Theo LeQuesne, climate organizer with the Center for Biological Diversity, is encouraging us to take action to stop the dangerous Montezuma carbon capture pipeline project. This project could expose residents of Contra Costa and Solano counties to potentially deadly concentrated carbon dioxide gas. The proposed Montezuma Norcal Sequestration Hub could become one of Contra Costa and Solano County’s most serious community hazards.

LeQuesne recently spoke to the Progressive Democrats of Benicia about the Montezuma project. This project would pipe compressed carbon dioxide from facilities in Contra Costa County along the Carquinez Strait. The carbon dioxide would then be injected into wells near the environmentally sensitive Suisun Marsh in Solano County. The project developers propose capturing carbon from a PG&E power plant near Pittsburg and Antioch, then expanding their pipeline network down the straits, connecting to power plants and refineries in Contra Costa County.

Deadly Gas Leak Potential Along Carquinez Strait

The major problem is that the transportation pipes can leak or rupture, spewing deadly carbon dioxide substantial distances from the pipeline. Compressed, or “supercritical” carbon dioxide is heavier than air. It displaces oxygen, making it impossible to breathe. A carbon capture pipeline ruptured in 2020 in rural Mississippi, sending people to the hospital foaming at the mouth and incoherent or unconscious. Forty-five people were hospitalized. Some people experienced lasting medical problems. Rescue vehicles had difficulty reaching the victims, as gas engines need oxygen to run, and simply stop after such a leak.

LeQuesne also noted that any water inside the pipelines forms an acid which can lead to zipper fractures along the length of a pipeline.  The acidification can produce a long-lasting and wide-spreading “dead zone” in environmental water. The proposed terminus of the Montezuma Carbon Sequestration Hub lies adjacent to the Montezuma wetlands marsh southeast of Suisun City, making it a potential hazard to the community as well as to the environment.

Safety Guidelines for the Pipeline on Hold

The Biden administration allocated financial incentives and tax breaks for carbon capture projects but also proposed safety guidelines for the pipelines. However, the safety guidelines were not published before the Trump administration took over. LeQuesne doubts that they will be put in effect any time soon.

At this point, LeQuesne said, the federal Environmental Protection Administration has asked project developers for more information about possible geologic and other issues involving the project. The EPA is awaiting Montezuma’s response before processing its request for permits to drill CO2 injection wells.

The Solano County Board of Supervisors has asked Montezuma for more information, as Montezuma needs County Board permission to drill a test well in the area. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers likely will also need to consult, as the pipeline will run under water.

LeQuesne was asked how he thinks the advent of the Trump administration will affect the Montezuma carbon capture pipeline project. He called this “an interesting question.” The new administration might be reluctant to allocate money for a project put forward as environmental, he said. He is not sure that this and other carbon capture projects would go forward without federal tax breaks and incentives. Another attendee at the meeting, Benicia City Council member Kari Birdseye, noted that Big Oil appears to want the project, which could cause it to gain favor in Washington.

Urge Your City Council to Say No to the Montezuma Pipeline

If you live in Antioch, Richmond, or other communities along the Carquinez straits, take action. Sign a petition and use other means to let your city council members know that you want them to oppose this dangerous project.

In Contra Costa County:

Antioch: Sign the Petition

Richmond: Sign the Petition

In Solano County:

Benicia: Sign the Petition

Suisun City: Sign the Petition

Vallejo: Sign the Petition

Four More Ways to Help

There’s more you can do.

• Learn more about the Hub here: Montezuma Carbon Hub: A Dangerous Distraction from Real Climate Solutions.
• Tell your member of Congress that you object to the project.
• If you live in Solano County, tell your county supervisor to oppose drilling of the test well—the initial phase for the Montezuma Hub project—to prevent the potential community hazard from starting.
• Write a letter to the editor.
• Watch our blog for updates on the project.

Working together we can protect our communities from the potential hazards of the Montezuma Carbon Capture Hub and ensure a safer, healthier future for everyone!