Portland Council Moves to Shrink Fuel Hub

Two new ordinances aim to cut fuel storage at a riverfront energy site near the St. Johns Bridge.

Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Utilities

Isometric editorial illustration of cylindrical fuel storage tanks and a pipeline on a flat riverside lot beneath a wooded hill, evoking the regional fuel infrastructure at stake. — Portland's City Council passed two ordinances Wednesday to reduce the fuel stored at the Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub near the St. Johns Bridge, citing earthquake and public health risks. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should Portland move its fuel storage out of earthquake-prone areas?

Portland City Council passed two ordinances on Wednesday to reduce the amount of fuel stored at the Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub. The Hub is a six-mile stretch of land made up of more than 600 bulk fuel tanks that distributes liquid fuel throughout Oregon.

Why it matters

The ordinances are intended to protect public health and reduce risk from natural disasters, since the Hub sits on land that could liquefy in a major earthquake. Oregon has no refineries in the state, which raises concerns about supply if the Hub is scaled back or disrupted.

The Hub comprises more than 600 bulk fuel tanks across roughly six miles, with a target of reducing fuel storage by 2036. No baseline storage volume or post-reduction capacity figure was provided, and the timeline for any relocation remains unset.

The players

Portland City Council

The elected legislative body of Portland, Oregon, responsible for passing city ordinances that govern land use and public safety within the city.

The details

The two ordinances passed by Portland City Council on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, target the amount of fuel held at the Hub near the St. Johns Bridge. The Hub distributes liquid fuel throughout the state and sits on land that could liquefy in a major earthquake.

Wednesday, November 11, 2026: Portland City Council passes two ordinances on the Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub.
2036: Target year for reducing fuel storage at the site.

Market Landscape

Oregon has no refineries, so its fuel supply has long depended on imports and storage at hubs like this one. Reducing storage at the Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub would tighten that dependence, since the state has no domestic refining capacity to fall back on.

Residents of Portland and across Oregon may see changes in how fuel is stored and distributed if the Hub's storage is reduced over time. The ordinances do not change current pump prices or fuel availability, but they set a 2036 target that could affect long-term supply.

The takeaway

Portland's move to shrink fuel storage at the Hub shows how earthquake risk and public health concerns can reshape critical energy infrastructure. Oregon's lack of refineries means any change to storage capacity deserves close attention from residents and officials alike.