PennEnvironment responds to Philadelphia refinery explosion

On an early morning in late June, a massive explosion at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) refinery rocked residents awake for miles.  

“The explosion and ensuing fire were a stark reminder of what environmental groups such as PennEnvironment have been saying for a long time: Fossil fuels as a source of energy are dirty and dangerous, and don’t deliver for our communities,” said PennEnvironment Climate Solutions Associate Kelly Flanigan.

PennEnvironment staff were quoted in news stories across the nation, including the Chicago Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer, UK Daily Mail, NPR and NBC-10 Philadelphia.

Only a week prior to the explosion, Philadelphia City Council voted to approve a dangerous fossil fuel expansion at the Philadelphia Gas Works South Philly refinery next door to the PES refinery, approving a 25-year contract to store dangerous liquified natural gas (LNG) in the same community.

Photo: The near-catastrophic refinery explosion in Philadelphia garnered ongoing local and national media attention. Credit: CNN