The Geismar, Louisiana project was a bad bet and a public health risk.

NEW ORLEANS (January 7, 2025) – Today, in a major victory for the health and safety of Louisianans, Mitsubishi Chemical Group has officially announced the cancellation of its planned MMA (methyl methacrylate) production facility in Geismar, Louisiana. The plant would have been the largest of its kind in the world producing more than 750,000 tons of carbon pollution each year as well as toxic substances like ammonia, formaldehyde, and methanol.

“Mitsubishi’s retreat from Geismar is a testament to the power of community advocacy and grassroots organizing,” said Heather McTeer Toney, executive director of Beyond Petrochemicals. “Together our partners have worked tirelessly to expose the flawed economics behind this project and the potential harm it would bring to surrounding communities.”

The resins produced by MMA (methyl methacrylate) facilities are used to create industrial products like adhesives, floor polishes, paints, acrylic glass, textile finishes, and sealants.

In July, with funding from the Beyond Petrochemicals campaign, the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) published a damning report citing market shifts, sustainability options, and growing public opposition as significant challenges for the Geismar project. The report made clear that Mitsubishi would face negative financial consequences, and Louisiana would waste taxpayer dollars if work on the project moved forward.

“Despite the best efforts to prop up a failing industry, the communities with the most to lose did the hard work of advocacy and research to save Louisiana lives and tax dollars from this bad bet,” said Toney.

Since Mitsubishi announced plans to build the Louisiana plant, Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s have pointed out that petrochemical plants and oil and gas investments in general are becoming less creditworthy. Markets are moving away from products like methyl methacrylate and Mitsubishi's pullback should be a warning to investors in similar projects.

“The petrochemical industry is overestimating how much any of us need or even want more of its products, let alone the additional cost of health burden they place on people” added Toney. “As credit ratings agencies and analysts recognize that prospects are dimming for new US petrochemical projects, it is important for communities and local governments to understand that the industry cannot be a reliable source of economic growth or tax revenue.”

This announcement is another victory for Beyond Petrochemicals and its dozens of community partners. As oil and gas companies bet on increased petrochemical production to increase their profits, fenceline communities – those living near petrochemical facilities – shoulder the health impacts from petrochemical production, including respiratory illnesses, birth defects, and high risk of cancer.

“The Beyond Petrochemicals campaign is built to combine the power of local, regional, and national organizations to stop the expansion of the petrochemical industry and put people over pollution,” said Toney.

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Community Response

“The frontline communities are fighting back, causing delays, and that amounts to money being lost.” - Gail LeBoeuf, president of Inclusive Louisiana

“We are grateful that Mitsubishi decided to cancel their plans to build in our frontline community. I congratulate the work of our environmental justice organizations and look forward to continuing our advocacy for a safe and healthy environment.” - Robert Taylor, Concerned Citizens of St. John

“While Mitsubishi’s decision to withdraw plans for its MMA facility is a welcome relief, we must not lose sight of the larger pattern of unchecked resource extraction and toxic pollution plaguing the River Parishes. I’m a living witness to the impacts of climate change, which are jeopardizing our lives and livelihoods—and it shows in the number of funerals we have each week. Adding more hazardous emissions, including methanol, ammonia, and particulate matter, only heightens an already unacceptable cancer risk in our communities. We deserve real economic opportunities that don’t sacrifice our health or our environment. It’s time for a just transition—one that invests in sustainable industries, protects workers, and ensures a healthier future for everyone in St. James Parish.” - Sharon C. Lavigne, Founder and Director of RISE St. James Louisiana

"Mitsubishi’s decision not to come to Louisiana is great news. Giant corporations ramming polluting mega facilities on top of communities is not and has never been economic development. It is a masquerade for a very few people to make a lot of money. Let this be the moment when we pivot to policies that help all of us in Louisiana, building a healthy state for a vibrant future.” - Anne Rolfes, Louisiana Bucket Brigade

“Mitsubishi’s decision to cancel its toxic methyl methacrylate (MMA) plant in Geismar, Louisiana is a victory for local communities who fought tirelessly against another attempt by the petrochemical industry to poison our land and people. This project would have added dangerous pollution to a region already overburdened by industrial pollution. This win shows the power of community advocacy in standing up to corporate greed. Healthy Gulf remains committed to fighting reckless expansion, as there are still dozens of remaining new plants and expansions along the Gulf coast.” – Healthy Gulf

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MEDIA CONTACT: Matt Smelser, [email protected]

About Beyond Petrochemicals:

Launched by Bloomberg Philanthropies in September 2022, Beyond Petrochemicals: People Over Pollution aims to halt the rapid expansion of petrochemical and plastic pollution in the United States. The campaign draws on the success of the Beyond Coal campaign, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Bloomberg’s Beyond Carbon campaign, to turbocharge existing efforts led by frontline communities to block the rapid expansion of 120+ petrochemical projects concentrated in three target geographies – Louisiana, Texas, and the Ohio River Valley. The campaign also works to establish stricter rules for existing petrochemical plants to safeguard the health of American communities. To date, Beyond Petrochemicals has helped raise awareness and lead timely collaboration efforts using its four pillars of community leadership, data and research, legislation and litigation, and stakeholder engagement to accelerate its goals. For more information, please visit us at beyondpetrochemicals.org and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.