Portland State University’s Center for Public Service conducted a study that analyzed the resilience benefits of renewable/compressed natural gas (R/CNG) for transportation system resilience that the Northwest Natural (NWN) energy system supports. One key driver for the study was the recognized vulnerabilities of liquid fuel supplies at the Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub in Northeast Portland that was highlighted in the Oregon Resilience Plan (2013) as updated in 2018. Another key driver is the significant probability of an extended disruption to the electrical grid from a major earthquake. Current transportation electrification initiatives risk compounding regional vulnerabilities from vehicle fuel shortages during recovery from a disaster. These three considerations reveal the need for this analysis of R/CNG for energy resilience.

Download the Full Report