Green Light to Pollute in Texas: Proposed Buildout of Petrochemical Facilities Target Most Vulnerable Communities, Again

Texas is at the epicenter of a rapidly expanding petrochemical industry that processes fossil fuels into thousands of chemical products, including plastics, fertilizers, and fuels (Petrochemicals Europe, 2023). The state leads the nation in refining capacity and petrochemical production, with Greater Houston alone accounting for over 42% of U.S. base petrochemical capacity (Economic Development & Tourism, 2015; U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2025). Fenceline communities—disproportionately low-income communities of color—bear the brunt of this industrial growth, facing heightened health and environmental risks (Amnesty International, 2024; Lerner, 2012; Robinson, 2024). Despite public resistance and evidence of environmental injustice, the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality continues to approve permits for facility expansions (Baddour et al., 2024; Sadasivam & Aldern, 2023).