Trump Encourages Liquefied Natural Gas ExportsExpansion in Pennsylvanian Towns; Locals Protest Against Planned LNG Terminal Construction

In the heart of Delaware Valley, the largest trash incinerator in the country by capacity, the Reworld's Delaware Valley Resource Recovery Facility, has been a constant source of concern for local residents. Now, a new development is causing a stir - Shell's plan to build an LNG export facility in Eddystone Borough, with an expected opening in 2023.

The Trump administration's push for a dramatic increase in LNG exports could contribute an estimated $1.3 trillion dollars to the U.S. gross domestic product through 2040. However, this focus on foreign policy and energy development has raised concerns about the potential impacts on local communities, particularly in Chester, Pennsylvania.

A study published by Johns Hopkins researchers in May found that the mix of pollutants from various industries in Chester and surrounding boroughs posed more health risks to nearby communities than the harm associated with a single pollutant. Air pollution from the burning trash and emissions from industrial sites in Chester have been blamed for contributing to high rates of deadly illnesses.

Research by Lauren Minsky has highlighted the correlation between these industries and pollution, finding that industries on the river have contributed to pollution that correlates with a range of heightened rates of deadly diseases in southeast Pennsylvania. In Chester City, female rates of laryngeal cancer were 201 percent higher than the national average, and male rates of liver and bile cancer were 97 percent higher than the national average. Moreover, children in Eddystone developed Hodgkin's Lymphoma at a rate 1,051 percent higher than the national average, according to Minsky's research.

These findings have sparked a wave of resistance from local communities, with groups like the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Swarthmore College's Campus Coalition Concerning Chester, Earth Quaker Action Team, and Choices, a youth environmental justice group affiliated with CRCQL, voicing their concerns at meetings about environmental justice and LNG proposals.

Nolan Fontaine, who leads Choices, aims to change the narrative about industries that came to Chester promising jobs and left residents fighting for air. The group has been actively involved in advocacy, including testing soil samples for lead with University of Pennsylvania researchers, volunteering at a local farm, building solar panels, and events to support and inspire the community.

The proposed LNG export terminal could increase emissions and pollution and add a potential threat of explosions. Penn America Energy's CEO wrote a report on the economic impact of building a $6.4 billion dollar LNG facility in Chester, which could operate in 2023. However, the potential risks to the health and safety of the community, particularly children, remain a significant concern.

As the debate over the LNG export facility continues, hope and love for the community are intertwined with the resistance to the polluting sites along the river. Initiatives like "Sowing Seeds of Hope," a gardening event and plant giveaway, reflect the community's determination to create a healthier, more sustainable future.

In a Washington Times op-ed, Pennsylvania Republican Sen. David McCormick announced Penn America's collaboration with the Pennsylvania Building Trades on the $7 billion LNG export terminal in Eddystone Borough. As the community continues to fight for clean air and a safer environment, the outcome of this debate remains to be seen.

Trump Encourages Liquefied Natural Gas ExportsExpansion in Pennsylvanian Towns; Locals Protest Against Planned LNG Terminal Construction