Gov. Kotek and DEQ Cave to Pressure from Betsy Johnson and Building Trades, Approve Massive Refinery along the Columbia River

On January 7th, 2025 the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) caved to pressure and granted NXT "Clean" Fuels a water quality certification to expand their dirty diesel infrastructure to the Columbia River Estuary. With this certification DEQ and Oregon Governor Tina Kotek are allowing NXT to build a nonconventional diesel and aviation fuel refinery near Clatskine. Oregon PSR along with many close partners have been advocating against this project due to the massive dangers it poses to human and environmental health. 

Local farmers and clean water advocates will ask DEQ to reconsider

*Text Provided by Columbia River Keeper, January 13, 2025*

On January 7th, the Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality issued a water quality certification for NEXT Energy to build a non-conventional diesel and aviation fuel refinery near Clatskanie. Certifications such as this are supposed to prevent violations of state water quality standards. Farmers and clean water advocates reject the idea that DEQ’s certification for NEXT does, or even could, meet this standard, given the magnitude of the refinery, its likely pollution, and existing water quality problems in the Columbia River.

“For years, powerful political interests like Betsy Johnson and the building trades have greenwashed and lobbied for this refinery—along with a million barrels of fuel and feedstock and miles of new rail tracks—to be built on the banks of the Columbia River estuary,” explained Audrey Leonard, Staff Attorney for Columbia Riverkeeper. “Gov. Kotek and Oregon DEQ caved to that pressure, even though this refinery would be a major consumer of fossil fuels and seriously undermine Oregon’s greenhouse gas reduction goals.” 

“Gov. Kotek and DEQ are putting politics ahead of public safety, our health, and the health of our communities, and they are placing reckless faith in a bad company. It’s unconscionable,”  said Brandon Schilling, a local Clatskanie farmer. “DEQ’s decision would allow a massive polluter amid homes, wetlands, essential fish habitat, unstable soil, failing dikes, and across the road from an internationally known Buddhist monastery.” 

Opponents of the refinery pointed out that DEQ ignored the seismic vulnerability of the refinery site (which exacerbates the risk of spills and pollution in case of an earthquake), objections from the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, and harm to local communities.

Clean water advocates are likely to appeal DEQ’s decision. “We expect folks to come together and to challenge this,” said Dan Serres, Advocacy Director for Columbia Riverkeeper. “Thousands have stated opposition to this project, and thousands more will stand firm until the Houston-based polluter goes away.”

NEXT still needs two state stormwater permits, a federal Environmental Impact Statement, and an Army Corps Clean Water Act Section 404 permit before it can begin construction. 

View original post on Columbia River Keeper's Website.

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