carbon capture
Newsletter
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The long-overdue report on carbon capture in Louisiana remains in limbo
Louisiana’s task force on carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) has yet to submit its findings, five months past the deadline, leaving the public and officials in the dark about the potential impacts of the controversial technology.
In short:
- Louisiana's CCS task force has missed its report deadline by five months with no explanation from its leaders.
- CCS projects are progressing in Louisiana, a prime location due to its geological features, despite concerns about safety and environmental risks.
- Opposition from local residents and environmental groups continues, particularly regarding the lack of proper scrutiny and potential health hazards.
Key quote:
“Even during the hearings of this task force, it became clear that the true aim here was dismissing or discrediting people’s concerns, not seeking to address them.”
— Jackson Voss, climate policy coordinator for the Alliance for Affordable Energy
Why this matters:
Despite a string of public meetings and a report due in February, the leaders behind this subterranean crusade aren't saying a word. Is this the future of environmental salvation or just another bureaucratic black hole? Read more: Climate activists pan carbon capture plans.
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Pennsylvania governor signs controversial carbon storage bill into law, paving the way for hydrogen hubs
The bill was opposed by 45 environmental groups.
PITTSBURGH — On July 17, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed into law a carbon capture and storage bill that creates a legal framework for climate-warming carbon emissions captured from burning fossil fuels to be injected underground and stored indefinitely to prevent them from escaping into the atmosphere.
The bill is controversial because carbon capture and storage technology is still new and scientific researchers have unanswered questions about whether it’s a viable climate solution and whether it will pose health and safety risks to communities.
A handful of environmental advocacy groups supported the bill, including the Clean Air Task Force, which said in a statement that carbon capture and storage technologies will “play a role in decarbonizing the industrial and power sectors of the commonwealth’s energy economy.”
However, around 45 environmental advocacy groups wrote letters urging the Pennsylvania state legislature and Gov. Shapiro not to pass the bill. Those groups have spoken out against the new law, saying in a statement that it guarantees “Pennsylvania will not be part of any climate solution.”
“Governor Shapiro should be ashamed of signing a bill that threatens the public and our environment with the dangers of carbon capture and storage, all for the benefit of special interests, namely the fracking industry,” Tracy Carluccio, deputy director of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, said in a statement. “This is a terrible day for the Commonwealth and we’ll experience the harms far into our future.”
The groups also expressed concern about the unusual way the bill moved through the legislature. In the state House, the bill was never referred to the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, but instead went through the Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee and was advanced without discussion.
As a result, “there were no hearings or discussions,” said Karen Feridun, co-founder of the Better Path Coalition, a Pennsylvania-based environmental advocacy group. “In the end, an unproven, failed technology was deemed to be in the public interest.”
The new law will pave the way for two proposed, federally-funded hydrogen hubs in Pennsylvania that will rely on carbon capture and storage.
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Credit: Commonwealth Media
30 environmental advocacy groups ask PA governor to veto carbon capture bill
“Putting resources toward carbon capture and storage instead of renewable energy is wasting time we don’t have.”
PITTSBURGH — A group of more than 30 environmental and health advocacy groups have asked Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to veto a bill that would pave the way for carbon storage in the state.
The bill, SB831, which was passed by the state legislature on Friday, creates a legal framework for climate-warming carbon emissions captured from burning fossil fuels to be injected underground and stored indefinitely to prevent them from escaping into the atmosphere. Some environmental advocacy groups support the bill, while others oppose it.
Carbon capture and storage infrastructure is being advanced across the country thanks to federal funding and tax credits through the federal Inflation Reduction Act, but the technology remains controversial.
Proponents say it can reduce carbon emissions while protecting the power grid, while opponents say the technology is unproven and will divert resources from the rapid clean energy transition needed to slow climate change. The debate over the Pennsylvania bill has mirrored the national and global debates about carbon capture and storage.
