PES was not available for comment on whether it had reviewed any of the proposals or how viable it considered them to be. Philly Thrive — in collaboration with Youth Climate Strike leaders — is mobilizing for Philly Thrive “has been a part of creating this wave against fossil fuels,” said Ross. On Tuesday January 21st Reuters reported that Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) was expected to sell the oil refinery site to Hilco Redevelopment Partners- a Chicago real estate firm that specializes in repurposing industrial land. One by one, the activists walked up to the security guards and asked if they could go upstairs. An official with the company was not immediately available for comment. The fate of the largest East Coast oil refinery is set to be decided on Friday in an auction that could determine whether the Philadelphia plant is restarted or used for a different purpose for the first time in over a century, Reuters reported. NEW YORK, Jan 17 (Reuters) - The fate of the largest East Coast oil refinery is set to be decided on Friday in an auction that could determine whether the Philadelphia plant is restarted or used for a different purpose for the first time in over a century.
(Additional reporting by Tom Hals Editing by Marguerita Choy) An auction is expected to take place Friday at the New York City offices of the company’s law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP, to maximize the sale price and provide the biggest value to PES. “We want Hilco to know for a fact that leasing out land to operate the refinery or other polluting industries is not going to fly with us, and we’re going to keep up the same level of opposition to any kind of plans to lease with polluting companies,” Ross told Grist on Tuesday.Recent projects by Hilco offer insight into what that fight might look like. Community members have protested against a restart of the refinery, which has been one of the city’s biggest polluters. The refinery’s owner, Philadelphia Energy Solutions, is scheduled to reveal the winning bidder on Wednesday during a hearing at the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, which will need to approve the sale.
According to court documents filed on Wednesday, Philadelphia Energy Solutions has When rumors emerged on Tuesday that Hilco was the buyer, Alexa Ross, one of the founders of Philly Thrive, said the group was “cautiously pleased” that it wasn’t a fossil fuel company but still had many questions about Hilco’s plans. Sign up for our semi-weekly newsletter, Grist's comments only work with JavaScript. Grist / John Greim / LightRocket via Getty Images Carol Hemingway asking security if she could enter the building where the closed-door auction is being held.Philly Thrive Organizer Alexa Ross speaking at St. Bartholomew’s Church before the rally.Climate activists gather in the streets of New York City to protest the closed-door auction to sell PES land.Climate activists gather in the streets of New York City to protest the closed-door auction to sell PES land. PES fell into bankruptcy on July 21, a month after a fire and explosions destroyed a portion of its 335,000 barrel-per-day oil refinery complex. Rachel Ramirez / Grist. One of the groups proposed to model itself after the Philadelphia’s Navy Yard, which was turned into a campus for company headquarters, including clothing retailer Urban Outfitters, while operating a section for commercial shipping, a source with knowledge of the plan said. “They’re destroying the environment, and they think that’s okay. That’s what I want for my community: the right to breathe clean air and good jobs.”As Philly Thrive members wrestle with what the sale will mean for their community and health, former employees of the refinery have also been left hanging. A confirmation hearing is scheduled for February 6th. South Philly refinery workers file lawsuit, claim PES didn't give enough warning before layoffs An explosion in June 2019 ignited a fire and damaged the refinery's equipment, causing its … “Let’s get some apprenticeship programs started. More than a dozen groups initially showed interest in buying all or parts of the PES refinery and its more than 1,300-acre(526-hectare) lot. For the second time in less than two years, PES filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on July 21, exactly a month after fire and blasts destroyed an alkylation unit at the 335,000-barrel-per-day refinery.