Press Release Feb 4, 2021

NW Philly Activist Group Ends David and Goliath Legal Battle Against SEPTA,

Vows to Continue Clean Air Fight

In early February, Neighbors Against the Gas Plants has withdrew its 2nd appeal of SEPTA’s air contamination permit granted for the methane-burning power plant in Nicetown.  

After over four years of rulings and argument, the case became restricted to narrow grounds that NAGP believed did not reflect the facts which animated the appeal in the first place. NAGP decided that it was unlikely to prevail on such narrow grounds, and decided not to risk a ruling that would create a precedent that would make similar fights harder for other environmental groups in the future.

NAGP believes that the power plant at SEPTA’s Midvale Complex will be an unconscionable source of harmful pollution added to high levels of vehicle exhaust and other pollution in the surrounding community. The group will continue to fight for clean air in the Nicetown and Germantown area. Members have resolved to monitor air quality in order to better advocate for change, and hold SEPTA to the promises it made in the permit about the power plant’s emissions.

The power plant sits on SEPTA’s Midvale Complex, next to SEPTA’s largest diesel bus depot and near several other sources of pollution, not least of which is the Route 1 highway.  Community members and local environmental activists have fought the facility since 2016.  NAGP believes that the plant’s “synthetic minor” permit is open to abuse, as it relies on SEPTA’s promise not to run the plant at its full capacity. 

This 2nd appeal at the Court of Common Pleas was of the November 2019 decision on their original appeal, made to the Board of Licences and Inspections Review (BLIR).  After 9 public hearings, the BLIR decision had sided with “the City.” 

The neighbors group plans to continue organizing for a cleaner and healthier local environment, and opposes any unnecessary dumping of pollution in North Philadelphia, including SEPTA’s power plant.  Neighbors Against the Gas Plants can be contacted via www.NeighborsAgainstTheGasPlants, or through their Facebook Group.