Shell petrochemical plant will erase 30 years’ worth of air quality improvements

The Shell plant will erase 30 years’ worth of air quality improvements. It will result in higher rates of respiratory disease, heart disease, asthma, lost productivity, cancer, early deaths and adverse birth outcomes…

BY MATTHEW MEHALIK, PH.D.

As people concerned about the future of the Ohio River Valley, we wish to tell President Donald Trump, who is in Pittsburgh today bowing to petrochemical interests, that petrochemical development is the wrong path for our community. Our region has battled economic disinvestment following generations of heavy industrial development with a subsequent burden of cleaning up. One of the lessons we have learned is that life and health are precious.

The Shell plant will erase 30 years’ worth of air quality improvements. It will result in higher rates of respiratory disease, heart disease, asthma, lost productivity, cancer, early deaths and adverse birth outcomes in a community with existing poor health statistics. This industry will sacrifice our health and economy in order to overproduce plastics and put our water supply at risk.

This industry risks our reputation by pushing climate over the edge. The Shell plant will emit 2.2 million tons of CO2 per year, the equivalent 424,000 passenger vehicles. The proposed, similar Exxon plant and more than four others like it will make meeting Paris Climate goals impossible.

Our prosperity depends upon attracting new businesses. This will be difficult when our community becomes increasingly toxic with falling property values and fleeing investment. Instead, we want clean jobs that do not sacrifice the lives of workers and the community. Our region has a long history of learning this lesson. We want to avoid that toxic path.

We ask that efforts stop to subsidize the petrochemical industry with billions of dollars of public money and loan guarantees that drain the life out of our communities. We would rather see support go to clean energy jobs that promote health, extend lives and support whole communities.

Through innovation we can create more jobs and clean up communities. Protect our health, our economy, and our children’s future.

MATTHEW MEHALIK, PH.D.
Executive Director
Breathe Project
Energy Innovation Center
Hill District

SOURCE

The petrochemical plant being built on the banks of the Ohio River in Monaco, PA. for the Royal Dutch Shell company. (Associated Press)

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