Released: August 21, 2023
Delaware County Council wonders why local leaders and the public aren't invited to participate in a hearing on a potential LNG Facility in Chester.
Why is the "Philadelphia LNG Export Task Force" holding a closed-door meeting in Delaware County?
The below statement is from Delaware County Council Member Kevin Madden:
“On August 22, the "Philadelphia LNG Export Task Force", chaired by Philadelphia Representative Martina White, is scheduled to hold its final hearing in a closed to the public session at 10 a.m. at Widener University. Without any public notice, the Task Force, formed to develop recommendations for making the Port of Philadelphia a Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) export terminal, has reportedly expanded its purview to include a site in Chester. No one from Delaware County government has been invited to participate.
It is confusing and concerning that a Task Force specifically formed to review locating an LNG terminal at the Port of Philadelphia is holding a hearing in Chester in the first place, but it is disappointing that the Task Force has apparently expanded its purview to look at sites in Chester without any public notice and while excluding officials from the County and the public. Given the history of placing environmentally damaging projects in Chester is it imperative there be full transparency about any proposals and significant public input. There is no suitable and viable site in Chester for an LNG terminal.
The issue of energy production is incredibly important to the country, the commonwealth and county. We hope and expect that before the Task Force makes any recommendations that it does the bare minimum of discussing a potential project in Chester with the people who will live with it and be responsible for all of the permitting and approvals.”