California Resources Corporation (CRC) has broken ground on the state’s first carbon capture and storage (CCS) project, marking a milestone for both the company and California’s broader decarbonization strategy.
The Carbon TerraVault site, located in Kern County’s Elk Hills Field, will use depleted oil reservoirs to store up to 30 million tons of CO2, leveraging the region’s well-mapped geology and existing energy infrastructure.
The project is also the first in California to receive Class VI well permits from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), setting the stage for commercial-scale injection by early 2026.
At a groundbreaking ceremony attended by local and state officials, leaders framed the project as a turning point for the region’s energy identity. “Don’t be afraid to be first,” said Taft Mayor Dave Noerr. “So we embrace opportunity, and that includes the integration of emerging technologies and opportunities. We don’t run from it.”
State Senator Melissa Hurtado, who has followed the project since its early planning stages, called the launch “a testament to persistence and collaboration” and praised Kern County’s evolving role in California’s energy transition.
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CRC President and CEO Francisco Leon described Carbon TerraVault as central to the company’s strategy of pairing carbon storage with responsible hydrocarbon production.
The unique geology and the opportunity to permanently store CO2 positions Kern County as a leader in this critical technology, Leon said.
The project underscores how California’s oil-producing regions are adapting to climate policy and market shifts, with CCS increasingly seen as a bridge technology for industrial decarbonization.
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