Republican lawmakers express support of Pennsylvania’s petrochemical industry

Republican lawmakers representing Pennsylvania districts spoke out in support of southwestern Pennsylvania’s petrochemical industry this week, highlighting the economic growth and jobs it provides.

Their statements came in response to Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto’s comments this week to the Pittsburgh Climate Action Summit, in which he stated that he opposes additional petrochemical companies coming to the region.

“Natural gas exploration, the cracker plant, and the downstream manufacturing sector are great for Southwestern Pennsylvania,” U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) said. “Tens of thousands of good-paying jobs have already been created, energy prices are falling, and the growing use of natural gas for electricity generation has improved air quality and reduced CO2 emissions. The region is positioned to be an energy and manufacturing hub for years to come.”

Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) criticized Peduto’s comments and highlighted the jobs created by the petrochemical industry in Pennsylvania.

“In 2015, these industries supported more than 300,000 jobs in Pennsylvania, a number that has only continued to grow,” Turzai said. “At the Shell cracker plant alone, there are more than 6,500 carpenters, electricians, ironworkers, laborers, operating engineers, and steamfitters, among other skilled trades, building one of the largest private investments in Pennsylvania history. That plant is also rehabilitating a brownfield site, one of many in our region that are well-suited to these new industrial uses.

“As a statewide leader, I will ensure that we remain welcoming to these industries and the family-sustaining jobs they provide,” he continued.

State Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R-Beaver/Greene/Washington) also released a statement in response to Peduto’s comments.

“The petrochemical industry is an amazing partner with our region, not only in terms of the jobs it provides but also the investments in our communities in education, job training, support for veterans, infrastructure and other critical priorities for the region,” Bartolotta said. “We should continue to support and nurture that partnership in order to create more job opportunities and a better standard of living in southwestern Pennsylvania communities.”