The Big Bust: 2026 Data Show Petrochemicals Have Been a Bad Deal for Beaver County
Beaver County, Pennsylvania is a real-time case study in the local economic impacts of petrochemical development.
Beaver County Data Analysis: 2026 Update
More than three years since Shell’s launch, Beaver County continues to trail neighboring counties, Pennsylvania, and the nation in key measures of economic wellbeing.
As Shell applies for new air quality permits, here’s what regulators should know about the Beaver County plant’s economic impact
Shell has failed to deliver on promises of jobs and downstream growth. The business case for the Beaver County plant appears to be weak, too.
Shell’s Q4 Financial Flop Underscores the False Promises of Petrochemical Investment
Shell’s “downturn in Monaca,” along with the company’s weakest quarterly profit in nearly 5 years, shows why petrochemicals are a bad bet.
2025 Ends With Another Blow to Appalachia’s Bygone Dreams of a Petrochemical Renaissance
Analysts predict another difficult year for Appalachian petrochemicals as a global overbuild and poor demand continue to drive down profits.
Desperately Seeking an Exit
Market headwinds are intensifying. Even after selling off millions in PA tax credits, Shell is unlikely to recoup its $14B petrochemical investment.
Beaver County’s Economy Flounders while Neighboring Counties Prosper
Beaver County, home to Shell’s $14B plastics plant, lags behind neighboring counties in job and business growth.
Beaver County Data Analysis: 2025 Update
Beaver County has seen double-digit declines in GDP & employment since Shell’s petrochemical complex was announced in 2012.
Revisiting Pennsylvania’s Bad Bet
The Shell Polymers Monaca petrochemicals complex shadowing the banks of the Ohio River in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, has become something of a symbol in Appalachia. To the many families nearby, it represents a constant, draconic threat, belching episodic flames, discharging headache-inducing smells, and triggering air quality warnings for dangerous particulate matter and volatile organic compounds. […]
A Cautionary Tale of Petrochemicals from Pennsylvania
Beaver County, Pennsylvania has fallen behind the state and the nation in nearly every measure of economic activity since the Shell petrochemicals complex was announced in 2012, data show.