Philadelphia Deserves Clean Jobs

The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA) is currently accepting proposals for new construction projects in the Southport Marine Terminal Complex. There is already substantial fossil fuel infrastructure in South Philadelphia and Governor Wolf has publicly stated that a “nonenergy use” of the site would result in thousands more jobs. Previously, Senator Casey has lead successful efforts to secure federal funding to deepen the Delaware River while the PRPA made the construction of the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market possible with a $150 million loan. Clean Air Council hopes these influential parties continue to work toward environmentally conscious economic expansion in the one of Philadelphia’s most dynamic areas.

The Navy Yard is already at the center of electricity innovation. In preparation for more extreme storms as a result of climate change, PECO is using the Navy Yard as a model for autonomous microgrids that could ensure communities have power when the larger grid is damaged. Paralleling the timetable for dredging of the Delaware, the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab will test micro-Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) in the Navy Yard through 2017. Micro-PMUs will give grid operators real-time information on the flow of electrons within an energy grid.

Philadelphians deserve to economically prosper without being dependent on dangerous fossil fuel proposals. Tell Senator Casey to use his influence to help bring clean industry to the Navy Yard.

Please send this letter to the PRPA!

Mr. Gerard H. Sweeney, Chairman
Philadelphia Regional Port Authority
3460 North Delaware Avenue, 2nd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19134

Re: Southport Development – Jobs and Health

Dear Chairman Sweeney and Members of the PRPA Board,

PRPA must use valuable land at Southport to promote jobs and health in our neighborhoods by expanding Philadelphia’s container shipping terminal capacity and ensuring no fossil fuel infrastructure is developed.

We call upon the PRPA board to develop Southport as a robust, environmentally responsible, world-class container port with no fossil fuel-related infrastructure or operations. Governor Wolf has said that a container port would create over 3,500 jobs. Proposals such as break-bulk, warehousing, roll-on/roll-off, and intermodal capacities consistent with container facilities can contribute to an optimally flexible and vibrant Port of Philadelphia. On the other hand, proposals for a crude oil train or natural gas liquids terminal, new fossil fuel pipelines, storage tank farm, Delaware River dock, shale gas or oil processing facility or shipping terminal, or other fossil fuel infrastructure would be unacceptable at Southport because those projects would deteriorate air and water quality, present public health risks to Philadelphia residents, and exacerbate climate change.

We support Southport development that serves a just and sustainable economy. Southport development must promote family-supporting job creation, healthy communities, and clean air and water. These goals will be best achieved by dedicating the state-owned land at Southport for environmentally responsible container shipping, not fossil fuel projects.

Very truly yours,