This week, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) announced it was awarded $1 million to fund carbon storage and management hubs.
The funding comes from the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) and is specifically aimed at providing assistance and stronger stakeholder engagement around carbon management technologies.
DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn described the funding as ‘critical’ in propelling carbon capture and management efforts in the state, as well as in the Appalachian region at large.
“DCNR is proud to have one of the 16 projects selected to help advance work in the carbon capture space. Work to reduce the effects of climate change is key in preserving our natural resources for future generations,” Dunn said.
Governor Josh Shapiro and his Administration are strong advocates for carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies and see them as a means of mitigating the climate crisis, while sustaining economic growth.
Relevant: Pennsylvania Senator Reintroduces Law To Promote CO2 Capture
The project that was awarded the $1 million funding is a joint initiative between DCNR, the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey (WVGES) and Battelle Memorial Institute, which will aim to study the geology of the Central Appalachian basin and provide a geologic model to help future carbon capture and storage efforts.
The joint effort will essentially strive to make it easier to enter carbon storage projects, thus aiding the deployment of carbon management in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
DCNR has been studying CCUS for the past 20 years, and the agency recently announced it is looking to raise another $6 million to collect subsurface core samples and drill cuttings to further the understanding of how local geology can support carbon capture efforts.
Read more: DOE Is Funding CarbonSAFE Initiative Projects All Over The US
