Environmental groups, residents protest LNG plan; Eddystone officials say no okay given only discussions – The Spirit 7/15/2026
By LorettaRodgers
A group of protesters gathered on Monday evening, July 13, outside Eddystone Borough Hall to oppose a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal said to be under consideration by borough officials.
Eddystone resident Gene Wiley said the borough is under attack.
“Everybody knows that LNG doesn’t belong anywhere near a residential area,” he said. “It is so dangerous. A long time ago they built factories along the Industrial Highway. All these houses were for the workers. Those workers are gone and families live in these houses now. Please make sure the borough does the right thing.” The terminal has become the focus of public attention; however, borough officials have emphasized that no project has been approved.
Documents obtained by environmental organizations through Right-to-Know requests indicate that developers have explored constructing a terminal on the site of the former industrial riverfront in the borough.
The proposed project could process up to 7.2 million tons of LNG annually which would be exported overseas, however as of this week, no formal application has been filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or with the Pa. Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP). According to a statement previously released by Eddystone Borough officials, members of Council did meet with representatives of a developer in 2025 for informational discussions. It was stressed that those meetings did not constitute approval or endorsement of the project and that there is not a development proposal before Council.
Borough Manager Marlene Richmond, in a statement released on behalf of the borough, said officials are carefully monitoring developments and are working to ensure the community receives accurate information.
On hand for Monday’s protest were representatives of several environmental groups including the Delaware Riverkeeper Network and Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living (CRCQL). During a recent webinar, the groups said they uncovered records suggesting that discussions about the LNG terminal have occurred behind closed doors.
Zulene Mayfield, CRCQL’s chairperson, said a few years ago an LNG terminal was proposed for the city of Chester, however it was strongly opposed and never materialized.
“Supporters say the LNG terminal will be great for the community and create jobs,” Mayfield said. “What it will really do is degrade property values, put more pollution into the air and the jobs that will be created will be hard to qualify for. Nothing will be good if you can’t breathe, if our seniors and children cannot breathe. This proposal is huge and massive. Eddystone will be no more. There was no room for it in Chester, and they got tired of fighting us, so they decided to go to an area where there is less resistance.”
Mayfield called out Eddystone officials, claiming they haven’t been truthful.
“The officials are not telling the truth,” she said. “They have been lying to this community, saying it’s (plans for LNG) not a real thing. It is a real thing. The train is rolling and Eddystone residents better wake up.”
The groups insist that a LNG terminal would be dangerous and pose significant environmental, public health, and safety risks to the community.
The activists contend that an LNG facility would increase industrial activity and they questioned whether Eddystone’s size and proximity to homes, businesses, and transportation corridors even make it an acceptable location for a terminal.
Concerns have been raised in reference to transportation, storage, and the export of LNG, which is natural gas cooled to about 260 degrees Fahrenheit for shipment.
Developers have promoted the project as an opportunity to create hundreds of construction jobs, permanent operating positions, and new tax revenue while expanding energy infrastructure in the region. Supporters say the project would capitalize on Pennsylvania’s abundant natural gas production from the Marcellus Shale and strengthen the state’s role in supplying energy to domestic and international markets.
Residents have also questioned how increased rail and truck traffic associated with the facility, could affect local neighborhoods, emergency response capabilities, and overall quality of life.
If approved, the Eddystone terminal would represent one of the largest energy infrastructure investments in Delaware County in recent years.
As the review process moves forward, public hearings and regulatory decisions are expected to determine whether the project proceeds or joins the growing list of energy proposals that have stalled amid legal, environmental, and community challenges.
Read the original article here.
