A Better Vision for the Valley

Sustainable Development for the Ohio Valley

Instead of welcoming a massive ethane cracker plant to Dilles Bottom, we can pursue economic growth that respects our region's natural assets. The Ohio River Valley has deep strengths — fertile farmland, a skilled workforce, rich cultural heritage, and scenic landscapes that draw visitors year after year. These are the foundations for a resilient, forward-looking economy.

Investments in renewable energy, outdoor recreation, local agriculture, and small-scale manufacturing can create stable jobs without the environmental burden that comes with petrochemical processing. Communities across the country have proven that clean development is not only possible — it is profitable and popular.

A better vision for the Ohio Valley means reimagining what economic progress looks like for our region. Rather than anchoring our future to a single massive petrochemical complex, we can build a diversified economy rooted in the strengths we already possess. Our fertile farmland, skilled workforce, and rich cultural heritage offer a foundation for sustainable growth that creates lasting prosperity without sacrificing the air we breathe or the water we drink. By investing in clean industry, small business development, and the region's natural beauty, we can attract visitors and new residents alike while protecting the environmental assets that make this valley home.

The proposed ethane cracker plant would bring with it real concerns about particulate matter, carbon dioxide emissions, and the potential for accidents and disasters that could affect public health for generations. Residents across the region have voiced their opposition not out of fear of progress, but out of a deep commitment to protecting their families and their communities. A more thoughtful approach to development would prioritize transparency, rigorous environmental review, and meaningful community input at every stage. We believe the Ohio Valley can welcome responsible industry while still holding companies to high standards for environmental stewardship and accountability.

Sustainable development is not a compromise between jobs and the environment; it is a path that honors both. Across the Appalachian region, communities are organizing around a shared vision of a future that includes clean air, safe water, and dignified work. By supporting local organizations, attending public meetings, and engaging with elected officials, citizens can help shape decisions that affect our homes and our health. Together, we can demonstrate that this valley is not defined by any single industrial project, but by the people who live here and the beautiful, resilient landscape we are determined to preserve for the next generation.

Long-Term Health & Economic Benefits

Saying no to the cracker plant is an investment in our collective future. The proposed facility would bring a short-term construction boom followed by a relatively small number of permanent jobs — while leaving behind decades of emissions, water withdrawals, and plastic pellet pollution.

By contrast, a clean-development path offers compounding returns: healthier residents with lower medical costs, cleaner air and water that attract families and businesses, and a diversified economy less vulnerable to the boom-and-bust cycles of the petrochemical industry. The choice is clear: we can build a valley our children will want to stay in — and come back to.