A Single Chemical Plant in Louisville Emits a Super-Pollutant That Does More Climate Damage Than Every Car in the City
Executives at Chemours promised at the White House in 2015 to try to abate the emissions. Now, they say it will take two more years.
March 9, 2021
Chemical plants in the Rubbertown area of Louisville stand near the Ohio River in February 2018 during flood conditions on the river. The Chemours chemical plant, located within the wedge-shaped Chemours property in the lower half of the photo, is the nation s largest emitter of the climate super-pollutant HFC-23, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Credit: Pat McDonogh/Courier Journal
By Phil McKenna and James Bruggers
Inside Climate News
LOUISVILLE, Ky. A chemical plant here that makes a raw material for everything from Teflon to lubricants used on the International Space Station also appears to do more damage to the climate than all of this city’s passenger vehicles.
The Chemours Louisville Works along the banks of the Ohio River is the nation’s largest emitter of a climate super-pollutant known as hydrofluorocarbon-23 (HFC-23).
As a greenhouse gas, the chemical is 12,400 times more potent than carbon dioxide, the primary chemical compound responsible for warming the planet, and could be eliminated with low-cost, existing technology.
Bankrupt coal company Blackjewel was ordered by a federal judge last month to clean up a Kentucky mine site. In a bankruptcy court ruling, Judge Benjamin
Currently on ventilator: 91
Top counties with the most positive cases today are: Jefferson, Lyon, Fayette, Boone and Caldwell. Each county reported at least 45 new cases.
To see a list of those reported lost to the virus today, click here.
Today’s positivity rate is the lowest since Oct. 12.
Kentucky’s
COVID-19 Vaccine Website, vaccine.ky.gov, shows Kentuckians which phase they are in specifically. Individuals can sign up for notifications so state officials can communicate with them when doses become available at new and existing sites. Vaccine.ky.gov also lists regional vaccination partners statewide, so Kentuckians can search their county or region and see how to schedule an appointment.
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Mar 2, 2021 8:09 PM
On Tuesday, Gov. Andy Beshear updated Kentuckians on the state’s emergency response after record flooding over the weekend.
“What we have seen is some of the worst rain in Western Kentucky in parts of Calloway County, to parts of cities underwater in Eastern Kentucky. So many of our people are struggling right now,” said Gov. Beshear. “We have the National Guard out in force working with numerous local officials who are providing great leadership.”
Kentucky Division of Emergency Management Director Michael Dossett said 49 cities and counties have declared states of emergency.
“We have reached out to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and asked FEMA Region 4 to send their lead investigator to the state of Kentucky to look at the homes that were damaged and those that have been inundated,” said Director Dossett. “This is truly a record-breaking event. The water is still high, and this is not over.”