Coalition promotes Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) to meet California’s greenhouse gas reduction goals

California’s goal to dramatically reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions will require concerted action on virtually every aspect of energy production and use. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) will be a key to meeting the goal.

The California CSS Coalition was formed to promote Carbon Capture & Storage as a vital part of a comprehensive strategy to meet the state’s greenhouse gas reduction goals. 

Video on Carbon Capture & Storage

Environmental experts discuss the role that CCS can play in dramatically reducing carbon dioxide emissions

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is the most promising technology being examined for dramatically reducing greenhouse gases at one of their primary sources: power plants.  With CCS incorporated into new fossil fueled electric generating stations, only 10% of the carbon dioxide produced will be emitted into the atmosphere.  The vast majority of it — 90% –can be captured.  Then that CO2 can either be injected deep underground or used to create byproducts.

“Decarbonizing” the production of electricity — a major source of CO2 emissions –is essential to meet the state’s goal of an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions.  While much of the focus is on developing renewable energy and nuclear power, virtually all energy experts believe we will have to rely on fossil fuel power plants long into the future.  That means learning how to use those fuels without producing massive amounts of CO2.  See E-3 Study Results  LINK

CCS, which is a key strategy for low-carbon electricity generation, holds an added benefit.  When used in conjunction with enhanced oil recovery (EOR), the CO2 captured in the power production process can be injected underground to re-pressurize oil and gas reservoirs.  This will boost domestic oil production, reduce oil  imports, and extend the useful life of producing fields.  See ARI Study Results  LINK

In the Spring of 2010, President Barack Obama announced the creation of a CCS Interagency Taskforce to address the challenges of CCS deployment. Federal agencies are focused on the goal of seeing between five and 10 CCS projects up and running over the next several years, and the need for economic incentives to support project financing.

In California, a state-level task force identified hurdles preventing the rapid deployment of CCS technology.  In January, 2011, the panel issued a report that laid out the legal, regulatory and financial issues that need to be resolved to create a standard way of reviewing, permitting and maintaining CCS facilities in the state.  See Panel Recommendations  LINK

The California CCS Coalition was created to encourage and promote those efforts, with the goal of helping to make California a world leader in CCS and low-carbon power production.