The University of North Dakota’s Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) has been awarded $5 million by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to support carbon capture initiatives in the Williston Basin.
The EERC and its partners will contribute an additional $1.25 million to this effort.
Announced on August 8 by the DOE, the funding is part of a $44.5 million initiative to advance commercial-scale carbon capture, transport, and storage across the United States.
The EERC project is one of nine selected by the DOE to reduce the costs and risks associated with carbon transport and storage, enhance community engagement, and improve monitoring.
Sen. Kevin Cramer and Sen. John Hoeve, both R-North Dakota, issued separate statements to highlight the newly received funding and North Dakota’s role in advancing carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies.
Sen. Cramer said the DOE grant will enable the EERC to apply its experience from past and ongoing projects to establish a Williston Basin partnership, offering technical support to project developers, regulators, and community stakeholders.
In turn, Sen. Hoeve highlighted North Dakota’s leadership in CCUS, emphasizing that the funding will bolster ongoing partnerships and help leverage the unique geological and regulatory advantages of the Bakken region.
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Carbon capture has seen significant growth in the Williston Basin, covering western North Dakota and parts of Montana, South Dakota, and Manitoba.
The region has witnessed multiple commercial carbon capture projects, including large-scale carbon dioxide (CO2) storage facilities and regional carbon management hubs.
These hubs integrate various carbon sources, storage reservoirs, and transportation systems, such as pipelines.
The new partnership led by the EERC aims to address the increasing need for technical assistance, focusing on potential storage resources and the impacts on local communities.
The EERC has been involved in CO2 storage since 2003, progressing from initial research to commercial deployment.
The recent $5 million award builds on previous funding, including $5 million received in 2021 for the EERC-led Plains CO2 Reduction Partnership, further solidifying its role in advancing CCUS technologies in the region.
Read more: EERC Secures $12.5 Million Grant For Direct Air Capture Hub
