Cathy Bordner: 3 projects hamper Pittsburgh’s climate progress
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Recently there has been a lot of news coverage about awards being won by the city of Pittsburgh for progress against climate change. These are certainly major accomplishments, but if you look closer at Southwestern Pennsylvania, you’ll recognize the irony of these awards.
The Nov. 10 Public News Service article, “Environmental Orgs Appeal Permit for Gas Fired Power Plant in Southwest PA,” discusses the opposition of Elizabeth Township residents to the construction of a gas-fired power plant that will sell power to Virginia. A coalition of environmental legal firms has filed an appeal to undo the Allegheny County Health Department permit approved for the project. They cite the impact of the power plant’s emissions on surrounding environmental justice areas.
In Forward Township, local residents opposed Coronado Global Resources’ plans to build a coal mining operation on land currently zoned for residential and conservation uses. The law firm of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, located in downtown Pittsburgh, recently withdrew its rezoning application after receiving pushback from the township’s planning commission. However, they will be back. The coal will be mined by an Australian company that again will not benefit the local community.
Finally, Amazon has proposed building a 2.9 million-square-foot Amazon distribution center in Churchill. The Nov. 11 Public Source article “Amazon Marked Churchill on the map. Now its residents and Council Grapple with Becoming a Prime Location.” highlights the strong opposition from borough residents. Oddly enough, the same law firm of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney represents the applicant for the conditional use permit.
In order to build this facility, it will be necessary to destroy 1,400 mature trees, the majority of them healthy and vibrant. Amazon will destroy the 133-acre former George Westinghouse Research and Technology Park, which is currently eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.. The green space, rolling hills and buildings will all be gone. If built, it will pose a risk of stormwater runoff and again impact children from surrounding environmental justice areas who attend Woodland Hills middle and high schools. And this is all so that the good people of Pittsburgh and surrounding areas can get their stuff from Amazon in two days.
All three of these projects pose serious environmental threats. They will undo progress that has been made toward mitigating climate change. They will have serious negative consequences for the communities where they are proposed, as well as adjoining communities that will suffer from poor air quality, stormwater runoff and, in the case of Churchill, terrible traffic congestion. All three have drawn strong opposition from the communities in which they are proposed. And in two cases, one downtown Pittsburgh law firm represents the proposals and stands to make large sums of money in legal fees.
So Pittsburgh can receive its awards and get the positive news coverage, as well as host meetings of other city and world leaders, to showcase its accomplishments in addressing climate change. But surrounding neighbors are paying a terrible price with these horrific projects.
The residents of Pittsburgh should look beyond the city limits. Think about what these three communities are faced with. Our sacrifices will benefit people in Virginia who will get power cheaply while we continue to suffer constant power outages. One downtown law firm can pay its partners and staff hefty Christmas bonuses. And people throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania will get their coffee makers in two days. But the people of Churchill will live in a fog of diesel fumes. The people of Forward Township will have their community turned into an industrial coal-mining site. Residents of Elizabeth Township will see a power plant towering about their homes.
On one hand, we have awards for projects that mitigate climate change and protect the environment. On the other hand we have projects that hasten climate change and threaten our environment and health. It doesn’t make sense. Why don’t we pull the plug on all three of these projects and really protect our environment?
Awards are fine. But making a difference is better.
Cathy Bordner has lived in Churchill for two years and has participated in borough meetings and public hearings opposing the Amazon proposal. Retired from the Missouri Department of Social Services, she advocated for the preservation and revitalization of neighborhoods and communities when she lived in Jefferson City, Mo.