Editing Sarnia (section)

==Economy==
{{See also|Environmental impact of the chemical industry in Sarnia}}
[[File:Sarnia Chemical Valley.JPG|thumb|Petrochemical industry of Sarnia's Chemical Valley]]

In its March 2011 Labour Market Report, the Sarnia-Lambton Workforce Development Board states that: "Even though employment in both the petrochemical and agricultural industries has declined significantly in recent years, these two industries remain central drivers of the Sarnia Lambton economy."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sltb.org/documents/SLWDB_LabourMarketUpdate2011.pdf |title=Catalysts for Labour Market Change |date=March 2011 |publisher=Sarnia-Lambton Workforce Development Board |access-date=19 April 2012}}</ref>

When World War II threatened [[Tropics|tropical]] sources of natural [[latex]] for [[Natural rubber|rubber]], Sarnia was selected as the site to spearhead the development of synthetic petroleum-based rubbers for [[Materiel|war materials]]. Polymer Corporation was built by [[Dow Chemical Company|Dow Chemical]] at the request of the Government of Canada.<ref>{{cite book |last=Brandt |first=E.N. |title=Growth Company: Dow Chemical's First Century |year=1997 |publisher=[[Michigan State University Press]] |location=East Lansing, MI |isbn=0-87013-426-4 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/growthcompanydow0000bran }}</ref> Large pipelines bring [[Alberta]] oil to Sarnia, where [[Oil refinery|oil refining]] and petrochemical production have become mainstays of the city's economy.<ref>{{cite news |title=Activists Push Policy Change for Oil Pipelines |work=The Star |author=Andrew Chung |date=21 January 2009}}</ref> [[Shell Canada]], [[Imperial Oil]], and [[Suncor Energy]] ([[Sunoco]]) operate refineries in Sarnia.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com/business/2007/07/11/list_of_refineries.html |title=List of Refineries |work=The Star |year=2007 |access-date=12 May 2018}}</ref> Large salt beds found under the city became a source of [[chlorine]] and other significant ingredients which contributed to the success of Chemical Valley.<ref>{{cite web|date=2 August 2012|title=Oil, Gas and Salt Resources|url=http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/OGSR/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_167107.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007033249/http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/OGSR/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_167107.html|archive-date=7 October 2008|access-date=23 June 2013|publisher=Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources}}</ref> Chemical companies operating in Sarnia include [[Nova Chemicals|NOVA Chemicals]], [[Bayer]] ([[Lanxess]] and H.C. Starck), [[Cabot Corporation]], and [[Ethyl Corporation]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/stdprodconsume/groups/lr/@ene/@resources/documents/resource/std01_079129.pdf |title=Environmental Compliance in the Petrochemical Industry in the Sarnia Area |publisher=Environmental SWAT Team |year=2005 |access-date=23 June 2013}}</ref>

Dow Chemical ceased operations at its Sarnia site in 2009, with the plants after that decommissioned and the land sold to neighbouring [[TransAlta]] Energy Corporation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dow.com/canada/sarnia/index.htm |title=Dow Canada-Sarnia |publisher=Dow Chemical |year=2012 |access-date=12 April 2012}}</ref> TransAlta produces power and steam for industry, and is the largest natural gas co-generation plant in Canada. It has created the Bluewater Energy Park on the former Dow site. Dow returned to Sarnia in 2019, when it took ownership of a former Dupont production site on Albert Street in Corunna that modifies polyethylene and polypropylene.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Dow returns to Lambton County with acquisition of Corunna plant {{!}} Sarnia Observer | url=https://www.theobserver.ca/news/local-news/dow-returns-to-lambton-county-with-acquisition-of-corunna-plant | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009121159/https://www.theobserver.ca/news/local-news/dow-returns-to-lambton-county-with-acquisition-of-corunna-plant | access-date=2025-01-17 | archive-date=2020-10-09}}</ref>

Lanxess produces more than {{convert|150,000|MT|abbr=on}} of [[butyl rubber]] annually at its Sarnia location and is the sole producer of regulatory-approved, food-grade butyl rubber, used in the manufacture of [[chewing gum]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Doris DeGuzman|date=26 March 2008|title=LANXESS is cementing its butyl rubber position in the Asian tire market with a new world-scale plant in Singapore|url=http://www.icis.com/Articles/2008/03/31/9111033/lanxess-expands-butyl-rubber-business-in-asia.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725101512/http://www.icis.com/Articles/2008/03/31/9111033/lanxess-expands-butyl-rubber-business-in-asia.html|archive-date=25 July 2009|access-date=24 June 2013}}</ref> Within the boundaries of its Sarnia plant Lanxess has also created the Bio-industrial Park Sarnia.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lanxess Sees Opportunity for Bio-based Sarnia Plant |work=The Sarnia Observer |author=Cathy Dobson |date=17 February 2011}}</ref>

