Texas company wants to build a large biofuel refinery in Oregon

(SEPTEMBER 1, 2018) Waterside Energy is a business from Texas. It wants to build a renewable fuels refinery on the Columbia River near Clatskanie, Oregon. A renewable fuels refinery is a factory that makes fuel from a source that continues and is not used up. Renewable fuels are, for example, sunlight, wind, ocean tides, water, and different kinds of biomass (plants). Fossil fuels, such as oil and natural gas, are not renewable.

The refinery will make renewable biofuel. Biofuel is another word for energy from living things, such as animals and plants. The refinery will use animal fats and vegetable oils. The company says it can make 37,500 barrels a day of diesel fuel and jet fuel. The refinery will be the largest renewable fuels refinery in North America.

Some people like the the idea. They say biofuel makes less pollution. The refinery will bring 210 jobs. The company will pay $10 million in taxes to Columbia county. These taxes help to pay for public services.

Other people want to stop the project. They do not want to lose farmland. They think it is dangerous to send fuels by train and boat. They want to protect the environment, including the river.

Today, the zoning laws do not allow a refinery in this place. Zoning laws limit activities in different places. However, the government can change the zoning law. Waterside Energy will ask for this change at a meeting in September. Environmental groups will ask for no change. The government will make a decision soon.