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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Maria P. Donatucci |
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Donatucci praises purchase of ConocoPhillips refinery
PHILADELPHIA, May 2 – State Rep. Maria Donatucci, D-Phila., praised the injection of state funding to expedite the purchase of the ConocoPhillips refinery in Trainer by Delta Air Lines subsidiary Monroe Energy LLC.
The $30 million in state assistance, used for job creation and infrastructure improvement projects, will help avoid economic disaster for the southeastern region, Donatucci said.
"I think it’s a glimmer of hope for the many refinery workers who have been affected by the ConocoPhillips and Sunoco closures and the residents who didn't know if their communities were about to become ghost towns," Donatucci said. "The economic impact would have been insurmountable to unemployed workers, local businesses and municipalities. It would have been irresponsible for the state to not get involved and entice a buyer to keep the facility in operation."
Earlier this year, Donatucci testified before the House Appropriations Committee that the state and governor should be more aggressive in their efforts to save the three local oil refineries and the thousands of jobs lost in the closings. She also hosted a House Policy Committee hearing at the National Constitution Center in February to learn more about the closures of the ConocoPhillips and Sunoco oil refineries and the projected impact on workers and the local economy.
"I think it shows what a little persistence will accomplish," Donatucci said. "We have a good group of bipartisan members who worked together and forced the issue. I appreciate the governor supporting the ConocoPhillips deal, but we're going to keep pushing until all of the refineries are taken care of – there is too much at stake to give up. There are 2,000 workers with families that have to put food on their tables and municipalities that have to continue operating for their residents."
On Monday, Energy Transfer Partners, a natural gas pipeline company, announced its purchase of Sunoco in a $5.3 billion deal to acquire nearly 8,000 miles of pipe line and 4,900 gas stations. The Carlysle Group is still in negotiations to keep the refinery running.
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