Chemical Valley and the surrounding area are home to 62 facilities and refineries.<ref>{{cite web|date=September 2009|title=Toxic Trail Exposuer|url=http://www.tarsandswatch.org/files/TarSandsToxicTrail_0.pdf|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090920081108/http://www.tarsandswatch.org/files/TarSandsToxicTrail_0.pdf|archive-date=20 September 2009|access-date=12 April 2012|publisher=The Polaris Institute}}</ref> These industrial complexes are the heart of Sarnia's infrastructure and economy. They directly employ nearly 8,000 and contribute to almost 45,000 additional jobs in the area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sltb.org/documents/SL_LabourMrkt_final.pdf |title=Sarnia Lambton's Labour Market |publisher=Sarnia-Lambton Workforce Development Board |date=April 2010 |access-date=24 June 2013}}</ref> In 1971, the Canadian government deemed this area so important to the economic development of the country that it printed an image of a Sarnia Oil Refinery on the reverse of the [[Canadian ten-dollar note|Canadian $10 note]].<ref>{{cite web|year=2007|title=1971 $10-Bill|url=http://www.cdnpapermoney.com/English/BoC/1971_10.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030810090602/http://www.cdnpapermoney.com/English/BoC/1971_10.htm|archive-date=10 August 2003|access-date=24 June 2013|publisher=The Canadian Paper Money Society}}</ref> The huge industrial area is the cause of significant air and water pollution. The Canada Wide Daily Standard for airborne particulate matter and ozone pollution, regulation PM2.5, is 30 micrograms per cubic metre.<ref>{{cite web|date=30 April 2010|title=Canada Wide Standard for Particulate Matter and Ozone|url=http://www.ec.gc.ca/rnspa-naps/default.asp?lang=En&n=07BC2AC0-1|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331121508/http://www.ec.gc.ca/rnspa-naps/default.asp?lang=En&n=07BC2AC0-1|archive-date=31 March 2015|access-date=22 June 2013|publisher=Government of Canada}}</ref> Forty-five percent of this particulate air pollution in Sarnia comes from Chemical Valley,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ecojustice.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2007-Exposing-Canadas-Chemial-Valley.pdf |title=Exposing Canada's Chemical Valley |publisher=EcoJustice |date=October 2007 |access-date=17 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|year=2011|title=County of Lambton, Sarnia-Lambton Smog Advisories to date|url=http://www.lambtonhealth.on.ca/environmental/air/#advisories_to_date|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120803103226/http://www.lambtonhealth.on.ca/environmental/air/%23advisories_to_date|archive-date=3 August 2012|access-date=17 April 2012|publisher=County of Lambton}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Tara Jeffrey|date=27 September 2011|title=Sarnia Air Canada's Worst|newspaper=The Sarnia Observer|url=http://www.theobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3312431|url-status=dead|access-date=16 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305203130/http://www.theobserver.ca/2011/09/26/sarnias-air-canadas-worst|archive-date=5 March 2016}}</ref> and the rest drifts over the St. Clair River from the neighbouring United States in the form of what is known as "Transboundary Air Pollution".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/stdprodconsume/groups/lr/@ene/@resources/documents/resource/std01_079137.pdf |title=Transboundary Air Pollution in Ontario |author1=David Yap |author2=Neville Reid |author3=Gary De Brou |author4=Robert Bloxam |publisher=Ontario Ministry of the Environment |date=June 2005 |access-date=17 April 2012}}</ref>

Sarnia is the location of [[Enbridge]]'s [[Sarnia Photovoltaic Power Plant]]. The facility underwent a full commercial operation in December 2009, with 20 [[Watt#Megawatt|MW]] of power. {{As of|2010|September}}, the plant was the largest [[Photovoltaics|photovoltaic]] (PV) [[solar power]] generation facility in the world, putting out 97 MW.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/enbridge-completes-sarnia-solar-farm-1.911812 |title=Sarnia-Enbridge Solar Farm |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=12 April 2012}}</ref>

