2018 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 24
BY SENATORS BARROW AND GATTI
A RESOLUTION
To designate Monday, March 19, 2018, as ExxonMobil Day at the State Capitol and to
commend ExxonMobil for its long-term contributions to the economy of the state.
WHEREAS, for the past one hundred years the operations of ExxonMobil in the state
of Louisiana have contributed greatly to the economy of the state and to the prosperity of its
citizens; and
WHEREAS, Standard Oil of Louisiana began its refinery operations on two hundred
twenty-five acres of farmland in North Baton Rouge with seven hundred workers; and
WHEREAS, Standard Oil through its many acquisitions became ExxonMobil in 1999
and today has grown into a family of companies located throughout the state that began with
the Baton Rouge Refinery and expanded to numerous world-class facilities that include plant
sites for Baton Rouge Chemical, Baton Rouge Polyolefins, Baton Rouge Plastics, Port Allen
Lubricants, ExxonMobil Production Company, XTO Energy Company, and ExxonMobil
Pipeline Company; and
WHEREAS, as one of the largest private employers in the state, the workforce for
ExxonMobil includes more than six thousand employees and contractors in the Baton Rouge
area alone and locations in nearly every corner of Louisiana, from the Haynesville Shale
installation to the Baton Rouge chemical plants and deep water drilling rigs in the Gulf of
Mexico; and
WHEREAS, the Baton Rouge Refinery is the largest manufacturing employer in the
state of Louisiana, the fourth largest refinery in the United States, and the twelfth largest
refinery in the world; and
Page 1 of 4 SR NO. 24 ENROLLED
WHEREAS, the Baton Rouge Chemical Plant is the second largest manufacturing
employer in the state; and
WHEREAS, on July 31, 1968, the ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Plastics Plant began
operations and celebrates its fiftieth anniversary in 2018; its output has grown from an initial
processing capacity of one hundred eighty million pounds annually to more than one billion
pounds of low density polyethylene and two hundred million pounds of ethylene elastomer
products annually; and
WHEREAS, the Baton Rouge Plastics Plant has been recognized on numerous
occasions for its commitment to safe, reliable operations and was named "Best in Louisiana"
for its 2017 safety performance record by the Louisiana Chemical Association; the plant
produces end products such as adhesives, automotive components, and food-safe plastic
wraps; and
WHEREAS, the XTO Energy Cotton Valley Gas Plant celebrates its seventy-fifth
anniversary and remains an integral part of the business community in the parishes of
Webster and Claiborne and the Ark-La-Tex region; the facility has evolved into a natural gas
processing complex with a cumulative production rate of more than three trillion cubic feet
of natural gas and forty million barrels of condensate and light oil petroleum products; and
WHEREAS, XTO Energy is an active community service partner that contributes to
local organizations such as the fire departments in both Claiborne Parish and Webster Parish,
the Cotton Valley Police Department, and the Claiborne Parish 4-H Club; and
WHEREAS, during the past century, ExxonMobil engineers, scientists, skilled
workers, and support staff have played a vital role in shaping the petrochemical industry
with cutting edge research, new innovations, and applied technologies to address the energy
needs of a growing global economy; and
WHEREAS, these breakthroughs created the first catalytic cracking technology, the
development of alkylation processes for the production of high octane aviation fuel, as well
as the development of synthetic butyl rubber during World War II; this innovation led to the
moniker, the "Cradle of Synthetic Rubber", for the Baton Rouge operations; and
WHEREAS, the Louisiana operations of ExxonMobil pay over one hundred million
dollars in state and local taxes each year including thirty-three million dollars in ad valorem
Page 2 of 4 SR NO. 24 ENROLLED
taxes for East Baton Rouge Parish alone, and ExxonMobil has paid more than one billion
dollars in state and local tax revenues over the past ten years; and
WHEREAS, ExxonMobil employees and retirees take an active role in the
betterment of their communities by providing thousands of volunteer hours annually to
nonprofit organizations as well as providing financial assistance through charitable donations
and matching grants of nearly four million dollars each year to civic, community, and
educational organizations; and
WHEREAS, ExxonMobil recognizes that workable solutions to twenty-first century
problems will require a future workforce with a strong foundation of math and science
education; contributions to STEM curricula in schools reflect that commitment; and
WHEREAS, a thirteen million dollar funding grant was presented to the National
Math and Science Initiative for Louisiana schools in support of educational programs such
as Advanced Placement Training, STEM Learning Network, and Pathways to STEM
Education; and
WHEREAS, ExxonMobil has remained dedicated to stewardship of the environment
and has been recognized for its efforts with receipt of awards for proactive leadership in
environmental issues; and
WHEREAS, ExxonMobil is committed to the continuous improvement of workplace
safety and was recognized by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for
voluntary protection programs and exceptional safety performance ratings; and
WHEREAS, after the first one hundred years, ExxonMobil continues to make
substantial long-term investments in the future of the state of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
recognizes ExxonMobil and its Louisiana facilities for its immense contributions to the
economic future of this state and the overall vitality of the United States.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend ExxonMobil for more than a century of partnership and progress in
Louisiana and does hereby recognize Monday, March 19, 2018, as ExxonMobil Day at the
Louisiana State Capitol.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does
Page 3 of 4 SR NO. 24 ENROLLED
hereby commend and congratulate the employees and retirees of ExxonMobil for their
pursuit of excellence in safety, corporate responsibility, environmental stewardship, local
education, and community service.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Jeff Copeskey, Southern Region of ExxonMobil Corporation, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
Page 4 of 4