Advanced recycling: the key to California’s energy sustainability

OPINION – California is a model of energy innovation and sustainability. With one of the country’s most robust energy transition plans and an unwavering commitment to creating a cleaner future, it is why it is so disappointing to see the state of California’s recent lawsuit against ExxonMobil’s advanced recycling efforts. The filing is based on an incorrect interpretation of the industry’s work in California and threatens to undermine our recycling and climate progress.

Advanced recycling remains critical to helping California reach its sustainability goals. By expanding our advanced recycling program, our state has the opportunity to reduce plastic waste and greenhouse gas emissions, creating a second life for plastics that would otherwise be discarded and left to sit in a landfill. Advanced recycling complements traditional recycling methods, allowing for the breakdown of more kinds of plastic, converting them back into molecules needed to make new products to create a second life for single-use plastics that are vital for groups such as California’s agricultural and farming, healthcare, and aviation industries.

This technology helps individual businesses and the state of California meet their sustainability goals. Proven successes of advanced recycling can be found across the country, including in neighboring progressive states like Colorado that are supporting the process instead of opposing it. Despite the lawsuits’ argument to the contrary, advanced recycling works—and it’s being scaled up to meet increasing demand.

The state’s actions lack an understanding for an industry that has invested millions in making California a better place to live and work. In fact, in a recent CNBC interview, the hosts accurately questioned the motives behind the lawsuit. Businesses and consumers are tired of paying the price for political games executed by elected leaders and regulators. It is clear that environmental groups and NGOs are pushing the lawsuit with little regard for our state’s business community, specifically minority communities, standing in the way of our collective goal for a more sustainable future.

California leaders should be encouraging companies to scale up their clean energy efforts and to continue investing in technologies like advanced recycling that will bring us closer to our net-zero aspirations. Unfortunately, by singling out one company or industry, it puts our state at risk of losing billions of dollars in valuable private investment essential to keeping our economy humming and preventing California from successfully preparing for the future. We need leaders to truly represent the interests of Californians and seek to make our state a model of practical sustainability, not an anti-industry pariah.

It’s time for California to prioritize the desires of their constituents and break with the radical environmental groups currently dictating their agendas. California must distance itself from anti-corporation warriors and welcome private investment that can help us maintain our status as the leader in the energy transition. It is my hope that California’s leaders realize the profound benefits of advanced recycling and encourage companies to continue investing in our state.

It’s time for our leaders to strive to keep trusted allies in the energy industry operating and innovating in the Golden State—not drive them away. After all, as California goes, so goes the nation.

Julian Canete is President & CEO of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, which is comprised of 120 Hispanic and diverse chambers and business association members representing the interest of over 850,000 Hispanic-owned businesses in California.