Where WE Work

Over our history, TCE has worked extensively in every part of the Lone Star State, and is increasingly active with allies in Louisiana. Our current geographies of focus include the Coastal Bend, Greater Houston, Brazoria County, and communities along the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana.

But no matter where TCE organizes, all Texans are impacted the fights we’re waging.  The massive fossil fuel and petrochemical industrial build-out happening in frontline communities touches all Texans everywhere – whether they’re close to oil or gas drilling, pipelines or other upstream pollution, or whether they’ll be impacted by the intensifying droughts, floods, fires or heat of climate change. 

COASTAL BENd

The Coastal Bend is an area of unique natural beauty, biodiversity, and rich cultural history, but faces huge challenges in protecting its environment from industrial pollution.  With a local economy historically reliant on petrochemical refineries and more recently a boom in crude oil and methane gas export facilities (the Port of Corpus Christi is now the largest fossil fuel exporter in the nation), hazardous air and water pollutants are a constant threat to the health and safety of area residents – especially to local communities of color and low-income populations – as well as to ecosystems that host numerous species of birds, fish, and other wildlife. The region’s drinking water supply is also increasingly at risk at the hands of big industry, with City of Port leaders exploring a dangerous desalination scheme that could cost residents millions and jeopardize Corpus Christi Bay. TCE is committed to elevating the work of community leaders fighting to keep the Coastal Bend’s air and water clean, with a primary focus on organizing to stop the expansion of oil and gas infrastructure. 

Coastal Bend Regional Coordinator

Chloe Torres

GREATER HOUSTON

Home to a dense concentration of refineries, chemical plants, and other big polluters, Houston – America’s 4th largest city – is an industrial powerhouse with commensurate environmental and public health challenges. The proximity of polluting industries to residential areas only exacerbates concerns over local health impacts. At the same time, Houston is headquarters to many of the hemisphere’s largest oil and gas companies and figures prominently in the national and international dialogue about energy and climate. TCE works in Houston at the community level to support efforts to protect local residents from pollution, while also targeting large, Houston-based fossil fuel corporations with activism and advocacy promoting a just transition to a clean energy economy.

Houston Regional Coordinator

Dominic Chacón

BRAZORIA COUNTY

Picturesque Brazoria County, situated along the Gulf Coast south of greater Houston, is increasingly under attack by fossil fuel and petrochemical polluters. The rapid expansion of polluting industry, including the massive Freeport LNG facility, has quickly and fundamentally changed the character and culture of southern Brazoria County in particular, with serious concerns about public safety risks and air quality – especially emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other hazardous air pollutants – alarming area residents. At the same time, massive planned offshore crude oil export terminals and their associated pipelines pose a clear and present danger to Gulf waters and beaches, as well as local drinking water supplies. TCE is working alongside community leaders every day to push back on corporate polluters and their enablers who put Brazoria County’s future at risk - including exposing the huge tax breaks polluters have been granted by local elected leaders.

Brazoria County Fossil Fuel Exports Organizer

Trevor Carroll

TEXAS & LOUISIANA GULF COAST

Environmental injustice doesn’t care about state lines. While we’re a Texas-based organization, TCE is always working to build alliances with our coastal Louisiana neighbors who face a never-ending assault by fossil fuel polluters. TCE’s organizing efforts along the Texas and Louisiana coastline have included working with local partners to slow down and stop polluting projects in Brownsville, Port Lavaca, Port Arthur, Lake Charles and other communities.

Jeffrey Jacoby

Deputy Director

online

While most of our on-the-ground organizing is centered in communities directly impacted by fossil fuel polluters, many allies all around the Lone Star State and even outside of Texas care about our fight, understand how it also impacts them, and want to help. That’s why we’re working every day to reach out online to supporters of environmental and climate justice wherever they are, and build a growing virtual community of activists ready to advocate for those under direct assault by fossil fuel polluters.

Cuauhtemoc Toren

Digital Organizer