Media Contact:
Logan Wolf, lwolf@earthworksaction.org
Earthworks and local partners mark a victory for community health over corporate profit
BATON ROUGE, LA — Today, in a win for local communities in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, Air Products announced it was ending its efforts to build a new multibillion-dollar blue hydrogen project. The project would’ve included the build-out of pipelines and facilities across Ascension, Livingston, St. James, St. John the Baptist and Tangipahoa parishes as well as the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area.
Local opposition in Ascension Parish had been strong, with Earthworks playing a critical role in building resistance, working alongside community members, local leaders, and partner organizations to expose Air Products’ attempt to greenwash the project in the public eye.
“This outcome is a win for the local communities and highlights the power we have when we stand up to these multi-billion dollar industries with the truth on our side. The project would’ve threatened the land, water and air quality as well as property values in communities already suffering the disproportionate impact of the petrochemical industry,” said Kaitlyn Joshua, Gulf Coast Campaigner for Earthworks.
The blue hydrogen project would have posed significant risks to local Louisiana communities, including toxic gas leaks and carcinogenic emissions like benzene. The project also relied on billions in public subsidies while shifting the health and safety burdens onto the residents.
“Public accountability is key when corporations like Air Products try to come into communities, trying to sell ‘solutions’ when in reality, they are creating additional dangers and risks to the families who live in the surrounding areas, all for corporate profit. This win sends an important signal to the entire petrochemical industry that their era of unchecked expansion in our communities is over,” concluded Joshua.
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