Texas has been struggling with air pollution for decades, and the statistics have increased alarmingly in the past few years. In 2019, Texas refineries, petrochemical installations, and other industrial facilities reported a massive amount of unauthorized emissions of polluted air. A study found that pollution in the city has increased by 155% since 2015. It doesn’t stop there, as 68 million pounds of unofficial emissions have been recorded. 

Most of these contaminants are butadiene, benzene, carbon dioxide, and particulate matter. All these leaks and pollutants are results of breakdowns, incidents, and maintenance works. 

Unfortunately, the air pollution problem doesn’t solely concern Texas but surrounding states. Something needs to be done to control the pollutants. After all, everyone deserves clean water and air. 

Southeast Texans are grateful for the petrochemical plants and industry, as they have provided a considerable number of jobs for them. The city has grown as a result for the better. Many plants and industries operate efficiently and ethically, ensuring they cooperate with environmental laws. However, some still struggle with pollution and are unsure how to achieve an environmentally-friendly business process. 

Is it right to punish these industries with increased fines and penalties? Punishment rarely provides a long-term solution. We should work with the companies to develop new and improved means of negating industrial waste and the emission they cause. 

The penalties are just minor, negligible amounts at the expense of the big industrialists, and most are happy to pay them. Instead of penalizing, the government should focus on ways to stop this emission. Only then can we achieve an environment that lasts for future generations.