Texas Shrimper Halts Exxon's $10 Billion Plastic Plant Plans Amid Community Pushback
In a dramatic turn of events, ExxonMobil has announced that it will "slow the pace of development" on its proposed $10 billion plastic plant in Calhoun County, Texas. The move is seen as a strategic retreat by the oil giant, following months of fierce resistance from local residents and activists who have been fighting to stop the project.
At the heart of this battle is 77-year-old shrimper Diane Wilson, who has been waging a one-woman war against the fossil fuel industry for decades. Her fight began in 2019, when she took on Formosa Plastics, the Taiwanese petrochemical giant accused of dumping toxic plastic waste throughout coastal Texas. The case drew national attention and ultimately resulted in a historic $50 million Clean Water Act settlement against Formosa.
Wilson's latest lawsuit, which challenged the tax abatement granted to Exxon by the Calhoun County school board, was dismissed in late September. However, less than two weeks later, Exxon announced that it would pause plans for the new facility, citing "market conditions." Many see this as a tacit admission that the company has been forced to back down due to community pressure.
The proposed plastic plant in Calhoun County is part of Exxon's broader strategy to pivot from oil and gas production to petrochemicals, which are used to manufacture plastics. The project would produce 3 million tons of polyethylene pellets per year, with the raw materials being shipped to manufacturing zones in Asia. Industry executives claim that this diversification will help reduce reliance on fossil fuels, but critics argue that it is simply a way for the oil industry to continue profiting from pollution.
Wilson's fight has been personal and emotional, as she drew on her own experiences growing up in Seadrift, a small fishing village on the Texas Gulf coast. She told the Nation and Counterstream Media podcast that losing her husband, home, and boat due to her activism had cost her dearly, but gave her soul back.
The case of Exxon's Calhoun County plant highlights the growing power of grassroots resistance in the face of corporate lobbying. As world leaders pledge to phase out fossil fuels and address climate change, companies like Exxon are expanding their operations and greenwashing efforts. The pause on this project must be permanent, not just a temporary delay.
"We have drawn a line in the sand against plastic polluters," Wilson said. "That line now runs through Calhoun county." Her story serves as a reminder that even the largest corporations can be stopped when ordinary people refuse to back down.
In a dramatic turn of events, ExxonMobil has announced that it will "slow the pace of development" on its proposed $10 billion plastic plant in Calhoun County, Texas. The move is seen as a strategic retreat by the oil giant, following months of fierce resistance from local residents and activists who have been fighting to stop the project.
At the heart of this battle is 77-year-old shrimper Diane Wilson, who has been waging a one-woman war against the fossil fuel industry for decades. Her fight began in 2019, when she took on Formosa Plastics, the Taiwanese petrochemical giant accused of dumping toxic plastic waste throughout coastal Texas. The case drew national attention and ultimately resulted in a historic $50 million Clean Water Act settlement against Formosa.
Wilson's latest lawsuit, which challenged the tax abatement granted to Exxon by the Calhoun County school board, was dismissed in late September. However, less than two weeks later, Exxon announced that it would pause plans for the new facility, citing "market conditions." Many see this as a tacit admission that the company has been forced to back down due to community pressure.
The proposed plastic plant in Calhoun County is part of Exxon's broader strategy to pivot from oil and gas production to petrochemicals, which are used to manufacture plastics. The project would produce 3 million tons of polyethylene pellets per year, with the raw materials being shipped to manufacturing zones in Asia. Industry executives claim that this diversification will help reduce reliance on fossil fuels, but critics argue that it is simply a way for the oil industry to continue profiting from pollution.
Wilson's fight has been personal and emotional, as she drew on her own experiences growing up in Seadrift, a small fishing village on the Texas Gulf coast. She told the Nation and Counterstream Media podcast that losing her husband, home, and boat due to her activism had cost her dearly, but gave her soul back.
The case of Exxon's Calhoun County plant highlights the growing power of grassroots resistance in the face of corporate lobbying. As world leaders pledge to phase out fossil fuels and address climate change, companies like Exxon are expanding their operations and greenwashing efforts. The pause on this project must be permanent, not just a temporary delay.
"We have drawn a line in the sand against plastic polluters," Wilson said. "That line now runs through Calhoun county." Her story serves as a reminder that even the largest corporations can be stopped when ordinary people refuse to back down.
. People power prevails, even in the oil industry 
. Wilson's determination is inspiring 
. Time for big corps to take responsibility for their mess 
.
. I mean, Diane Wilson is a total boss, man. She's been fighting the good fight against pollution for years, and it's awesome to see her win a major battle like this 
. It just goes to show how powerful grassroots resistance can be when people come together to demand change. We should all take notes from Diane's playbook, like, don't let the corporations get away with polluting our communities without a fight 
.
. We need real change, not just PR stunts to make people feel good about themselves. This pause on the plant project should be permanent, like Diane said, because it's time for companies like Exxon to start taking responsibility for their actions 
.
I'm all for it too, if Exxon's gonna play it cool, then so should we 
.
I mean, Diane Wilson is literally fighting for her life here, and she's not backing down 
She's been taking on big corps for years, and now her efforts are paying off 
The community has come together to stop this toxic project, and it shows that even the biggest companies can be held accountable 
its so inspiring to see Diane Wilson fighting for what she believes in, despite all the tough times she's gone thru 
. shes like a true hero, always standing up 4 whats rite even wen its hard 
. and i love how shes saying "we have drawn a line in the sand against plastic polluters" - thats like, the ultimate statement of courage & determination 
! lets all keep supporting ppl like Diane Wilson who r fighting 4 our planet's future 
The fact that Diane Wilson, 77-year-old shrimper extraordinaire, has been fighting against this project for years is totally inspiring 
. It just goes to show you that age is just a number when it comes to standing up for what's right 
!
. Let's keep shining a light on Exxon's greenwashing efforts and make sure they can't back down without facing real consequences 
.
[ Image of a turtle with a trash can on its head ] 
Exxon's plastic plant plans? More like Exxon's "we-can't-lose" plans 
. I mean, $10 billion is still a crazy amount of money for one plant. And what's with all the greenwashing? 
It feels like companies are more worried about their rep than actually making sustainable changes.
. We need more than just PR stunts to make a difference. But hey, for now, this pause on the project feels like a small victory 
.