[Blog] The Clean Energy Future: How We Get There Matters

November 21, 2022

Read the full article by Katie Pelch & Anna Reade (NRDC)

"In the midst of global efforts to clean up and eliminate the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”), Chemours is doubling down on manufacturing these toxic “forever” chemicals. In September 2022, Chemours announced plans to expand its Fayetteville Works plant in Cumberland County, NC. Nearby communities, who are already suffering from the impacts from contamination resulting from this plant, are raising the alarm and questioning the company’s claims that the expansion will bring “no overall” increase in PFAS pollution and is needed to transition into a “clean, sustainable future.”

A long history of pollution

PFAS are a class of thousands of man made chemicals that are extremely difficult to break down, and have contaminated our air, water, land, food and bodies. PFAS are linked to multiple health risks including, cancer, kidney and liver damage, and immune system disruption.

Fayetteville, N.C. is infamous for the presence of poisonous, next-generation PFAS–including GenX, Hydro-Eve and Nafion byproducts–in its local environment and drinking water of hundreds of thousands of people who live in and visit the area. The widespread contamination is a result of DuPont and its spinoff company, Chemours, having released PFAS from the Fayetteville Works plant for more than four decades. Unfortunately, these next-generation PFAS are just as persistent and similarly toxic as the chemicals they were meant to replace."