The {{convert|80|acre|abbr=on|adj=on|order=flip}} Western University Research Park, Sarnia-Lambton Campus was established in 2003 by the [[University of Western Ontario]] as a joint initiative with the County of Lambton and the City of Sarnia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.researchpark.ca/research-parks |title=Research Parks, UWO |year=2012 |publisher=University of Western Ontario |access-date=12 April 2012}}</ref> The park is also the location of the Bioindustrial Innovation Centre, Canada's centre for the commercialization of industrial biotechnology.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.researchpark.ca/tenant/bioindustrial-innovation-centre |title=Bioindustrial Innovation Centre |year=2012 |publisher=University of Western Ontario |access-date=12 April 2012}}</ref>

In 2015, [[BioAmber Inc.|BioAmber]] opened a $141 million plant that manufactures {{convert|30000|MT|abbr=on}} of [[succinic acid]] per year, a chemical used to make plastics, lubricants, paint, cosmetics, food additives, and other products. BioAmber plans to construct a second site and may build it in Sarnia.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theobserver.ca/2016/12/20/bio-succinic-acid-maker-forming-new-joint-venture |title=BioAmber targets Asian markets |work=Sarnia Observer |publisher=[[Postmedia Network]] |date=20 December 2016 |access-date=20 December 2016}}</ref> Solutions4CO2 is developing a {{convert|4,645|m2|abbr=on}} demonstration facility at Bluewater Energy Park. This company captures waste gas/water streams to process into value-added co-products, pharmaceutical drugs, and biofuels.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theobserver.ca/2012/04/11/bio-tech-company-sets-up-shop-in-sarnia |title=Bio-tech company sets up shop in Sarnia |newspaper=Sarnia Observer |date=11 April 2012 |access-date=16 November 2016 |archive-date=17 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117062933/http://www.theobserver.ca/2012/04/11/bio-tech-company-sets-up-shop-in-sarnia |url-status=dead }}</ref> PlantForm Corporation, a Canadian biotech startup company producing ultra-low-cost therapeutic antibody drugs, opened an office at the Western University Research Park in 2011.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theobserver.ca/2011/09/26/biotech-firm-opens-office-in-sarnia |title=Biotech firm opens office in Sarnia |newspaper=Sarnia Observer |date=27 September 2011 |access-date=16 November 2016 |archive-date=17 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117064311/http://www.theobserver.ca/2011/09/26/biotech-firm-opens-office-in-sarnia |url-status=dead }}</ref> At the same Park, from the summer of 2012 to the summer of 2016, KmX Corporation operated a pilot plant to produce membranes that filter wastewater from industrial processes.  KmX production in Sarnia has since moved to Ottawa and Edmonton.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theobserver.ca/2016/09/16/kmx-tested-membrane-technology-in-sarnia-2012-2016 |title=KmX tested membrane technology in Sarnia 2012–2016 |newspaper=Sarnia Observer |date=16 September 2016 |access-date=16 November 2016}}</ref>

===Retail and hospitality===
Sarnia has one large mall, [[Lambton Mall]], with 72 stores.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baysidecentre.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722182143/http://www.baysidecentre.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=31 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=22 July 2010 |title=Bayside Centre Stores and Services |publisher=Bayside Centre |year=2011 |access-date=19 April 2012}}</ref>  The mall, along with several smaller shopping centers, stores, and hotels, is the primary shopping area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tourismsarnialambton.com/main/ns/5/doc/28/type/Shopping |title=Tourism Sarnia-Lambton-Shopping |publisher=Tourism Sarnia-Lambton |year=2012 |access-date=19 April 2012 |archive-date=28 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428041418/http://www.tourismsarnialambton.com/main/ns/5/doc/28/type/Shopping |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://virtualwalk.ca/index.php/Sarnia-Ontario/Shopping-Sarnia.html |title=Virtual Walk Directory-Shopping Sarnia |publisher=Virtual Walk Directory |year=2012 |access-date=19 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hotels.com/search/search.html?dn=Sarnia,%20Canada&datesFlexible=true&numberOfRooms=1&roomInfoList%5B0%5D.numberOfAdults=2&children%5B0%5D=0 |title=Hotels in Sarnia, Canada |publisher=Hotels.com |year=2012 |access-date=19 April 2012}}</ref>