On June 21, 2019 the PES refinery in South Philly had an explosion and fire. This incident has received much media coverage. We covered it on a radio episode of Philly Talks Climate on June 28, 2019, see Pay up, PES! …and please clean up on your way out.

On August 21, 2019, at the third public meeting of our City’s Refinery Advisory Group, notably the labor sub-committee, I was moved to speak briefly, something like this…

Hello! My name is Meenal Raval. 

I’ve gotten laid off in the past. And remember how it felt to have the rug pulled out from beneath me. So I feel for you all here today. 

Tonight, I’ve heard people say that we need heating oil. That we need gasoline. 

I say we don’t. 

I drive an electric car. Heat my home with electric. And have my row home roof packed with solar panels, powering all this. 

I’m living proof we don’t need fossil fuels. 

It’s time to rethink what’s possible.