Lawmakers in Pennsylvania approved a bill on Thursday night that allows the state to set its own regulations for the underground storage of carbon dioxide.
This move aims to make the state, a leading natural gas producer, more attractive for carbon capture projects and hydrogen production facilities funded by the federal government. However, some critics argue that the technology is not yet reliable and expensive.
The bill, written by Republicans, grants the Department of Environmental Protection the authority to develop rules for overseeing these underground storage sites for captured carbon dioxide.
This gas is a major contributor to climate change, and capturing it is seen by some as a way to slow down global warming.
The bill passed both chambers of the legislature and now awaits the signature of Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro.
Opponents of the bill express concerns about the experimental nature and high cost of carbon capture compared to other methods for tackling climate change, such as promoting energy efficiency and renewable sources.
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They also argue that carbon capture is being overhyped as a solution and will only lead to building more pipelines and extending the life of the fossil fuel industry.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is typically responsible for permitting these carbon storage wells, with only three exceptions nationwide. Proponents of state-level permitting believe it will streamline approvals for new projects seen as crucial for lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
Supporters of the bill view attracting carbon capture projects as essential for developing two hydrogen hubs recently awarded to Pennsylvania by the Biden administration.
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These hydrogen hubs are part of a $7 billion federal program designed to jumpstart the development and production of hydrogen fuel.
This fuel is a key element of President Biden’s plan to combat climate change by replacing fossil fuels with a cleaner alternative.
While the Biden administration has offered tax breaks and significant grants to carbon capture project developers, resulting in a surge of permit applications to the EPA, only a few such projects are currently operational, and well approvals remain low.
