Local climate activists in Philadelphia have intensified their calls for Mayor Cherelle Parker to publicly denounce Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) for its financial support of a lobbying group that has advocated for the reduction of clean energy funding.
The American Public Gas Association, which receives substantial dues from PGW annually, recently reached out to the Trump administration urging a review of federal funding for clean energy initiatives.
Protests erupted outside Philadelphia City Hall on Earth Day, where between 40 to 50 activists gathered to voice their concerns.
Patrick Houston, a member of the HERE 4 Climate Justice Coalition that organized the event, emphasized the urgency of Mayor Parker’s response, stating, “Mayor Parker needs to speak up on this issue, because Philadelphians are feeling the heat, and they’re feeling the impact of the climate emergency and from Trump’s cuts to our communities.”
Protesters argue that PGW’s support for the gas lobby undermines local efforts to transition towards cleaner energy sources.
While PGW and Mayor Parker did not respond to requests for comment, the utility previously indicated a lack of knowledge regarding the lobbying actions of the American Public Gas Association.
At the same time as the protest, Mayor Parker promoted a new initiative at an Earth Day event focused on developing green buildings at the Navy Yard, where 4,000 all-electric apartment units are under construction, signifying a commitment to reducing reliance on natural gas.
Activists are also urging the Parker administration to implement a plan to phase out natural gas by 2050, aligning with the city’s broader objectives to achieve net zero carbon emissions within the next 25 years.
During the protest, concerns were raised regarding Philadelphia potentially losing out on $700 million in federal funding aimed at curbing climate-warming emissions, a risk associated with the lobbying efforts linked to PGW.
Houston voiced alarm that such lobbying actions could impede Philadelphia’s progress towards sustainable energy solutions.
He stated, “We know that gas worsens our indoor air pollution, heats our climate, and increasingly could be unaffordable for low-income households as more people move to cleaner, sustainable energy sources.”
Various protesters expressed outrage that their ratepayer dollars were being utilized to support a lobbying effort that contradicts the city’s climate goals.
Walter Tsou, a physician and protester, articulated his frustration: “As a PGW customer, and as a physician who cares about the climate, I’m really pissed that we are actually spending my ratepayer money to support the American Public Gas Association, to do this lobby against the very things that the mayor [is doing] to make us the greenest city in America.”
Another Philadelphia resident, Melissa Ostroff, shared her personal experiences with chronic gas leaks, expressing fears of potential explosions and the health implications related to exposure to carcinogenic substances like benzene.
“To find out that PGW is actively lobbying against moving towards a cleaner and greener future when they’re a publicly-owned gas utility and they have a serious problem with gas leaks was deeply concerning to me,” she said.
The American Public Gas Association’s advocacy aligns with broader efforts within the gas industry to bolster fossil fuel production during the Trump administration.
Climate activist Jim Wiley of West Chester reinforced the importance of community action against such lobbying efforts.
He stated, “If we don’t stand up, then they will just encroach more and more on the city’s right to transition to a clean energy future.”
As the debate over the role of natural gas in Philadelphia’s energy landscape intensifies, the voices of local climate activists continue to advocate for a shift towards truly sustainable energy solutions.
image source from：https://whyy.org/articles/earth-day-philadelphia-pgw-cherelle-parker/
