Sustainable Industries

Industries are sustainable when they support the communities around them, provide family sustaining jobs and a healthy work environment and minimize the risks of toxic spills and leaks that endanger our communities.

 

industrial

Some industries and some specific compnies have well earned reputations for: pipeline leaks, first that cause toxic smoke clouds, exploding train cars, contentrated fumes from smoke stacks or incinerators.

 

Some industries have names and taglines that sound like they are developing clean and green products. But are they really? Are they being truthful and honest on their websites and press statements?

 

 

 

CONTACT INFO

To ask a question or learn how you can contribute to the Sustainable Industries team, use the SPG Volunteer Interest Form. A volunteer leader will get back to you.

Local Stories to Watch

 

Gibbstown Undergound Liquid Gas Storage Proposal

DEP is considering NJ’s largest Underground Storage of Liquid Gases at Gibbstown, Gloucester Co. NJDEP issued a draft permit to Delaware River Partners (DRP) for two new massive underground storage caverns at their Repauno (Gibbstown Logistics Center) site on the Delaware River in March, then they withdrew it without explanation. Now they have reissued a draft permit, set a public hearing for Wednesday May 14 and set a written comment period through June 16. Little information is available to area residents. 
 
Liquid petroleum gases (LPGs) include butane, propane and ethane, among other gases, but do NOT include Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), which is prohibited under NJ regulations. However, this doesn't rule out a separate application for future LNG storage tanks. LPGs are flammable, potentially explosive, and routinely release pollution through venting and flaring. They are also denser and can spread further at ground level. But they can be liquified at higher temperatures than methane. Propane boils at -42.1, ethane boils at -88.7, while methane boils at -161.6°C, so requires insulated, pressurized tanks.
 
Gibbstown Project is for LPG, Liquified Petroleum Gases. Of course, most petroleum liquids come from fracking. 
 
Likely brought in by truck, but no disclosure of how materials will be transported.
 
Multiple stages of expansion are planned, but permit applications only cover initial phase (“segmentation”), no expansions and NOT operation, to dodge analysis of cumulative impacts. 
 
The project will affect PA two ways: (1) The products will largely come from fracking in PA and (2) the LPG will have to be transported through PA and close to Philadelphia. 
The Repauno site is also mapped as part of MACH-2
 
Can submit comments to NJ DEP through June 16 by email to tcpa@dep.nj.gov with subject line “Underground Storage Cavern draft permit to construct comments”
 
Delaware Riverkeeper has starter draft comments.

 

Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) Refinery Fire and Explosions

At approximately 4 am on Friday June 21, 2019 there was a release of vapor in the PES refinery alkylation unit. The vapor found an ignition source, causing a fire and multiple explosions. 

Hilco Redevelopment Partners Breaks Ground on Vertical Construction at The Bellwether District - Oct 2023 PR Newswire

Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub (MACH2) proposal includes Hilco storage facility - May 2024

 

Philadelphia LNG Export Terminal 

- LNG Export Task Force Report - Nov 2023
"The Greater Philadelphia area is uniquely situated to require very limited pipeline infrastructure to facilitate the creation of an LNG export terminal"

Clean Air Council - no one consulted with members or representatives of potential host communities when drafting the bill to approve the Task Force Report.

 

Carbon Dioxide Transmission Pipelines Municipal Regulations

   East Goshen Township Code - 2024

   West Whiteland Township Code - 2024

   Grist: Federal Pipeline Safety Agency Withdraws Proposed Rules To Prevent Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Releases In Response To President’s Executive Order - March 2025

   CO2 Pipelines: What Are They & Why Are They Important? - American Petroleum Institute 

OTHER RESOURCES