INGLESIDE, Texas (January 18, 2024) – In a unanimous vote, the Ingleside City Council voted to deny an “Objectionable Use Permit” on Tuesday for a proposed ammonia facility. The facility would be built within two miles of an elementary school in the small coastal Texas town. 

“Ingleside’s leaders put people over pollution with a unanimous vote to deny the permit for this proposed ammonia plant,” said Heather McTeer Toney, executive director of Beyond Petrochemicals. “The people spoke and the council listened. This community should be proud.” 

The decision comes after months of advocacy by community members including public demonstrations, standing room only public hearings, education campaigns, and other efforts. Ingleside on the Bay Coastal Watch Association, Chispa, the Coastal Action Network, Texas Campaign for the Environment, and the Indigenous Peoples of the Coastal Bend were all instrumental voices.

“The efforts of Ingleside on the Bay Coastal Watch Association and all groups involved are an inspiration to communities often ignored by big petrochemical companies,” said McTeer Toney. “Together, these neighbors demonstrated the power of organizing and action.” 

Community action will be necessary until this proposal is fully withdrawn. Beyond Petrochemicals is proud to partner with several of these local groups and will continue to provide support to stop this petrochemical expansion. 

“The air will be cleaner, and children will be safer without this petrochemical plant,” added McTeer Toney. 

Read more from the Coastal Action Network here.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Matt Smelser, matt@beyondpetrochemicals.org

About Beyond Petrochemicals

Launched by Bloomberg Philanthropies in September 2022, Beyond Petrochemicals: People Over Pollution aims to halt the rapid expansion of petrochemical and plastic pollution in the United States. The campaign draws on the success of the Beyond Coal campaign, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Bloomberg’s Beyond Carbon campaign, to turbocharge existing efforts led by frontline communities to block the rapid expansion of 120+ petrochemical projects concentrated in three target geographies – Louisiana, Texas, and the Ohio River Valley. The campaign also works to establish stricter rules for existing petrochemical plants to safeguard the health of American communities. To date, Beyond Petrochemicals has helped raise awareness and lead timely collaboration efforts using its four pillars of community leadership, data and research, legislation and litigation, and stakeholder engagement to accelerate its goals. For more information, please visit us online and follow us on LinkedIn.