Many of us are concerned about the large-scale transport of crude oil by rail that has boomed because of fracking in the Bakken oil fields in North Dakota. Both Bakken crude and Tar Sands from Canada are more explosive than other oil, making it especially dangerous to transport in outdated tanker cars over crumbling bridges. In order to reach the ever declining overseas market, this oil must past through our ports on the West Coast. The good news is that Pacific Northwest communities are uniting to keep oil out of our rail lines and waterways, keeping our families safe and ecosystems healthy.
The Risks are Real
Devastating oil train explosions occur with terrible regularity. In 2016, we witnessed a luckily non-fatal oil train derailment and explosion along the Columbia River in Mosier, OR. There is little insurance to cover the risk of explosions, and cities and towns have learned they are on their own for clean-up. The costs from routine oil spills are high, but costs from a catastrophic accident are unimaginable. It’s not worth it.
Leaving a Legacy for Our Children
Destructive industries say that oil terminals will create local jobs, but in fact these projects will poison our air and water and cost jobs in fisheries and tourism. A healthy, deep water port and shoreline are extremely valuable assets that we need to preserve for future generations.
Letting those assets be sacrificed for short-term profit will leave the community much poorer in the long run. It is far better to develop sustainable industries that will protect intact ecosystems and create a more robust economy. Basing an economy on oil is not good stewardship of creation nor good for long-term prosperity.
Religious Communities Say
“We Can Do Better”
There are many ways to build a healthy community. Because of the danger of oil train accidents locally and climate change globally, creative businesses are looking for alternatives to fossil fuels and their dirty pollution. The technology to create renewable energy is cheaper and more available each year, creating long-term clean jobs.
Protecting our one and only planet by reducing pollution and supporting a just transition to a clean energy economy is the best way to address the problem of climate change head-on. Religious leaders believe in holding polluters accountable while promoting homegrown, local energy sources.
Current Campaigns
Par Pacific Oil Refinery Expansion Proposal in Tacoma, WA
Protecting Tacoma’s Tideflats
Tacoma is particularly vulnerable to fossil fuel expansion due to its existing infrastructure and deep water port on Commencement Bay. The industrial Tideflats area is seen by fossil fuel companies as prime real estate for their toxic projects, such as Puget Sound Energy’s LNG terminal (more below). But big industry doesn’t get the final word. Tacoma is rising up to discuss the future of the Tideflats.
In 2017, the Tacoma City Council adopted a resolution initiating a subarea plan, a comprehensive process that will determine what type of industry may be located in the port. Thanks to community input, the City Council passed an interim regulation to pause new fossil fuel and heavy industrial use on the Tideflats while the subarea planning process is underway. However, these regulations do not currently cover the expansion of current fossil fuel industry, such as the US Oil/Par Pacific Oil Refinery.
This important interim regulation on fossil fuels will expire unless extended by the City Council every six months thereafter. We need your help to tell the City Council why it is crucial to extend and strengthen these regulations until the city has a long-term plan!
Download Earth Ministry’s factsheet on Tacoma LNG and Tideflats land use.
Oil News & Events
Tell City of Tacoma: SeaPort Sound DEIS Inadequate
Fall-Winter 2021 Earth Letter
Tacoma City Council Passes Non-Interim Land Use Regulations
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Further Resources
People of Faith are Standing Up to Oil Earth Ministry/WAIPL handout
Factsheet and talking points specifically addressing the Grays Harbor DEIS
Learn how to prepare a comment for an oil public hearing with this easy webinar
“First oil hearing garners large opposition” October 2, 2015 in the Aberdeen Daily World
Stand Up to Oil Coalition Webpage