Environmental Impacts and Potential to Emit
The process that the refinery would use to make the synthetic gasoline is a very energy-intensive process that creates significant amounts of air pollution. If this facility is similar to the one Nacero proposed in Texas, it would be a major source of harmful air pollution and greenhouse gases (GHGs) that accelerate climate change. The proposed facility in Texas has an annual emission allowance of more than 5.7 million tons per year of GHGs.
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Despite Naceroʼs claim, the refinery is unlikely to be able to produce carbon neutral gasoline. Nacero has not provided a full lifecycle analysis of the facilityʼs environmental impact to justify this claim. In addition to emissions from the refinery, the gas infrastructure needed to produce gas for the plant and burning gasoline from the plant in vehicles will produce even more air pollution.
Scientists say that climate change will lead to hotter temperatures that worsen air quality by increasing chemical reactions that form ground-level ozone, the main constituent of smog. In addition, climate change increases the intensity and frequency of storms and the amount of rainfall. Pennsylvania is seeing increasingly severe weather, storms, and flooding that damage property and infrastructure Luzerne County saw record levels of flooding due to Tropical Storm Ida during the summer of 2021. Luzerne County received state and federal disaster relief funds to help with repair, such as damaged roads and bridges.
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Air Permits and Related Materials
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Nacero Texas Construction Permit - Source Analysis and Technical Review
Nacero: Penwell, Texas Potential to Emit
Possible Environmental and Health Impacts
from Luzerne County GTL Plant
The Nacero plant would be a Title V facility — a major source of air pollution that requires a federal operating permit with additional monitoring requirements. If this facility is similar to the one Nacero proposed in Penwell, Texas, it would be a major source of harmful air pollution and greenhouse gases (GHGs) that accelerate climate change.
The plant would be a major source for nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, total particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds. If built similarly to the Texas plant, it would be third largest polluter of greenhouse gases in Pennsylvania, and will have a great impact to public health in the region. The proposed Texas plant also has the potential to emit 600 tons per year of volatile organic compounds, and 96 tons per year of hazardous air pollutants - many of which are very harmful to public health.
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Public health impacts information taken from US Environmental Protection Agency and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.