Reso. No. _____
RESOLUTION NO. ______
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND OPPOSING THE PROPOSED MONTEZUMA CARBON SEQUESTRATION HUB CO2 WASTE DUMPING PROJECTS AND CO2 PIPELINE IN RICHMOND, CONTRA
COSTA AND SOLANO COUNTIES
WHEREAS, the global climate emergency poses a grave threat to the well-being of all, jeopardizes society’s ability to function, and is devastating the natural world humans depend upon; and
WHEREAS, the primary cause of this emergency is the burning of fossil fuels including “natural” methane gas; and
WHEREAS, there exist safe, proven, affordable, and renewable alternatives to fossil-fuel energy sources, such as solar and wind power; and
WHEREAS, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology has consistently proven to be ineffective and economically unsound; and
WHEREAS, the process of transporting and compressing carbon dioxide (CO2) poses a fatal risk to surrounding communities due to the possibility of leakage, and the State of California is only just beginning to draft regulations governing CO2 pipelines; and WHEREAS, CO2 can displace oxygen and cause asphyxiation or death when it leaks from pipelines, endangering communities and the environment; and WHEREAS, the proposed Montezuma NorCal Carbon Hub project would involve the transportation of CO2 through 45 miles of pipelines through Contra Costa and Solano County communities and beneath the Bay; and
WHEREAS, connecting Montezuma's proposed CO2 pipeli ne to the oil refinery in Richmond could jeopardize the health and safety of neighborhoods already disproportionately harmed by refinery pollution; and
WHEREAS, the project developers have not yet been able to demonstrate how far a potential pipeline leak might spread; and
WHEREAS, the Montezuma NorCal Carbon Hub project would involve drilling CO2 injection wells near critical wetland habitat; and
WHEREAS, the injected CO2 waste could spread underground for miles beyond a proposed injection site; and
WHEREAS, operators such as California Resources Corporation have proposed additional CO2 waste dumping projects that could adversely impact communities and wildlife in Solano and Contra Costa Counties; and
WHEREAS, these proposed CO2 waste dumping projects will need to source carbon dioxide from polluting facilities like the power plants and refineries operating across the Bay Area; and WHEREAS, CCS projects perpetuate climate change and maintain environmental injustice by enabling power plants and refineries to continue emitting pollutants associated with asthma, poor birth outcomes, heart attack and cancer into the air of nearby communities; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, The City of Richmond:
Section 1. The City Council calls upon the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 9 to deny any applications by developers for permits to drill injection wells in Solano and Contra Costa Counties.
Reso. No. _____
Section 2. The City Council urges all relevant land use authorities to deny requests by project developers for land use permits for any infrastructure relating to the construction of, or sourcing of, carbon waste that would be transported through or deposited in Solano or Contra Contra Costa County.
Section 3. The City Council registers its deep concerns with, and strong opposition to, the construction of any infrastructure relating to transporting or dumping CO2 waste within and near its City Limits.
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***THE CLERK’S OFFICE WILL COMPLETE THE INFORMATION BELOW****
I certify that the foregoing resolution was passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Richmond at a regular meeting thereof held on Mmmm dd, yyyy, by the following vote:
AYES: AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
CLERK OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND
(SEAL)
Approved:
Mayor
Approved as to form:
City Attorney
State of California }
County of Contra Costa : ss.
City of Richmond }
I certify that the foregoing is a true copy of Resolution No. _____, finally passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Richmond at a regular meeting held on Mmmm dd, yyyy.
_______________________________________
Pamela Christian, Clerk of the City of Richmond