Rule drafted for carbon trapping

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Environmental Protection Agency announced a first draft of a rule that will govern injecting carbon dioxide into underground storage.

Development of such a rule is essential before companies can build power plants that will capture and store their carbon dioxide to limit the buildup of global warming gases.

The agency acted under the Clean Water Act because injecting carbon dioxide might push pollutants into underground drinking water supplies, according to Benjamin H. Grumbles, assistant administrator for water.

“This rule paves the way for technologies that would protect public health and help reduce the effects of climate change,” he said.

But before companies begin such operations on a wide scale, Congress will have to work out the liability issues and establish a price or other limits on carbon emissions, he said. Experts say that more work is also needed to cut the cost of capturing carbon dioxide from smokestacks.

The rule, which would apply to well owners and operators, would require monitoring to trace the chemical, squeezed down into liquid form. “A cornerstone of this rule is that the carbon dioxide stays where it is put, and not leak or be released to the surface,” Mr. Grumbles said.

If the carbon dioxide did not behave as predicted, he said, injection would be promptly stopped.

Kurt Waltzer, an expert on sequestration of carbon at the Clean Air Task Force, a nonprofit group, said the proposal was “an important step but we’re going to need much more to move carbon capture and storage forward.”

Among other steps needed, he said, was a national climate policy.

Related News

hydro power dam

Invest in Hydropower to Tackle Coronavirus and Climate Crisis Impacts

LONDON - The Covid-19 pandemic has underlined hydropower's resilience and critical role in delivering clean, reliable and affordable energy, especially in times of crisis. This is the conclusion of two new reports published by the International Hydropower Association (IHA).

The 2020 Hydropower Status Report presents latest worldwide installed capacity and generation data, showcasing the sector's contribution to global carbon reduction efforts. It is published alongside a Covid-19 policy paper featuring recommendations for governments, financial institutions and industry to respond to the current health and economic crisis.

"Preventing an emergency is far better than responding to one," says Roger Gill, President of IHA,…

READ MORE

U.S. power companies face supply-chain crisis this summer

READ MORE

Updated Germany hydrogen strategy sees heavy reliance on imported fuel

READ MORE

advanced nuclear reactor

Advanced Reactors Will Stand On The Shoulders Of Giants

READ MORE

freezing-rain-causes-widespread-power-outages-in-quebec

Freezing Rain Causes Widespread Power Outages in Quebec

READ MORE