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Advocates urge Richmond to oppose Monizuma CO2 sequestration hub; council defers action
Summary
Activists warned the council about health, ecological and pipeline safety risks tied to a proposed Monizuma CO2 capture, pipeline and injection project; the council did not vote and the item was carried to the next meeting.
Environmental and community advocates urged the Richmond City Council on May 5 to oppose a proposed Monizuma carbon capture and sequestration project that would capture industrial CO2, move it by pipeline and inject it underground in nearby wetlands.
Isabelle Penman, Northern California organizer for Food & Water Watch, described the proposal as a “carbon waste dumping” scheme and raised pipeline‑rupture risks, the corrosive effects of water in CO2 lines and the public‑health hazard of dense CO2 plumes. Penman cited a 2020 pipeline rupture in Satartia, Mississippi as an example of the potential scale of harm.
Key concerns raised - Public safety: advocates warned that compressed CO2 can displace breathable air, causing breathing difficulties, seizures or loss of consciousness if a large leak occurs, and that first responders can be hindered by such events. - Ecosystem harm: speakers said a leak near wetlands could acidify water and harm wildlife and habitat. - Environmental justice: opponents argued frontline communities — including Richmond residents near refineries — could see continued pollution and new industrial infrastructure routed through their neighborhoods.
Council action The council did not take a vote on a formal resolution at the May 5 meeting; staff noted the item would be carried to the next council meeting for further consideration.
What proponents of opposition want Speakers asked the council to adopt a resolution opposing CO2 pipelines and large‑scale underground injections in Contra Costa and Solano counties, and to coordinate with county and state regulators to scrutinize any permits sought by Monizuma LLC and the EPA.
Staff follow up Staff will carry this item to the next council meeting and provide materials and proposed language for any resolution the council wishes to consider. Advocates requested the topic be placed early on the next agenda to allow full public testimony.
