Environment & Climate
Newly released Exxon documents raise questions about climate and biofuel claims
Hacker News reports that files from a Massachusetts lawsuit include Exxon scientists' doubts about algae biofuel targets, and Exxon denies misleading the public.
The short version
- Hacker News reports that previously undisclosed Exxon documents released in a Massachusetts lawsuit include a 1988 internal warning about climate action.[Hacker News]
- A scientist testified that a 2018 Exxon algae biofuel target was impossible, and a 2014 presentation listed barriers to scaling carbon capture.[Hacker News]
- The Massachusetts attorney general alleges Exxon deceived consumers and investors, while Exxon denies misleading the public or investors and calls the lawsuits meritless.[Hacker News]
- Whether the allegations are proven remains unresolved, since the claims are contested and the company denies them.[Hacker News]
Key facts
- Frank Sprow of Exxon's corporate research department warned in a November 1988 internal memo that a worldwide consensus on greenhouse gas action could substantially negatively impact Exxon.[Hacker News]
- The 1988 memo is among previously undisclosed documents released earlier this year in a Massachusetts lawsuit filed against ExxonMobil in 2019.[Hacker News]
- A scientist testified that a 2018 Exxon press release's 10,000-barrel-per-day algae biofuel target was completely impossible to achieve.[Hacker News]
- A 2014 Exxon presentation on carbon capture listed barriers to commercial scale, including massive investment, high costs, and no market incentives.[Hacker News]
- The Massachusetts attorney general's office alleges Exxon deceived consumers and investors about its climate action and seeks fines and an injunction.[Hacker News]
- Exxon denied misleading the public or investors about climate change and said in its annual securities filing that the lawsuits are meritless.[Hacker News]
What remains uncertain
- The deception allegations are contested and unproven; Exxon denies them and did not respond to requests for comment.[Hacker News]
- Frank Sprow told The Wall Street Journal his memo was adopted as corporate policy, but he did not respond to requests for comment on the reporting, so that account remains his own and unverified.[Hacker News]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.