Researchers Highlight Environmental Inequities in Siting Texas Petrochemical Projects

A new analysis from Texas Southern University’s Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice shows that nearly 90% of almost 100 proposed industrial sites in Texas are located in counties with higher-than-average poverty levels and larger populations of people of color. Almost half of these locations already fall above the 90th percentile for toxic exposure based on EPA Toxics Release Inventory data.

Lead author Robert Bullard, known for pioneering environmental justice research, noted that patterns of industrial siting have remained unchanged for decades, with pollution concentrated in marginalized communities. Most planned projects—including ethylene crackers, polyethylene units, and PVC production facilities—cluster around existing petrochemical hubs along the Gulf Coast.

While industry groups highlight economic benefits, Bullard emphasized that nearby residents often see little gain and face greater health risks from carcinogenic emissions and other pollutants. Market shifts have slowed some planned expansions, yet many proposed facilities remain situated near neighborhoods already burdened by some of the highest pollution levels in the nation.

03-12-2025