The NYT is reporting that some policymakers are looking at oil refineries, natural gas processing plants, chemical plants, cement factories and ethanol plants as a new and different target for carbon sequestration. The reason - It would be simpler and cheaper.
The Canadian and Alberta governments have stated that they would contribute approximately $822 million to help fund a commercial-scale carbon capture and storage project by Royal Dutch Shell PLC, according to this article in the NYT. The project itself is designed to capture and store 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from the Athabasca Oil Sands. Very interesting.
American Electric Power (AEP) is poised to begin a carbon capture and storage project at its West Virginia Mountaineer Power Plant to test the viability of the technology, according to this article in the NYT. Its plan - to inject about 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide, converted to a fluid, annually for two to five years, or roughly 1.5% of Mountaineer’s yearly CO2 emissions. Very interesting.
U.S. EPA is seeking comment on new data related to its July 25, 2008, proposed rule, Federal Requirements Under the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program for Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Geologic Sequestration (GS) Wells (73 FR 43492). In particular, it seeks comment on "a waiver process to allow GS injection above and between USDWs [Underground Sources of Drinking Water] under specific conditions in lieu of a blanket prohibition on injection above and between USDWs."
Comments are due October 15, 2009.
Local opposition has put a stop to a carbon capture and storage demonstration project in Germany, according to this article in the Guardian. It's good to know that 'numbyism' - i.e., 'Not under my back yard' - isn't just a U.S. phenomenon.
Senators Casey (D-PA) and Enzi (R-WY) have introduced legislation to address long-term liability issues presented by carbon capture and storage projects according to this press release from Senator Casey's office. Among other things, the "Carbon Storage Stewardship Trust Fund Act of 2009" would require private insurance for construction, transportation, injection and monitoring activities, and establish a federal trust fund from fees paid by facility operators to address claims for damages after a facility is transferred to the federal government.
This is interesting. The Australian Federal Police Association is concerned that federal agents are going to be required to prosecute a new range of climate crimes - at the expense of protecting against traditional crimes - under the Australian Government's plan to combat rising greenhouse gas emissions, according to this article in the Herald Sun. Possible crimes - the underreporting of carbon emissions and false carbon offset schemes.
The article goes on to note that Interpol believes that criminal gangs will find the new carbon market "irresistible."
The Department of Interior has forwarded to Congress a report containing recommendations on a national program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through a carbon capture and storage program on public lands. More information, including a copy of the report, can be found here.
This article in the NYT reports on how cap-and-trade became the mechanism of choice in Congress for addressing greenhouse gas emissions. Clinton-era politics played a significant role.
The Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu, has announced an additional $2.4 billion in federal funding for the expansion of commercial deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. This is part of the Administration's ongoing efforts to develop technologies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. More information can be found here.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) - which manages 85% of the state's electric load - has released a report on the near-term impacts of proposed federal climate change legislation. Among other things, the report finds that if natural gas prices are $7 per MMBtu, the carbon allowance costs must be between $40 and $60 per ton to reduce carbon emissions in ERCOT generation to 2005 levels, resulting in an annual increase in wholesale power costs of approximately $10 billion.
A copy of the report can be found here, posted by the Texas Public Utility Commission.
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has released a report discussing the viability of using the state's subsurface geologic formations for development of a carbon sequestration network. For more information, see here.
U.S. EPA has submitted a proposed finding to OMB that greenhouse gas emissions are pollutants that endanger the public's health and welfare, according to this report from the Washington Post. If finalized, it could lead to the regulation of carbon dioxide under the Clean Air Act.
[Update: EPA issued the proposed finding today, providing for a 60-day public comment period following publication in the Federal Register. A pre-publication copy can be found here. (Moved up).]
[Update: The proposed finding has now been published in the Federal Register here (as well as supporting documents). Comments are due on or before June 23, 2009, Docket No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0171. (Moved up).]
At a meeting between President Obama and Prime Minister Harper of Canada, cooperation on research and development of carbon capture and storage technology was discussed as a means of addressing, in part, greenhouse gas problems long-associated with Canada's oil sands industry according to this NYT report.
This article from the NYT reports that international oil executives are eager to work with the new Administration to fashion policies to address global warming.
Per a recent article in the WSJ, many American natural-gas producers have drilled themselves into a financial hole. Production increases have left the market oversupplied by four or five billion cubic feet per day. This has led to declining prices at the same time that many producers have stretched their credit limits to fund new drilling projects.
The potential white knight (according to the article) - new environmental legislation designed to curb carbon dioxide emissions. (Subscription required.)
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