Just weeks ago, activists like you jumped into the fight to prevent Trump’s Department of Energy from providing $1.9 billion in financial backing to a proposed massive Appalachian petrochemical buildout in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia.
Momentum is building to stop fossil fuel projects like this, so it's no surprise the fossil fuel industry is trying something sneaky to fight back.
With the help of Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), a bill in the U.S. Senate was introduced that would pave the way to pursue dirtier fossil fuel energy, more unnecessary plastic and more pollution — all under the guise of "national security."
This bill would require the Secretary of Energy to conduct a study that would show the national security implications if we did not build out petrochemical infrastructure throughout the United States.1,2,3 And it's no surprise the Appalachian Storage Hub is highlighted in this bill.
Here’s why this is happening: Big Oil and Gas are scared.
They have watched their massive petrochemical project go from being a sure thing to being in deep trouble. They are desperate to pursue any means they can to try to drive this project through to completion — even saying the project is needed for “national security” purposes. That assertion is incredibly dangerous and a bald-faced distraction.
Now this bill could be up for a vote on the Senate floor any time Mitch McConnell wants it to.
True national security would be to protect our children, our communities and our environment from the worst impacts of climate change. We must make a fair and just transition to 100% renewable energy to combat the worst effects of our pending climate crisis.
