Beginning in the 1980s, the massive influx of polluting industries ushered in a wave of severe health problems for residents of St. James Parish’s Fifth District, a hamlet of predominantly African-American communities that dot the west bank of the Mississippi River, where sugarcane plantations once stood. The area, still home to some 20,000 people, became known as part of “Cancer Alley” — an 85-mile stretch along the Mississippi River known for having a high concentration of industrial plants and high rates of cancer for local residents (EarthJustice).
The industries are directly linked to the climate change crisis as they are responsible for tons of carbon emissions. One example is the he $9.4 billion petrochemical complex proposed by a Taiwanese company, Formosa Petrochemical Corporation. Dubbed the “Sunshine Project,” the plant will include 14 facilities that will emit more than 13 million tons of carbon pollution each year, according to Formosa’s air permit application. That’s as much as 2.8 million passenger cars (EarthJustice).
The plant will process ethane from fracked gas and turn it into various chemicals used to create everything from throwaway plastics to drainage pipes and antifreeze ((EarthJustice).
Other plants are planned to be expanded, or developed, facing heavy local community resistance defending their rights, and those of Mother Earth.
Read more:
https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/01/25/us-louisianas-cancer-alley
https://earthjustice.org/feature/cancer-alley-rises-up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer_Alley
https://www.propublica.org/article/welcome-to-cancer-alley-where-toxic-air-is-about-to-get-worse