“Inviting this technology into the state is just setting us up for more fossil fuel extraction, which is what it’s actually all about,” Karen Feridun, co-founder of the Better Path Coalition, a Pennsylvania-based environmental advocacy group, told EHN. “Putting resources toward carbon capture and storage instead of renewable energy is wasting time we don’t have.”
On July 16, the Better Path Coalition submitted a letter on behalf of more than 30 environmental advocacy groups calling on Governor Shapiro to veto the bill.
“Inviting this technology into the state is just setting us up for more fossil fuel extraction, which is what it’s actually all about." - Karen Feridun, Better Path Coalition
“The bill strips Pennsylvania landowners of their subsurface property rights, shifts liability to the state, and exposes everyone to a new and very dangerous generation of fossil fuel Infrastructure,” the letter reads. “SB 831 should not be enacted for the sake of the Commonwealth and the people who depend on you to make the courageous choice to protect them.”
The letter also references a previous letter the group sent to lawmakers prior to the vote on the bill that outlined scientific concerns about the shortcomings of carbon capture and storage technology.
“There are a lot of unanswered questions about how to do carbon storage safely and effectively in general, and even more about doing it in Pennsylvania where we have unique geology and hundreds of thousands of abandoned [oil and gas] wells, many of which are in unknown locations,” Feridun said. “It’s premature at best to pass a bill allowing this and saying it’s in the public interest when this process has never been done successfully.”
Several lawmakers, including state Senator Katie Muth and state Representative Greg Vitali, made remarks opposing the bill prior to its passage.
“This bill is deeply flawed and does not provide the necessary safeguards for communities or our environment nor does it provide an actual solution for combatting the climate crisis,” Muth said.
The bill received support from business and labor organizations including the Pennsylvania State Building and Construction Trades Council, the AFL-CIO, and the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry.
“Carbon capture technology has the potential to create a significant number of good paying jobs in the construction industry while simultaneously creating family-sustaining permanent jobs for the citizens of our commonwealth,” said Robert Bair, president of the Pennsylvania State Building and Construction Trades Council, in a statement.
A handful of other environmental advocacy groups, including the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Environmental Defense Fund, the Clean Air Task Force, and the Nature Conservancy, worked with lawmakers in the House to amend the bill and ultimately supported its passage.
“Carbon capture technology has the potential to create a significant number of good paying jobs in the construction industry while simultaneously creating family-sustaining permanent jobs for the citizens of our commonwealth.” - Robert Bair, Pennsylvania State Building and Construction Trades Council
The amendments included public land protections, special provisions for environmental justice communities, community engagement requirements, improved landowner rights, preventative requirements for induced seismic activity, extending the default post-injection site care period, and enabling the Department of Environmental Protection to promulgate and enforce additional regulations as needed to protect the people and environment of the Commonwealth.
“The future of [carbon capture and storage] in Pennsylvania remains to be seen, but we cannot forgo the opportunity to adopt necessary performance standards,” the Pennsylvania Environmental Commission said in a statement. “Now we have the basis to make that happen.”
Feridun said of the amendments, “They’re like putting on cologne when you have really bad body odor… the bill is still fundamentally a bad bill.”
Carbon capture and storage are necessary to pave the way for Pennsylvania to be part of two proposed, federally funded hydrogen hubs — the Mid-Atlantic Hydrogen Hub and the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub — which would rely on the technology. Both projects have the potential to funnel billions of taxpayer dollars to industry partners, which include numerous fossil fuel companies.
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Legislators in Pennsylvania push controversial carbon capture bill
Pennsylvania legislators are backing a contentious bill to establish a carbon capture industry, raising environmental and public health concerns.
In short:
- Senate Bill 831 allows for carbon dioxide injection with minimal landowner consent and exempts operators from seismic monitoring in certain conditions.
- Environmental groups warn of potential leaks, health hazards, and insufficient landowner involvement in decision-making.
- The bill's supporters argue it is essential for the state's energy future and to secure federal funding for climate initiatives.
Key quote:
“This idea that they’re going to go all in on carbon capture and try to inject this stuff in the same places where it’s like Swiss cheese … is just plain stupid.”
