co2
Newsletter
Credit: LoggaWiggler/Pixabay
Midwestern CO2 pipeline gets Iowa approval but faces further challenges
Iowa regulators approved Summit Carbon Solutions' CO2 pipeline project, but it still needs approvals from other states to proceed.
In short:
- The $5.5 billion project will transport CO2 emissions from over 50 ethanol plants in five states for underground storage in North Dakota.
- Opponents fear land seizures and potential hazards from pipeline ruptures, while supporters argue it aids climate change efforts and economic growth.
- Summit must secure approvals from North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Nebraska before construction can begin.
Key quote:
“Whether you think it’s smart or silly, the world’s largest airlines want to decarbonize their fuel.”
— Monte Shaw, executive director at the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association
Why this matters:
For advocates, the pipeline represents a crucial step in reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change. By capturing and storing CO2, the project could help lower the carbon footprint of biofuel production, making it a more sustainable option. Farmers and landowners have voiced strong opposition, fearing the pipeline could disrupt agriculture and threaten water supplies. Environmentalists are divided, with some supporting carbon capture as a necessary tool in the fight against global warming, while others argue it distracts from investing in renewable energy sources like wind and solar power.
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit: tuproyecto/Pixabay
Governor Burgum backs controversial carbon pipeline in North Dakota
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, a potential Trump running mate, supports a $5.5 billion CO2 pipeline project, highlighting political and environmental tensions.
Richard Lardner and Jack Dura report for The Associated Press.
In short:
- Burgum, aiming to be Trump’s VP, supports the Midwest Carbon Express, a $5.5 billion CO2 pipeline aligned with Biden’s climate goals.
- The pipeline, collecting CO2 from Midwest ethanol plants, faces strong local opposition due to safety and land value concerns.
- Summit Carbon Solutions claims the pipeline will aid the fossil fuel industry and ensure CO2 storage, though critics argue it extends fossil fuel use.
Key quote:
“This has nothing to do with climate change. This has to do with markets.”
— Doug Burgum, Governor of North Dakota
Why this matters:
While the project promises significant environmental benefits by potentially cutting down on CO2 released into the atmosphere, it also faces considerable opposition. Critics argue that the focus should be on reducing emissions at the source rather than relying on carbon capture technology, which they see as a temporary fix rather than a sustainable solution.
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit: the blowup/Unsplash
County officials contest federal ruling on pipeline route restrictions
A federal judge’s decision to limit local and state authority over carbon dioxide pipeline routes faces challenges from multiple groups concerned about public safety.
In short:
- Chief Judge Stephanie Rose ruled that only federal regulators can enforce safety standards for CO2 pipelines, blocking Iowa counties from setting minimum separation distances.
- The ruling is being contested by organizations like the Iowa Farm Bureau and the Pipeline Safety Trust, which argue for the importance of local regulations to prevent potential hazards from pipeline ruptures.
- Appeals are ongoing, with arguments focusing on the balance of regulatory power between local, state, and federal authorities.
Key quote:
“Local governments have traditionally exercised broad powers to regulate land use, including setback distances and property development that includes development in the vicinity of pipelines.”
— Alan Mayberry, pipeline safety administrator for PHMSA
Why this matters:
Carbon dioxide pipelines, designed to transport CO2 for purposes like enhanced oil recovery and carbon capture and storage, have been touted as essential tools in the fight against climate change. However, their routes often cut through populated areas, raising alarms about the potential for accidents and leaks that could pose serious risks to human health and the environment.
Keep reading...Show less
Top Story
Credit: YODA Adaman/Unsplash
If global warming exceeds critical thresholds, what will the planet look like?
A recent Guardian survey of climate experts indicates that global warming is set to surpass the 1.5C goal, escalating risks of severe natural disasters.
In short:
- Climate scientists warn of intensifying heatwaves, floods, and storms as temperatures climb.
- Despite low confidence in achieving the 1.5C target, experts emphasize the importance of continued efforts to mitigate climate impacts.
