Refineries are Endangering Health, Climate, and the Future of Energy

Fossil fuels' environmental and health impacts begin long before they’re burned in power plants. Oil refineries process crude oil into petroleum products used for transportation fuels, heating, road paving, electricity generation, and as raw materials for petrochemicals. The process creates greenhouse gases such as CO2 and methane, as well as hazardous pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, which is linked to cancer.

Cancer Alley- the stretch of the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge got its nickname from the concentration of petrochemical facilities; about 200 facilities located around this area, including oil refineries, petrochemical factories, storage tank farms, and fertilizer and pesticide manufacturers relying on fossil fuels. Louisiana is the heaviest-polluted state among all the U.S. states- with residents exposed to nearly four times the national average of industrial toxic pollutants in their air, land, and water. Moreover, certain areas of Cancer Alley carry the highest cancer risk from industrial air pollution in the nation. 

Photo credit: Julie Dermansky 

Beyond its health impacts, the emission of PM2.5 contributes to climate change. Refineries release PM2.5- fine particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less. Black carbon, one component of PM2.5, is efficient in capturing light and warming the surrounding environment- the warming impact of black carbon can be as much as 1,500 times stronger than CO2 per unit of mass.

Additionally, the emission from refineries also affects solar power generation. PM2.5 absorbs or scatters sunlight, reducing the amount of solar energy available. The impact of PM2.5 in reducing available solar energy becomes more pronounced as PM2.5 concentration rises.