New court filings show Exxon scientists doubted company's climate-solution claims

Left · 2A batch of previously undisclosed Exxon documents was released earlier this year, without fanfare, as part of the lawsuit Massachusetts filed against ExxonMobil in 2019, according to reporting by Inside Climate News. 1 2 Left · 1The documents were filed in a dispute over whether Exxon should be forced to hand over more files and testimony. They include a 1988 memo by Frank Sprow of Exxon's corporate research department, which was quoted in a 2023 Wall Street Journal article but not published in full, and several other records reported for the first time. 1 Left · 1In the 1988 memo, Sprow warned that if a worldwide consensus emerged that action was needed on greenhouse gases, "substantial negative impacts on Exxon could occur." He set two goals for the company's research: "Protect the value of our resources (oil, gas, coal)" and "Preserve Exxon’s business options." 1

Left · 1Ars Technica's republished version adds that Sprow told the Wall Street Journal his memo was adopted as corporate policy. 2 Left · 1On biofuels, an Exxon scientist who worked on the algae program said in a deposition that a 2018 press release anticipating "10,000 barrels of algae biofuel per day" by 2025 was misleading, saying "All the clauses in there are patently false." The scientist testified the target was "completely impossible to achieve" and that they had told others at the company so beforehand. The scientist also called a research development that Exxon publicly claimed as a breakthrough "a dead end." 1 Left · 1The Wall Street Journal reported in March on internal documents showing Exxon's scientists told executives the algae targets were not feasible. Exxon later dropped the research. 1

Left · 1On carbon capture, the Massachusetts attorney general's office says the documents show Exxon knew the technology was unlikely to be a scalable solution. A 2014 presentation listed challenges to commercial scale, including the need for "massive investment" and high costs. In 2017 another Exxon scientist said he was "not a big fan" of calling the company a leader in the technology, because its operations were largely gas-processing plants, which he said had "nothing to do" with capture at power plants and industrial facilities. 1 Left · 1A 2017 presentation appears to show the algae and carbon capture advertisements were among the company's highest performing, calling them "All-Around Winners." A 2021 internal presentation said a campaign aimed at political and financial leaders sought to get people to "believe ExxonMobil is committed to helping solve climate change." 1 Left · 1The Massachusetts attorney general's case, brought in state court, argues Exxon deceived the state's consumers and investors into thinking it was acting to limit warming when its efforts were more about public relations. The state seeks fines and an injunction against Exxon's allegedly deceptive practices. 1

Left · 1Exxon did not respond to requests for comment but has denied misleading the public or investors. Its annual securities filing calls the lawsuits' theories "meritless" and "an inappropriate attempt to use the court system to usurp the proper role of policymakers." 1 Left · 1The release comes as the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week from Exxon and Suncor Energy that Boulder, Colorado's lawsuit should be halted. The outcome could decide whether more than two dozen other claims against oil companies proceed. Aaron Regunberg of Public Citizen said the filings suggest "we have seen just a sliver of the evidence," while Geoffrey Supran of the University of Miami said the earlier records are concise roadmaps of Exxon's later climate strategy. 1