May 5, 2026
City Council
DATE: May 5, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Councilmember Claudia Jimenez
Subject:
Opposition to Proposed CO2 Waste Dumping Projects &
CO2 Pipelines in Richmond, Contra Costa, and Solano
Counties
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Connecting the proposed Montezuma Carbon
Sequestration Hub's proposed CO2 pipeline to the oil
refinery in Richmond would jeopardize the health and
safety of neighborhoods already disproportionately
harmed by refinery pollution.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology has
consistently proven to be ineffective, economically
unsound, and unsafe. Therefore, Richmond City Council
should oppose CO2 waste dumping projects and
pipelines in Richmond, Contra Costa, and Solano
Counties.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECEIVE a presentation on proposed
Montezuma CO2 Hub, a carbon waste dumping project,
that would require a massive build out of pipelines
through Richmond, risking the health and safety of
Richmond residents and ADOPT a resolution that
opposes the proposed Montezuma Carbon Sequestration
Hub's CO2 pipeline waste dumping projects and CO2
pipelines in Richmond, Contra Costa, and Solano
Counties - Councilmember Claudia Jimenez (510-620-
AGENDA
REPORT
May 5, 2026
6565). This item was continued from the April 28,
2026, meeting.
DISCUSSION:
A Bay Area business, Montezuma LLC, proposes to build a carbon waste dumping project that would put Richmond residents’ health and safety at great risk. The project, known as the Montezuma Carbon Hub, would require a massive build out of pipelines through the Delta and San Francisco Bay, posing serious risks to wildlife, water, soil, and public health while doing nothing to protect our climate.
The carbon dioxide waste would come from large, industrial facilities that burn fossil fuels, including the Chevron Refinery in Richmond. This would result in new, dangerous pipelines being built right next to Richmond communities to collect and transport highly volatile carbon dioxide from the Richmond Chevron Refinery.
Montezuma’s carbon waste dumping proposal would be used to justify prolonging the lifespan of refineries, like the Chevron Refinery, putting our communities at risk of continued and increased pollution and pipeline leaks. Carbon Capture & Storage technology (CCS) does not remove existing CO2 from the atmosphere. At best, it diverts a fraction of the additional CO2 pollution produced by the refineries and power plants that rely on fossil and other dirty fuels in their operations.
CCS projects are energy-intensive, using 15 percent to 25 percent more energy to produce the same amount of power as a conventional power plant. Because CCS uses more energy, CCS facilities emit more air pollution and cause higher upstream pollution from the extraction and transport of additional fuel.
As such, we recommend the Richmond City Council adopt a resolution opposing the Montezuma Carbon Hub and all other CO2 waste dumping projects and CO2 pipelines in Richmond, Contra Costa, and Solano Counties.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Presentation Slides
Attachment 2 – Resolution
Attachment 3 – Montezuma CarbonHub Factsheet