By Isle of Wight Observer
Island residents are increasingly opposing ExxonMobil’s proposed Solent CO2 Pipeline. IW councillors, Nick Stuart and Claire Critchison, have teamed up to launch a campaign group against the project, citing concerns over the environmental and community impacts.
The campaign will officially launch with a small committee on September 11. A mid-September public meeting will kick off the campaign’s broader initiatives.
Cllr Stuart remains “entirely unconvinced” of the carbon capture and storage technology that ExxonMobil plans to implement, accusing the company of potentially “smashing the Solent” and disrupting the Isle of Wight’s landscape. Cllr Critchison echoed his sentiments, describing a recent consultation session in Niton as “very obstructive.”
Adding to the growing opposition is a petition by Little Atherfield resident, Christopher Davis, on Change.org, which has amassed over 25,000 signatures. The petition aims to cancel the Solent CO2 Pipeline Project, arguing that the project poses significant risks, including leakage, pollution, and even explosion.
In response, Michael Foley, ExxonMobil’s UK low carbon solutions executive, stated that the company is committed to following the Development Consent Order process as set out by the government. He emphasised that carbon capture and storage technology has been safely deployed worldwide for over fifty years and is critical for reducing emissions while maintaining essential services.
Despite ExxonMobil’s efforts to engage with the community through consultations, opposition continues to grow, with residents and councillors alike calling for the cancellation of the pipeline project. You can sign the petition against the pipeline at iw.observer/pipeline-petition.
ExxonMobil’s website about the project can be found at iw.observer/pipeline-website. The final IW consultation event at this stage takes place on Tuesday (Sept 3) from 10.30am to 6.30pm at Phoenix Knights Centre, at Gurnard near Cowes.