Eva Resnick-Day, Pennsylvania Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 Campaign, eva.resnick-day@sierraclub.org
PITTSBURGH, PA -- Today at the city’s Climate Action Summit, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto came out in opposition to the continued buildout of polluting plastic and petrochemical facilities in Western Pennsylvania. He stated, “I oppose any additional petrochemical companies coming to Western Pennsylvania,” going further to say, “we don’t have to become the petrochemical/plastics center of the United States.” PublicSource reports he will be submitting a letter to Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf regarding how “the expansion of this industry is an impediment to the region’s growth.”
Western Pennsylvania is increasingly being targeted by industry for gas and petrochemical development. Earlier this month, it was announced that Exxon is currently looking to build a second cracker plant in Beaver County.
In response, Eva Resnick-Day, Pittsburgh Community Organizer with the Pennsylvania Sierra Club, said:
"It's refreshing and vital to see our Mayor take a stand against the disastrous petrochemical buildout proposed in our region, especially as Exxon has been scouting for a second cracker in Beaver County.
"Mayor Peduto's statement acknowledges that tackling the climate crisis and improving our air and water quality are incompatible with an industrial buildout of plastics in our region -- but we have to follow words with action. We hope the Mayor works with his fellow municipal leaders and allies to herald in a new vision and new investments for the region to achieve what we really need: clean air, family-sustaining jobs that don’t put workers and families at risk, and a 100% clean energy economy for all."
Kelsey Salerno, Western Pennsylvania Community Organizer with the Pennsylvania Sierra Club, said:
"The legacy of our region is one of industry, from steel to coal to glass production. Workers in Western Pennsylvania have never been afraid to get their hands dirty, but why repeat history of dirty, polluting industries when our region can become a hub for windmill, solar panel, and sustainable construction material development? Workers in Beaver and beyond deserve jobs that keep them and fellow community members healthy, both physically and financially."
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.