"As the candidates in the 2015 mayoral contest have mostly raced to embrace the energy-hub proposal, there's been little debate about air pollution from the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery, even as it spews tons of toxic chemicals every year into the city's skies and continues to be flagged by regulators for contributing to the region's smog problem, one of the worst in the nation."
"In 2013, according to the latest statistics available from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the site - the largest oil refinery on the East Coast - let loose 701,284 pounds (or more than 350 tons) of hazardous air pollutants, including roughly 29 tons of benzene, a potent carcinogen, and many more tons of other toxins that experts say can contribute to breathing problems such as asthma."
Referring to the South Philly refinery (PES)
"Despite advances in pollution control that began around the time of the first Earth Day in 1970, the shutdown of other factories amid the end of the Industrial Revolution has solidified the refinery's rank as the city's largest stationary source of air pollution. Officials estimate that the plant accounts for more than 70 percent of toxic air emissions in Philadelphia, and nearly one-third of the total for the entire region."
What is the main point of the article, and how is it supported?
The main point of the article is that the development of new jobs by making Philadelphia an 'energy-hub' and "expand[ing the existing South Philadelphia's refinery] operations" is terrible news for the air quality of the residents of Philadelphia.
Much of the support for this argument comes from the information about the EPA tests on the emissions from the refinery in 2013.
Other support for the argument is established in anecdotal form
Resident concern and description of health problems
Input offered from residents, air quality specialists (Clean Air Council), politicians in support of PES, and older statements from PES (in a "quiet period because they "filed for an initial public offering" for growth of the company)
Growth: hopeful pipelines, drilling of Marcellus Shaled
What actors (individuals or organizations) are referred to? (Provide names and short descriptions.)
Nicole Joniec
Resident living very close to the refinery
Worries about its health impacts on her family
Husband has new respiratory problems since moving there 5 years ago
Philip Rinaldi
chief executive of Philadelphia Energy Solutions, the refinery
Expanding and more drilling promises more jobs, has large support by most mayor candidates
Currently using oil fracked in North Dakota
Joe Minott
executive director of the Clean Air Council
"he's troubled by the political rush toward the energy-hub plan with little discussion of both why the city would double down on fossil-fuel industries in an era of growing alarm about climate change, and about the pollution costs of the project."
Dr. Marilyn Howarth
University of Pennsylvania's Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology
Studies and presents asthma rates of Philadelphia
Jim Kenney
Candidate for mayor, in support of Philadelphia Energy Solutions and its job creations
Quote from his spokeswoman: "clean air doesn't do our citizens a lot of good if they can't afford to live here"
What kind of causation or responsibility is argued or implied in the article?
The causation for a significant amount of air pollution in Philadelphia is this particular refinery
"city's largest stationary source of air pollution".
"70 percent of toxic air emissions in Philadelphia, and nearly one-third of the total for the entire region."
There is little discussion on the health and environmental impacts of the growth of Philadelphia Energy Solutions, even though it is in huge discussion throughout the mayoral race discussions.
Focused on is the job market growth.
"Only one candidate, former judge Nelson Diaz, has stressed limiting air pollution in any push for energy jobs"
How (if at all) are health disparities or other equity issues addressed in the article or report?
The disparities analyzed are the socioeconomic status of children, linked to their respiratory problems
"the asthma rate of about 26 percent among kids in some of the city's poorest neighborhoods is three times the national average"
What three points, details or references from the article did you follow up on to advance your understanding of the issued and actors described in the article?
"In a January interview with Philadelphia magazine before the quiet period, PES chief executive Philip Rinaldi promised to be a responsible corporate citizen and to work to allay the concerns of environmentalists But he said that broader opposition to the ambitious, if vague, energy-hub plan is rooted in naivete."
He doesn't believe that alternative energy will ever work the way fossil fuels work for our energy needs.
