On June 15, 2020 a group of seven prominent economists and policy analysts from leading universities in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia and a former Pennsylvania Secretary of Environmental Protection, wrote a public letter to the governors of the three states warning them that economic development strategies based on a massive buildout of the region’s petrochemical […]

The following public letter concerning economic development, the petrochemical industry, and the need for more viable and sustainable strategies was sent to the governors of Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania on June 15, 2020. See this background brief to learn more about the rationale and motivation for the letter. June 15, 2020 Dear Governors DeWine, […]

Senior Researcher Sean O’Leary explained the damaging effects of shale gas activity and prospective petrochemical development on the environment, residents’ wellbeing, and local economic growth in a public-facing presentation for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management earlier this week. The presentation informed the Department of Energy’s public meeting to […]

The Ohio River Valley Institute issued the following press release earlier today. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Newest delay for Belmont County cracker reinforces need for new economic development strategies JOHNSTOWN, Pennsylvania, February 18, 2021 – Today’s statement in the Bangkok Post by PTTGC chief executive Kongkrapan Intarajang saying the company will need more time to find […]

August 19, 2020 Media Contact: Sean O’Leary 603-661-3586 or [email protected] For immediate release Ohio River Valley Institute announced New think tank to promote new economic strategies to create jobs and prosperity in the greater Ohio Valley and Western Pennsylvania PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania — The Ohio River Valley Institute, a new think tank devoted to achieving lasting […]

Analysts predict another difficult year for Appalachian petrochemicals as a global overbuild and poor demand continue to drive down profits.

Reducing Industrial Sector Emissions in Pennsylvania (RISE PA) Update RISE PA is a $396 million statewide industrial decarbonization grant program funded through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Climate Pollution Reduction Grants under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. PA DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee October 21, 2025 PPT Slides are Here. Upcoming Clean […]

Green Banks – Clean Communities Investment Accelerator & National Clean Investment Fund Updates Appeals court says EPA can recover ‘green bank’ funds – by Jean Chemnick – September 2, 2025 – E&E News by Politico – The ruling helps clear the agency’s way for clawing back billions of dollars the Biden administration had wanted to […]

Upcoming Implementation Webinars January 14 & 15, 2025 @11:00AM – 2:30PM – ReImagine Appalachia’s 2025 Strategy Summit – Join ReImagine Appalachia’s for its 5th annual virtual strategy summit to discuss all of the coalition’s various agenda topics and organize them into a work plan for the upcoming year. Register Here January 31, 2025 @ 4:00PM […]

Upcoming BIL/IRA Webinars Tuesday, November 12, 2024 – 12:30PM – 4:30PM — PA DEP CITIZENS ADVISORY COUNCIL Meeting – Agenda Here. Click here to join the meeting – Three individuals are expected to present to the joint meeting on hydrogen hubs: Elliot Gold: Philadelphia Gas Works, Chris Antoni, AED Energy, Max Schultz, Governor’s Office Director […]

A new plan to expand a New England gas pipeline would drive more fracking in Appalachia’s colossal gas reserves. “Project Maple” is a proposal by the Canadian energy company Enbridge to expand its Algonquin Gas Transmission Pipeline by 25%, or 750 million cubic feet (MMcf) per day. Originally constructed in 1954 and with a current […]

Upcoming BIL/IRA Webinars July 17, 2024 @ 2:00PM – New Project Finance Hub – Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) & Atlas Public Policy are rolling out new tools and resources for financing clean energy projects & will provide tax, financial and legal guidance on clean energy projects: L4GG Clean Energy Tax Navigator – a one-stop-shop […]

New BIL/IRA Implementation Grant Announcement in EPA Region III Environmental Justice – Thriving Communities Program EPA Region 3 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Meeting – Join Green & Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI) Thriving Communities Team in Phila. on Friday, June 28 to learn about EPA Environ. Justice grants and resources. Register Here. GHHI & EPA Region […]

The close of 2022 marks the second year of the Ohio River Valley Institute’s research on clean energy, shared prosperity, and equitable civic structures in the greater Ohio River Valley and Appalachia. Two years ago, our organization launched as an independent, nonprofit think tank designed to equip residents and decision-makers with the policy research and […]

Sometime soon, Shell’s petrochemical plant in western Pennsylvania will finally begin operations, churning out millions of pounds of tiny resin pellets for plastic manufacturing. Despite a barrage of hype about a large-scale petrochemical buildout in Appalachia that was supposed to produce an economic “renaissance,” it was the only project ever to break ground in the […]

The Ohio River Valley Institute (ORVI) launched one year ago, in August 2020, as an independent, nonprofit think tank designed to equip the region’s residents and decision-makers with the policy research and practical tools they need to advance long-term solutions to some of Appalachia’s most significant challenges. The Institute produces data-driven research and proposes policies […]

According to a recent report from S&P Global/Platts, “PTTGC America’s final investment decision on a new petrochemical complex in southeast Ohio remains on indefinite hold until the company secures a new partner in the project, the company said in an email Aug. 25.” The existence of an indefinite delay, which the company publicly denied in […]

In early April, we released a report outlining the benefits of plugging and cleaning up orphan and abandoned oil and gas wells in Appalachia. Since that time, there have been several bills introduced in Congress to address the issue. These include the Orphan Well Cleanup and Jobs Act (HR 2415) in the House and the […]

The West Virginia Legislature got underway on Wednesday, February 10th, and so far the legislative session has been marked by a lack of accountability and transparency, advancing legislation aimed at crippling public education, reducing workers’ rights, and securing large, regressive tax cuts that will hurt working families. When the legislature briefly convened on January 10th […]