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In Seattle, ‘kayaktivists’ take on Arctic oil drilling

In this photo taken April 16, 2015, a group of kayakers rafted together work to pull up a protest sign as they practice for an upcoming demonstration against Arctic oil drilling, in Elliott Bay in view of downtown Seattle. Royal Dutch Shell wants to park two massive Arctic oil drilling rigs in Seattle's waterfront, but the petrochemical giant will have to get around protesters in kayaks and a mayor determined to take on climate change. The fast-approaching battle with so-called kayaktivists is unfolding in a city well known for embracing progressive causes, laying bare the high-stakes feud over oil exploration in the icy waters off Alaska. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
In this photo taken April 16, 2015, a group of kayakers rafted together work to pull up a protest sign as they practice for an upcoming demonstration against Arctic oil drilling, in Elliott Bay in view of downtown Seattle. Royal Dutch Shell wants to park two massive Arctic oil drilling rigs in Seattle's waterfront, but the petrochemical giant will have to get around protesters in kayaks and a mayor determined to take on climate change. The fast-approaching battle with so-called kayaktivists is unfolding in a city well known for embracing progressive causes, laying bare the high-stakes feud over oil exploration in the icy waters off Alaska. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) In this photo taken April 16, 2015, a group of kayakers rafted together work to pull up a protest sign as they practice for an upcoming demonstration against Arctic oil drilling, in Elliott Bay in view of downtown Seattle. Royal Dutch Shell wants to park two massive Arctic oil drilling rigs in Seattle's waterfront, but the petrochemical giant will have to get around protesters in kayaks and a mayor determined to take on climate change. The fast-approaching battle with so-called kayaktivists is unfolding in a city well known for embracing progressive causes, laying bare the high-stakes feud over oil exploration in the icy waters off Alaska. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

By Associated Press 1 min read

SEATTLE (AP) – Royal Dutch Shell wants to park two massive Arctic oil drilling rigs in Seattle’s waterfront.

But the petroleum giant will have to get around protesters in kayaks and a mayor determined to take on climate change.

The fast-approaching battle with so-called kayaktivists is unfolding in a city well known for embracing progressive causes.

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray took up the banner this week during a clean-energy group’s breakfast. He announced that the Port of Seattle, a public agency that operates one of the nation’s busiest seaports, must get a new permit before it could host Shell’s drilling fleet. That could thwart the company’s plans here.

The mayor urged the port to reconsider its two-year, $13 million lease with Foss Maritime, whose client is Shell.