Climate and the new City Council
Portland’s new City Council started grappling with the city’s climate issues as soon as councilors took office at the beginning of this year. One of the Council’s first acts of business in January was to establish eight policy committees—including one focused on environmental and land use issues. The Council was able to spotlight some underdiscussed environmental issues—like Portland’s relationship with biofuels and “renewable” natural gas—through this committee, though it’s unclear what, if any, changes will result from such conversations.
Zenith under the microscope
Zenith Energy was another major topic of conversation in Portland this year. Many of the new councilors came into office concerned about Zenith and other fuel companies based at Portland’s Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) hub on the Willamette River, which pose environmental risks to the city. Early in the year, former City Administrator Michael Jordan granted Zenith a new Land Use Compatibility Statement (LUCS), allowing the company to continue its operations in compliance with state mandates. The decision came at roughly the same time as several councilors began making moves to investigate Zenith and the city’s dealings with the company, displaying the limits of the new Council’s authority over Portland’s administrative branch.
Fighting for Forest Park
Portland general electric
The city also wrestled with Portland General Electric’s (PGE) plan to construct a major utility project in Forest Park. The plan, which would require removing around 400 trees from Portland’s largest park, was hated by many climate advocates, who said PGE didn’t attempt to find alternative solutions before proposing a Forest Park clearcut. After a city hearings officer sided with PGE to greenlight the project, opponents appealed. In the end, Portland City Council unanimously voted against the utility company’s plan—a relatively rare show of unity among councilors who don’t always agree, and a win for tree lovers dubious of PGE’s proposal. (Environmental advocates say it was also a win for species who live in the park, including Northern red-legged frogs. Portland’s frogs—real and inflatable—came into the national spotlight this year in other ways, too.)
River love
Portlanders gathered at the Willamette River en masse this summer, with weekly river parties demonstrating how excited people are to embrace a clean, swimmable river. After a hot stretch, the river saw a toxic algae bloom, making it briefly unsafe for summer frolicking—the climate crisis in action, folks. Luckily, a summer rainstorm disrupted the algae bloom, but advocates continue to emphasize the need to take action to mitigate the effects of climate change on Portland’s river.
PCEF continues funding climate action (even as Trump seeks to destroy the earth)
The Trump administration has done serious damage to climate action since taking office at the beginning of the year. Between clawing back funds for clean energy projects, firing federal climate researchers, and installing climate change deniers throughout every sector of government, these lunatics are really doing everything to hasten humanity’s demise. It won’t be enough to solve everything, but Portland’s clean energy fund offers a potential roadmap for taking action in the age of Trump. The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) just allocated more than $60 million toward dozens of local climate projects, ranging from electric bike incentives to energy-efficient home retrofits.
2026 will be another big year for local climate news. Stay tuned to the Mercury for more.