ORVI Insider #23: Appalachian Petrochemical Dreams Are Running Out of Steam

Instead, Pennsylvanians would rather see public investments in clean energy and infrastructure projects—according to ORVI data, 70% of voters support tax credits to bring clean energy manufacturers to Pennsylvania.  And recent ORVI research bridges public support and practical policy measures, outlining how the U.S. Department of Energy could play a critical role in ushering in a clean energy economy in Appalachia.

Here’s the latest from the Ohio River Valley Institute:

New research from the Ohio River Valley Institute demonstrates quantitatively that the environmental burdens currently being placed on the region by the natural gas industry and the additional burdens that would be created by a major expansion of the petrochemical industry are not only harmful to the health and safety of frontline residents, but have also failed to produce growth in jobs and prosperity and are incapable of doing so.

Fortunately, the nation’s transition to a clean energy economy can, if wisely directed, adequately funded, and properly supported by governmental offices like the Department of Energy, become an engine for both economic and environmental revival in the distressed Appalachian region.

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More than one hundred environmental and community advocates described the devastating threats to public health and safety posed by petrochemical development in Appalachia and the Gulf South during a recent public hearing organized by the Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management.

While two presenters from the Appalachian region were invited by DOE to share policy perspectives at the top of the meeting (including ORVI Senior Researcher Sean O’Leary), a presenter from the Gulf South was not included in these opening presentations. Given the outsize role of the Gulf South in domestic ethane development and the severe and well-documented community impacts to residents, particularly black and indigenous residents, in that region, this omission was met with significant opposition from participants. 

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PTT Global Chemical America’s acknowledgement that the proposed cracker in Belmont County will not be built unless and until a new partner steps forward, which is highly unlikely, should motivate state and county leaders to examine proven alternative solutions like the Centralia model, which would allow the region to benefit from the nation’s transition to clean energy rather than be left behind once again, Senior Researcher Sean O’Leary writes. 

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