Nick Messenger : Pennsylvania's Bad Bet: Why Shell Didn't Save Appalachia With Plastics
Sat, May 18
|The NAFF Center
An educational seminar, part of the Chris Catalfamo Lecture Series on Ideas and Issues.
Time & Location
May 18, 2024, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
The NAFF Center, 580 Philadelphia St, Indiana, PA 15701, USA
About the event
In November 2022, Shell Chemical Appalachia Polymers launched its ethane cracker plant in Pennsylvania after years of anticipation. Promising a plastics industry revival in Appalachia, the plant aimed to create jobs and boost the local economy. However, within a year of operation, it faced numerous setbacks. Pollution surpassed limits quickly, causing health concerns among residents, and economic benefits fell short of expectations. Despite receiving substantial tax exemptions, the plant failed to deliver on its promises, leaving taxpayers questioning its value. Alternative investments in local businesses and workforce development could have potentially yielded more significant economic growth.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Nick Messenger is an Economist and Senior Researcher at the Ohio River Valley Institute. Nick holds a M.S. in Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics from the Ohio State University and is a PhD candidate in the same field. Nick has previously served as Senior Research Assistant with the C. William Swank Program in Rural-Urban Policy at the Ohio State University. Nick’s research focuses on regional economic development policy, energy economics, and industrial tax policy, with a focus on Northern Appalachia. Nick’s work has been nominated for the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA) Quality of Communication Award and his research on revitalizing former energy communities with alternative, quality of life investments and small businesses has been presented by the US National Labs on behalf of the U.S. government at the COP28 global climate summit in Dubai. Nick's work has been presented at various academic and professional conferences, including the North American Regional Science Council (NARSC) in 2021 and 2022, the Southern Regional Science Association (SRSA), and at the Edison Electric Institute in Washington, D.C. Nick lives in Columbus, Ohio with his wife, Jen, their two small dogs, and their newborn son.