In this episode of Beyond the Bite, host Eddie Aldrete turns his attention to a story on the Texas gulf coast as he sits down with Stephanie Hajducek from Project YaREN and Dolly Gonzales Trolley from Voices for Coastal Bend Energy as they dive into the details of a proposed ammonia plant in Ingleside, Texas.

The discussion opens with the basic question of who and what is Project YaREN? Turns out, it's a joint venture between Enbridge and Yara. Yara is a long time leader in the ammonia space while Enbridge specializes in deep-water docks and exporting crude oil from Enbridge’s Ingleside Energy Center. Hajducek explains her role in community and stakeholder engagement, outlining her efforts to dispel misconceptions, build relationships with the local community, and highlight the workforce development opportunities the project will bring, including the creation of up to 200 new jobs.

Hajducek and Gonzales Trolley answer questions about safety, water use, and the proposed plant's proximity to schools and neighborhoods. Hajducek highlights the extensive safety planning YaREN has developed and while they have their own specialized emergency response system, they coordinate regularly with local emergency responders and emergency management planners.

One would expect environmental groups to be speaking out on an issue like this, but the environmental groups that are responding are coming from outside of the region. That’s where Gonzales Trolley comes in. She describes how Voices for Coastal Bend Energy supports responsible growth in the region amid increased activity from national environmental groups. She encourages local residents to get involved by submitting public comments, attending meetings, and staying informed through the organization’s digital platforms. The episode wraps up by stressing the importance of local voices in guiding development decisions and offers practical ways for listeners to learn more and participate in the process.

Project YaREN

Voices for Coastal Bend Energy

Stephanie Hajducek

Dolly Gonzales Trolley