Followed up on a quote from the article: "clean air doesn't do our citizens a lot of good if they can't afford to live here" - Lauren Hitt, spokeswoman for Jim Kenney
Will Bunch, "S. Phila refinery creates toxic air as well as jobs", Philly News, April 14, 2015, http://articles.philly.com/2015-04-14/news/61146829_1_largest-oil-refinery-philadelphia-energy-solutions-air-pollution.
What two (or more) quotes capture the message of the article?
- "As the candidates in the 2015 mayoral contest have mostly raced to embrace the energy-hub proposal, there's been little debate about air pollution from the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery, even as it spews tons of toxic chemicals every year into the city's skies and continues to be flagged by regulators for contributing to the region's smog problem, one of the worst in the nation."
- "In 2013, according to the latest statistics available from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the site - the largest oil refinery on the East Coast - let loose 701,284 pounds (or more than 350 tons) of hazardous air pollutants, including roughly 29 tons of benzene, a potent carcinogen, and many more tons of other toxins that experts say can contribute to breathing problems such as asthma."
- Referring to the South Philly refinery (PES)
- "Despite advances in pollution control that began around the time of the first Earth Day in 1970, the shutdown of other factories amid the end of the Industrial Revolution has solidified the refinery's rank as the city's largest stationary source of air pollution. Officials estimate that the plant accounts for more than 70 percent of toxic air emissions in Philadelphia, and nearly one-third of the total for the entire region."
What is the main point of the article, and how is it supported?- The main point of the article is that the development of new jobs by making Philadelphia an 'energy-hub' and "expand[ing the existing South Philadelphia's refinery] operations" is terrible news for the air quality of the residents of Philadelphia.
- Much of the support for this argument comes from the information about the EPA tests on the emissions from the refinery in 2013.
- Other support for the argument is established in anecdotal form
- Resident concern and description of health problems
- Input offered from residents, air quality specialists (Clean Air Council), politicians in support of PES, and older statements from PES (in a "quiet period because they "filed for an initial public offering" for growth of the company)
- Growth: hopeful pipelines, drilling of Marcellus Shaled
What actors (individuals or organizations) are referred to? (Provide names and short descriptions.)- Nicole Joniec
- Resident living very close to the refinery
- Worries about its health impacts on her family
- Husband has new respiratory problems since moving there 5 years ago
- Philip Rinaldi
- chief executive of Philadelphia Energy Solutions, the refinery
- Expanding and more drilling promises more jobs, has large support by most mayor candidates
- Currently using oil fracked in North Dakota
- Joe Minott
- executive director of the Clean Air Council
- "he's troubled by the political rush toward the energy-hub plan with little discussion of both why the city would double down on fossil-fuel industries in an era of growing alarm about climate change, and about the pollution costs of the project."
- Dr. Marilyn Howarth
- University of Pennsylvania's Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology
- Jim Kenney
- Candidate for mayor, in support of Philadelphia Energy Solutions and its job creations
- Quote from his spokeswoman: "clean air doesn't do our citizens a lot of good if they can't afford to live here"
What kind of causation or responsibility is argued or implied in the article?Studies and presents asthma rates of Philadelphia
- The causation for a significant amount of air pollution in Philadelphia is this particular refinery
- "city's largest stationary source of air pollution".
- "70 percent of toxic air emissions in Philadelphia, and nearly one-third of the total for the entire region."
- There is little discussion on the health and environmental impacts of the growth of Philadelphia Energy Solutions, even though it is in huge discussion throughout the mayoral race discussions.
- Focused on is the job market growth.
- "Only one candidate, former judge Nelson Diaz, has stressed limiting air pollution in any push for energy jobs"
How (if at all) are health disparities or other equity issues addressed in the article or report?- The disparities analyzed are the socioeconomic status of children, linked to their respiratory problems
- "the asthma rate of about 26 percent among kids in some of the city's poorest neighborhoods is three times the national average"
What three points, details or references from the article did you follow up on to advance your understanding of the issued and actors described in the article?