a Good Cause: Check out Columbia Riverkeeper’s online store! Whether you are looking to support Pacific Northwest authors or pick up one of Riverkeeper’s new hats, you’ll find the perfect addition to your next gift basket or day at the river. All purchases support our work to protect clean water and restore healthy ecosystems.
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Conoce tu Columbia on Spotify: It’s easy to listen to your favorite bilingual podcast featuring intersectional issues that impact Columbia River Gorge and Pacific Northwest communities.
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Events & Engagement:
- Swim Guide is Live: now - summer. Say hello to summer and hello to Columbia Riverkeeper’s 2021 Swim Guide—your one-stop-shop for swimming information. Use the Swim Guide app to see where it’s safe to swim, learn about the best beaches for every activity, and report pollution problems and environmental concerns. Read more about how Riverkeeper helps you swim safely.
- Online “Oil-by-Rail’s Last Stand: The Zenith Energy Story”: July 22, 2021, 12 p.m. The City of Portland can stop the Zenith Energy oil-by-rail terminal. The State of Oregon could, too. But will they? Community Organizer Kate Murphy leads a panel discussion with Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Policy Analyst Julie Carter and Columbia Riverkeeper Staff Attorney Erin Saylor. Julie and Erin will cover the oil industry's dismal year, how Tribes and Columbia River communities stopped the nation's largest oil-by-rail terminal in 2018, and why Zenith Energy took root in Portland. You'll walk away inspired to convince decision makers to stop Zenith.
- Online “Debate on Tribal Rights Heats Up: Stand in Solidarity with the Yakama Nation”: July 27, 2021,12 p.m. Rye Development proposes the Northwest’s largest pumped storage hydroelectric project near the John Day Dam, threatening to destroy tribal cultural resources for speculative power production. Join Columbia Riverkeeper Staff Attorney Simone Anter as she talks to Elaine Harvey, Kah-milt-pa Band Member and Traditional Food Gatherer; Chairman Takala of the Yakama Nation; and others impacted by this misguided, unjust development.
- Watch “Conservation History for the Curious” with Michelle Nijhuis, award-winning author of “Beloved Beasts: Fighting for Life in an Age of Extinction.”
Miss last week’s “Love Your Columbia” webinar? We’ve got you covered. We discussed everything from the entanglement of racism and colonialism with conservation, to the reasons conservation has focused so much on “furry mammals,” to Michelle’s advice on how to unplug in our Zoom-dependent world.
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In the News:
- Advocates Say City Has Opportunity to Stop Zenith Expansion, City Officials Unsure, The Portland Mercury, June 17, 2021
- In Our View: Washington better off without methanol plant, The Columbian, June 15, 2021
- Port of Kalama announces lease for proposed methanol facility will end, The Reflector, June 15, 2021
- Washington better off without methanol plant, The Daily Word, June 15, 2021
- Kemira Chemicals Agrees to Pay $130,000 to Settle Pollution Suit, Bloomberg Law, June 15, 2021
- Company Drops Plan for $2.3B Methanol Plant, Manufacturing.net, June 14, 2021
- Developer halts $2B Kalama methanol effort after seven-year fight, Portland Business Journal, June 14, 2021
- Kalama methanol plant on lower Columbia River called off by developers, East Oregonian, June 12, 2021
- Plans for $2 billion Washington methanol plant ‘effectively ended,’ as company terminates lease, Seattle Times, June 11, 2021
- States, Tribe Call for Superfund Site on Columbia River, Public News Service, June 1, 2021
- The Salmon and the Snake, Oregon Business, May 25, 2021
- Goldendale Pumped Energy Storage Project, KBOO Radio, May 20, 2021
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