— Karen Feridun, co-founder of the Better Path Coalition
Why this matters:
The bill proposes the development of infrastructure to capture carbon dioxide emissions from industrial sources and store them underground. This technology is seen by supporters as a vital tool to curb emissions from sectors that are hard to decarbonize, like manufacturing and energy production.
But critics warn that the environmental and health implications could be significant. Concerns range from the potential for groundwater contamination to the risk of carbon dioxide leaks, which could pose serious hazards to nearby communities. There are also fears that focusing on CCS might divert attention and resources away from renewable energy and energy efficiency measures, which are essential for a sustainable future.
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Credit: Patrick Hendry/Unsplash
Illinois halts carbon capture projects for two years
Illinois legislators have approved a two-year moratorium on carbon capture pipelines, awaiting new federal safety regulations.
In short:
- The moratorium aims to pause carbon capture pipeline projects in Illinois until federal safety guidelines are established.
- The new law also requires carbon capture facilities to store more carbon than they emit and ensures long-term site monitoring and safety measures.
- Companies must pay surface owners for using underground spaces for carbon storage and contribute to a statewide emergency fund.
Key quote:
"It does offer some really good protections for Illinois that are needed at a time when we are not just anticipating projects — but those projects are moving forward rapidly."
— Pam Richart, co-founder of the Coalition to Stop CO2 Pipelines
Why this matters:
Implementing stringent regulations on carbon capture and storage is crucial to prevent potential environmental hazards and ensure the safety of local communities. While touted as a crucial tool in the fight against climate change, these pipelines also pose significant risks, from potential leaks to environmental degradation. Illinois' action reflects a cautious approach, prioritizing the safety of its residents and ecosystems while awaiting clearer guidelines from federal authorities.
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Canada’s largest carbon capture project bypasses environmental review
Canada’s largest carbon capture project, proposed by Pathways Alliance, might proceed without comprehensive environmental reviews at both federal and provincial levels, sparking concerns among Indigenous groups and safety experts.
In short:
- Pathways Alliance’s CO2 pipeline and storage hub may bypass federal and Alberta environmental assessments, raising transparency issues.
- The project, costing $16.5 billion, involves a 600 km CO2 pipeline and could significantly impact public safety and Indigenous rights.
- Indigenous leaders and experts warn of serious legal and safety risks due to the lack of thorough oversight.
Key quote:
"The fact that they are trying not to have oversight of this should be raising serious questions."
— Richard Kuprewicz, president of Accufacts Inc.
Why this matters:
Carbon capture and storage technology, which involves capturing carbon dioxide emissions from sources like power plants and industrial processes before they enter the atmosphere and storing them underground, is gaining traction globally as a tool to combat global warming. However, the lack of environmental assessment for such a significant project threatens public safety and could violate Indigenous consultation rights, potentially leading to legal challenges.
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Credit: Christopher Halloran/Big Stock Photo
California town looks to carbon capture amid oil industry's decline
Kern County explores a novel approach to sustain its economy by leveraging carbon capture technology, shifting from traditional oil revenues.
In short:
- Les Clark III oversees the West Side Recreation and Park District in Taft, heavily funded by the local oil industry, which faces significant decline.
- California Resources Corporation proposes a carbon capture project to rejuvenate local jobs and maintain public services without relying on government bailouts.
- Skepticism remains among local communities about the safety and actual benefits of storing carbon dioxide underground.
Key quote:
"There’s some kind of window of opportunity, because the industry is trying to evolve."
— Les Clark III, manager of the West Side Recreation and Park District in Taft
Why this matters:
Carbon capture and storage technology, which involves capturing carbon dioxide emissions from sources like power plants and industrial processes before they enter the atmosphere and storing them underground, is gaining traction globally as a tool to combat global warming. For Kern County, which produces about 70% of California's oil, this technology could transform the very infrastructure that once bolstered its economy into a new, greener legacy.
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