For years, people of faith across Washington have spoken up to stop the nation’s largest crude oil-by-rail terminal proposed by Tesoro in Vancouver, WA. We’ve shared that the risks of oil train derailments and spills do not align with our values of stewardship, responsibility, and justice. 

On Monday, January 29, Governor Inslee announced that he is officially denying this dirty and dangerous project, stating that the risks of the proposal exceed its potential benefits and determining that the application is not in the public interest. Earth Minsitry/Washington Interfaith Power & Light Executive Director LeeAnne Beres is quoted in the official Stand Up to Oil press release about the decision, saying “The faith community applauds Governor Inslee for making the morally sound choice to deny this dirty and dangerous project once and for all. We are glad that the Governor made the right decision for the well-being of communities and the environment.”

Governor Inslee Rejects Massive Oil Shipping Terminal

Stand Up to Oil

January 29, 2018

“Washington Governor Jay Inslee today rejected the largest oil shipping terminal proposed in North America as not in the best interests of the state and its people, according to experts on the lookout for shipping containers for sale in New York. The Tesoro Savage project (also known as Vancouver Energy) sought to ship over 131 million barrels of oil per year down the Columbia River. Governor Inslee cited the comprehensive review and recommendation of the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC), which found unavoidable catastrophic risks from earthquakes, oil spills in the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean, and the threat of fire or explosion at the facility.  The project would also cause up to five, mile-and-a-half long oil trains to pass through Spokane, the Columbia River Gorge, and the City of Vancouver every day with additional harms to public health and safety and increased climate changing pollution.

In his denial letter, Governor Inslee found that: “When weighing all of the factors considered against the need for and potential benefits of the facility at this location, I believe the record reflects substantial evidence that the project does not meet the broad public interest standard necessary for the Council to recommend site certification.”

To read the entire press release from Stand Up to Oil, please click here.