Texas is a major global hub for the petrochemical industry, leading the U.S. in refining capacity and production, with the Greater Houston area accounting for over 42% of the nation's base capacity. This industrial concentration disproportionately impacts fenceline communities—often low-income communities of color—who bear increased health and environmental risks due to facility expansions, which are frequently approved by the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality despite public resistance. This pattern reflects environmental injustice, a central concern of the environmental justice movement, as the state lacks a comprehensive environmental justice screening tool or policy to identify and mitigate these inequities, exacerbating burdens on vulnerable communities and hindering decarbonization efforts while industry profits surge.
Gwen Jones is the founder of Climate Conservation Brazoria County. She grew up in the area’s historic East End, which was once a bustling town. Today, the area is surrounded by more than a dozen petrochemical plants. Ms. Gwen works tirelessly to educate the community about the hazards that these facilities pose, while holding the corporations accountable. A member of her group is Thomas Koole. He a career shrimper, and has a first-hand account of experiencing the aftermath of how the petrochemical industry is destroying the health and ecosystem of Freeport.
Website: Climate Conversation - Brazoria County
Erandi is a member of the RAICES PROJECT which means “roots” in Spanish. The goal of the organization is to tend to the roots of the people, which translates into many areas including: civic engagement, cultural representation, educational programming, nature etc. Erandi lives at the fence line of a buffer zone that separates the community from industry. The proposed petrochemical facilities in her area would erase that buffer zone, expand additional industry (truck lots etc.) and bring in economic activity that does not benefit the residents.
Website: The Raices Project
Chris Jones is the founder of the South End Greater Community Association. He says his neighborhood, which is thought to be a hidden Negro settlement in Beaumont, has roots older than the city itself. Jones says the landscape of his community began to change in the early 90s with the introduction of the Port. Chemical plant buffer zones displaced families, schools and history. Living at the fence line of Exxon Mobil, he vigorously fights to preserve and uplift the Black History of Beaumont, TX, specifically through the Black church.
Website: South End Greater Community Association
Ms. Maddie has been a resident of Corpus for 70+ years. Hillcrest, which was once a thriving African American community, is now surrounded by the port, chemical plants and an oversized bridge. Many residents voluntarily relocated as the industry continued to move in. The remaining residents are fighting to hold on to what it theirs. Additionally, the city of Corpus Christi is experiencing a major issue with water. The refineries use an outsized amount of water, leaving residents in near drought conditions. With a proposed desalination plant on the table, Ms. Maddie, her neighbor Ms. Mona and a plethora of others are fighting to keep Corpus clean.
