New Coalition Launches Initiative To Fight For A Clean, Healthy Economy In Philly
By Molly Daly
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Green Justice Philly, a coalition of community organizations and environmental groups, has launched an initiative to build a clean, healthy economy in Philadelphia, and fight what members call dirty energy expansion.
Green Justice Philly's members include more than 20 environmental and economic justice organizations.
Food and Water Watch's Sam Bernhardt says Philadelphia Energy Solutions, on the old Sunoco refinery site poses a grave threat to the community's health.
"The refinery makes Philadelphia less safe," says Bernhardt. "They're the single largest customer of North Dakota's Bakken crude oil in the country, and they bring that in daily on dangerous and explosive oil trains."
Bernhardt says an expansion of that business makes no sense for a city that's achieved so much with its green initiatives.
"All of that is for naught if we let Philadelphia energy solutions move forward with their plan to turn Philadelphia into a dirty energy hub. We're not gonna stop growing our movement until Philadelphians are protected from this dangerous plan."
In the coming months, the coalition will hold community forums in Elmwood and Point Breeze, neighborhoods that bracket the refinery. And that's just for starters.
"We're looking to build a citywide movement that's going to pressure our city decision makers to do the right thing here, and protect Philadelphia residents."
Find out more at greenjusticephilly.org.
