Nonetheless, plastics production is coming under tougher scrutiny from environmentalists and Democrats given its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, especially with its potential to grow exponentially and offer a lifeline to the oil industry. He suggested that the bulk of the plastics waste in the oceans can be traced back to Asian countries and that the United States isn’t as big a piece of the problem. “I take that cotton bag to Whole Foods, I do, but I know it’s virtue-signaling,” Crenshaw said during the hearing. Dan Crenshaw, a Texas Republican, questioned whether the provisions targeting plastics production would have any measurable benefit on curbing emissions or reducing plastic waste in the oceans. This week, Shell said it expects its multibillion-dollar facility outside of Pittsburgh to complete construction next year and estimates it will create 600 permanent jobs. Former President Donald Trump had touted the endeavor, personally touring the Shell plant in 2019 to draw attention to the project. Sunday added that beyond PPE, plastics are also used to weatherize homes and can be found in automotive devices, recreational equipment, and even components used to transport and store the coronavirus vaccines.Įspecially in natural gas-rich Appalachia, policymakers have seen plastics production facilities as a way to utilize excess gas and create jobs in a region already suffering economically from the decline of coal power. “Yes, I believe that language would jeopardize future investment into those types of facilities,” said Kevin Sunday, director of government affairs for the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, in response to McKinley’s question.
CRUSH THE INDUSTRY CRACKER
David McKinley, a West Virginia Republican, asked whether the Democrats’ bill would preclude the opening of new facilities such as an under-construction ethane cracker plant being built by Shell near Pittsburgh or a similar plant planned for eastern Ohio. Several Republicans, during a legislative hearing on the bill Thursday, argued it would dampen the plastics industry at a time when the pandemic exposed a need for more plastic materials for personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves. The EPA regulations must also require any permit for a plastics production facility to be accompanied by an “environmental justice assessment,” which would include consulting with the people who live in the region where the facility would be located, according to the bill. The legislation also directs the Environmental Protection Agency to issue new greenhouse gas and air pollution controls for these facilities within three years, including requiring plastics production plants to use zero-emissions power and improve emissions monitoring. Most significantly, the bill would impose a temporary pause on air pollution permits needed for approval of new plastics production facilities. HOUSE DEMOCRATS INTRODUCE SWEEPING CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION REWORKED TO MATCH BIDEN GOALS
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