- Each incremental reduction in CO2 emissions is vital in lessening human suffering.
Key quote:
"Climate change will not suddenly become dangerous at 1.5C – it already is – and it will not be ‘game over’ if we pass 2C, which we might well do."
— Peter Cox, professor at the University of Exeter
Why this matters:
The environmental repercussions of these increasingly severe weather patterns are profound. For example, heatwaves can lead to droughts that devastate crops, disrupt food supplies, and trigger wildfires. Intense storms and floods can cause catastrophic damage to infrastructure, displace communities, and contaminate freshwater supplies. These changes reshape our natural landscapes and threaten biodiversity as species struggle to adapt to rapidly changing conditions.
Extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts, and floods have already shown their devastating effects on communities worldwide.
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit: PILart/Big Stock Photo
Concerns grow over CO2 pipeline safety after recent leak in Louisiana
Recent carbon dioxide leak in Louisiana exposes gaps in emergency alert systems, warns of potential dangers.
In short:
- A CO2 pipeline near Sulphur, Louisiana, ruptured, releasing significant quantities of carbon dioxide, leading to a local shelter-in-place advisory.
- The emergency response relied on social media for public communication, highlighting the absence of an adequate alert system in the area.
- The growing network of CO2 pipelines, spurred by carbon capture initiatives, raises concerns about the adequacy of current safety regulations.
Key quote:
"There should have been alarms, and the whole community should have been notified. I don’t trust the system we have at all."
— Roishetta Ozane, community organizer
Why this matters:
Carbon dioxide pipelines are crucial components of the burgeoning carbon capture and storage technologies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, incidents like this highlight the potential risks and complexities involved in handling and transporting CO2.
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit: Máté Homolya/Unsplash
New methods aim to enhance the ocean's ability to capture carbon dioxide
Researchers and startups are developing innovative marine carbon dioxide removal techniques to increase the ocean's carbon absorption capabilities. However, doubts about its potential impacts remain.
In short:
- The ocean absorbs 30% of global CO2 emissions. Private companies, venture capitalists and governments are developing new methods to "enhance" this capacity.
- Startups like Running Tide are experimenting with sinking biomass into the ocean to store carbon, leveraging the ocean's natural capacity to do so. Others are experimenting with algae and kelp or pumping seawater through electrodialysis filtering systems.
- Scientists express concerns about the unknown effects and efficacy of marine carbon dioxide removal methods on global warming and marine ecosystems.
Key quote:
“We’re intervening in the natural world, which means we need to be very careful about what we do.”
— Kristinn Hróbjartsson, general manager of Running Tide in Iceland.
Why this matters:
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has made it clear that carbon sequestration needs to be part of the strategies to limit global warming to between 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius. Enhanced marine carbon sequestration could play a role in meeting the threshold.
John Harte, a senior researcher at UC Berkeley's famed Energy and Resources Group, has spent a lifetime looking at the "smoke and mirrors" behind geo-engineering and carbon sequestration.
Keep reading...Show less
Credit: Dzmitry Dzemidovich/Big Stock Photo
New carbon capture project aims to reduce emissions from Welsh power station
An initiative in Wales plans to capture carbon emissions from a major gas power station and bury them at sea.
In short:
- The project involves laying undersea pipes to transport CO2 from Pembroke power station to a liquified natural gas terminal.
- Environmentalists express concerns, advocating for renewable energy investments over extending the life of gas plants.
- The scheme promises job security and the development of a new industry focused on CO2 shipping and storage.
Key quote:
"We need to build something that allows it to still operate at times when it's needed without impacting the climate."
— Richard Little, director of the Pembroke Net Zero Centre
Why this matters:
This project represents a balance between maintaining energy supply and reducing carbon footprint. It's emblematic of the larger national effort to tackle climate change and transition to greener energy sources.
Keep reading...Show less
ORIGINAL REPORTING
MOST POPULAR
CLIMATE
