Texas Petrochemical Expansion Disproportionately Harms Communities of Color, Study Finds
A Texas Southern University study reveals nearly 90% of proposed petrochemical and industrial facilities statewide are located in counties with higher concentrations of people of color and poverty. Almost half of these sites already exceed the 90th percentile for pollution exposure. The report, by the Bullard Center, highlights a historical pattern of environmental injustice where economically disadvantaged communities bear the brunt of toxic emissions, urging an end to this practice.
A new report from Texas Southern University's Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice, titled “Green Light to Pollute in Texas,” highlights a severe environmental justice issue: approximately 90% of nearly 100 proposed industrial facilities in Texas are located in counties with higher concentrations of people of color and families in poverty than statewide averages. These facilities, including petrochemical plants, export terminals, and refineries, are predominantly clustered around existing Gulf Coast refinery hubs like Port Arthur and the Houston Ship Channel. The study further found that nearly half of these proposed sites already exceed the 90th percentile for pollution exposure under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxics Release Inventory, with some areas near Port Arthur and Beaumont ranking in the 99th percentile for toxic emissions. Lead author Robert Bullard, known as the 'father of environmental justice,' emphasized that this discriminatory siting process has remained largely unchanged for decades, stating, 'America is segregated and so is pollution.' While the plastics industry, fueled by the fracking boom, has seen significant growth in Texas, generating jobs and revenue, Bullard notes that these economic benefits rarely accrue to the adjacent fenceline communities, which instead suffer higher poverty, unemployment, and exposure to harmful pollutants like benzene and ethylene oxide. The report calls for an end to the practice of using economically disadvantaged communities as 'dumping grounds,' although market slowdowns have recently led to the cancellation of some proposed projects.
