The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed allowing Texas to manage its own permitting process for carbon dioxide injection wells — an approach aimed at accelerating carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in the state.
The move has been a long-standing request from Texas regulators and oil and gas companies.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said Texas is well-positioned to both protect groundwater and support the growth of CCS, which involves injecting CO2 deep underground to permanently store emissions from power plants and industrial sites.
“EPA is taking a key step to support cooperative federalism by proposing to approve Texas to permit Class VI [CO2 injection] wells in the state,” Zeldin stated.
The proposal has raised concerns among environmental groups and landowners who worry about groundwater contamination, increased seismic activity, and risks from old oil wells — issues that have already challenged the state’s oversight of wastewater disposal.
Federal tax incentives for CCS, expanded under the Inflation Reduction Act, remain largely intact despite broader political efforts to scale back clean energy subsidies. Support for CCS spans political lines, with both the Trump and Biden administrations backing the technology, and companies like Occidental seeing it as a way to expand operations while cutting emissions.
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In a statement, Scott Castleman of the Houston CCS Alliance urged Texans to actively support the EPA’s proposal during the open comment period.
“The EPA’s proposed approval of Texas’ application for Class VI well primacy is an important step forward for our state’s economic competitiveness and global leadership in carbon capture and storage. The EPA’s announcement reflects years of hard work and collaboration by our elected leaders, industry, and community stakeholders who have expressed their clear support for Texas leading in this safe and proven technology.
“Granting our state Class VI well primacy will accelerate investment, create high-paying jobs, and strengthen energy security, while ensuring strong environmental protections through local oversight. The Texas Railroad Commission has the resources and expertise to safely and effectively administer our state’s carbon management program in accordance with federal regulations,” Castleman said.
For industries with emission-reduction goals, CCS offers a practical tool to lower their carbon footprint while continuing production.
資料來源：https://carbonherald.com/epa-proposes-granting-texas-control-over-carbon-storage-permits/
