Environmental groups air concerns about $6B Nacero project

Dec. 26—NEWPORT TWP. — A proposed gas-to-gasoline industrial plant in Luzerne County, touted as being environmentally friendly, is anything but, says a group of local, state, and national environmental organizations who have joined forces to oppose the project.

The organizations that came out against the $6 billion project slated for the Newport Township/Nanticoke City/Hanover Township area, are: Action Together NEPA, Berks Gas Truth, Better Path Coalition, Clean Air Council, Climate Reality Project: Pennsylvania Chapters Coalition, Concerned Health Professionals of PA, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, FracTracker Alliance, Green Amendments For the Generations, Interfaith Power and Light, League of Women Voters Pennsylvania, PennFuture, Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Wyoming Valley, Watchdogs of Southeastern PA (WaSEPA).

State Sen. John Yudichak, the main advocate for the project, and Nacero officials, responded to the concerns and even released a statement from a Novel Prize winner, Mark D. Levine, who co-authored the 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report that received the Nobel Peace Prize.

Dr. Levine, who is a senior advisor at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, described Nacero's potential to slow global warming as an opportunity "we can't afford to miss."

The opposition groups released a statement, along with a Clean Air Council fact sheet, that addresses why they are against the project.

"Nacero, the Texas-based company behind the $6 billion refinery, markets its business as being environmentally conscious, but there is no evidence to support its claims, especially at the local level,' the statement reads. "When considering air permit documents obtained by Clean Air Council for Nacero's similarly proposed Texas facility, Nacero's proposed Luzerne County refinery would be the third-worst climate pollution emitter in the state and among the top emitters of other harmful pollutants."

The groups claim the current proposal places a big source of pollution in a residential neighborhood near an elementary school.

"Although Nacero says that its business is based on proven technology, little is known about the process," the statement continues. "Since it was formed in 2015, Nacero has not built any of the nine plants it set out to build. Only one plant employing the technology exists in the world and that plant opened in 2019."

The groups further claim that Nacero plans to market two gasoline products — "Nacero Blue" and "Nacero Green" — both products, the opponents claim are chemically identical, would require more dangerous pipeline infrastructure to move the gas to the plant.

"Nacero is relying on carbon capture 'when feasible' to prop up its claims, but feasibility of carbon capture is not a reality," the statement says. "The environmental community is concerned that the proposed Nacero refinery in Luzerne County will be the first in a new wave of proposals for fracked gas-related projects marketed as 'good for the climate,' but that instead will pollute local communities while emitting significant amounts of greenhouse gases and expanding the fracked gas industry."

Yudichak responds

Yudichak, I-Swoyersville, said Action Together NEPA is an activist political organization dedicated to electing progressive Democrats.

"The Nacero manufacturing facility in Luzerne County, which will be fueled by 100% renewable energy, enjoys the broad support of Democrat and Republican leaders who want to immediately address climate change by reducing the carbon life cycle of gasoline to net-zero." Yudichak said. "Nacero Green gasoline will revolutionize our transportation sector, and help the United States meet its climate change goals."

Yudichak added, "The innovative process Nacero will employ to manufacture gasoline, that has zero sulfur emissions and fifty percent less carbon emissions, has been recognized by scientists as the most aggressive, immediate way to reduce air pollution in our cities and address climate change on a large scale.

"Nacero's $6 billion manufacturing facility planned for Nanticoke City and Newport Township is a transformational economic development project that will have a $25 billion impact on our regional economy. Nacero is committed to creating four thousand new jobs, and equally committed to making there Luzerne County facility a national environmental leader on the issue of climate change."

Nacero statement

Marc Heissan, Director, Strategic Development at Nacero, said, "We are confident that the permitting process will confirm that Newport Township is an appropriate location for this facility and look forward to talking with those who have voiced concern. In addition to providing a major boost to the local and regional economies, producing gasoline with a smaller lifecycle carbon footprint for everyday drivers will bring us closer to achieving our climate goals."

Carl Zichella, a member of the Nacero Advisory Council who held senior positions in the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Sierra Club for 32 years, said, "The United States is likely to remain the largest user of gasoline in the world for decades. If we are going to stop global warming we have to do something about gasoline, not just cars. Making gasoline from natural gas and renewable natural gas instead of crude oil is our best hope of doing so."

Action Together statement

Kristin Volchansky, Political & Advocacy Organizer for Action Together NEPA, also issued a separate statement in opposition to the project.

"We are deeply concerned by the announcement of a gas to gasoline refinery to be constructed in Luzerne County. We are united in expressing our shared belief that this plant does not belong near a populated residential neighborhood, and that its construction raises serious health and safety concerns, none of which have been scientifically studied for a first-of-its-kind refinery in the United States."

Then group claims that according to air permit documents obtained by the Clean Air Council for Nacero's similarly proposed Texas facility, the Luzerne County refinery would be the third worst climate pollution emitter in the state, and would rank among the top emitters of other harmful pollutants.

"The company has not provided rock solid assurances that the jobs created will be primarily local or unionized, nor have residents been afforded the opportunity to voice their opinions or ask questions at public meetings," the statement said.

"Residents living near this plant and the surrounding communities deserve the truth about the traffic, emissions, and other quality of life issues that will be coming with this plant, and assurances that every safety and health study possible will be performed to the satisfaction of residents."

About the project

When the project was announced in late October, Marc Heissan, director of strategic development for Nacero Inc., said the company has been working on building a strong understanding on what it will take to develop the chosen location in Luzerne County for the past two years.

"There is still a lot of work to be done, but we will know more once we start construction on our Texas facility next year," Heissan said.

The Texas-based company plans to build a $6 billion manufacturing facility on the site of a former coal mine that will produce clean gasoline made from natural gas and renewable natural gas and generate thousands of jobs.

Yudichak said Nacero's decision to invest $6 billion and create nearly 4,000 new jobs represents the single largest economic development investment in the history of Luzerne County.

"Our affordable gasoline will be usable in today's cars and trucks without modification, and we are addressing one of, if not the most, pressing problems in the world today," Heissan said. "We will have a better idea as to the timing of construction in Pennsylvania after we begin work on our first project in Texas next year."

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.