Ohio Valley citizens working to stop the PTT Global ethane cracker plant

Why residents are speaking up

• We are Ohio Valley citizens concerned about the detrimental toll the PTT Global ethane cracker plant will take on our health, air, water and future.
• The proposed facility would be located in Dilles Bottom, OH, about 5 miles south of Shadyside, OH, and directly west across the Ohio River from Moundsville, WV.
• PTT Global Chemical is described as a Thailand-based company.
• Grassroots partners include FreshWater Accountability Project, Buckeye Environmental Network, and Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition.
• Community meetings, education events and press outreach keep the public informed about the build-out.

Find tools and connections to get involved

The proposed ethane cracker plant in the Ohio Valley has drawn attention from residents who worry about what such a large industrial complex would mean for the place they call home. Cracker facilities take ethane from fracked gas and process it into plastic pellets, and a project of this size would bring storage, infrastructure, and heavy industry to a rural riverside region. For many people living nearby, the question is not simply whether the plant can be built, but whether the community can live comfortably alongside it. Learning the facts is the first step toward forming a clear and informed view.

Air quality sits at the center of local concern. Cracker plants and the related facilities that often accompany them can release emissions that affect the surrounding region, including fine particulate matter small enough to be inhaled deeply. Residents who already deal with other industrial sources in the valley want to understand what additional burden a new complex would place on the air they breathe every day. Because the Ohio River valley already carries a heavy environmental load, neighbors argue that any new source deserves careful scrutiny and honest public discussion before it moves forward.

Water is another shared resource that communities along the river depend on for drinking, recreation, and daily life. A facility drawing from and discharging into the river, along with the pipelines and storage that support it, raises questions about spills, accidents, and long-term impacts on local waterways. People who fish, swim, and rely on the river want assurance that their water will remain safe and that oversight will be thorough. These concerns are not abstract; they are tied to the health of families and the future of a landscape many residents treasure.

Beyond health and environment, the debate touches on economics and the kind of future the region wants to build. Supporters point to jobs and investment, while opponents ask whether short-term construction work justifies long-lasting changes to the landscape and to the local economy. Plastics production tied to fracked gas also connects the valley to a much larger industry with its own environmental footprint. Residents are asking honest questions about whether a sustainable vision for the region might serve people better than a single large industrial project.

Getting involved is the heart of this effort. Citizens, local organizations, and elected officials all have a role in asking questions, attending meetings, and sharing information with neighbors. Staying informed through updates, reports, and community events helps ensure that decisions about the valley are made with public awareness rather than quietly. Whether someone is deeply concerned or simply curious, there is room to learn, to listen, and to add a voice to the conversation about what comes next for the Ohio Valley.