C3 Petrochemicals wins GHG permit from EPA for Texas PDH project

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a final greenhouse gas (GHG) Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) construction permit to C3 Petrochemicals in Alvin, Texas, the agency announced on Friday. 

C3 plans to construct a new propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plant at its existing facility near Alvin, which is south of Houston in Brazoria County. 

The permit is another in the series of permits drafted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and issued by EPA under a program to facilitate timely permitting for applicants in Texas.

“The joint permitting program we have developed with TCEQ is helping Texas business and keeps a keen eye on protecting the environment,” said EPA regional administrator Ron Curry. “We are working to help Texas businesses take advantage of growth opportunities while building greener facilities with better controls for greenhouse gas emissions.”

The plant will convert propane to propylene, an important component of many consumer plastics. The PDH process will use a continuous catalytic regenerator that does not use combustion or steam and results in lower GHG emissions. 

The estimated project cost is $1.2 billion and will create about 40 new jobs.