EPA gives West Virginia authority to approve carbon underground storage

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is giving the state of West Virginia the authority to approve projects that will store captured carbon dioxide deep underground.

Coal and gas-fired power plants and other industrial polluters can capture their emissions of the planet-warming gas rather than release them into the atmosphere. 

But the captured carbon dioxide then needs somewhere to go — and is sometimes stored underground. 

The EPA on Tuesday made West Virginia the fourth state with the authority to approve such carbon storage wells for themselves rather than through federal approval.

“We here at EPA, respect the talent that’s out there at the states, the understanding of how to do it better and faster, and we want to partner with states all across the entire country,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said during a press conference. 

The politics surrounding carbon capture and sequestration are a bit complicated. 

Tax credits for carbon capture have some bipartisan support, as Republican supporters argue it will be good for the fossil fuel industry and Democratic supporters say it will help fight climate change by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. But Democratic opponents see such credits as bonuses for the fossil fuel industry, and some Republicans oppose tax credits for any climate-friendly tech.

At the same time, the Biden administration put forward regulations for coal and some gas power plants requiring that they install carbon-capture capabilities — or achieve equivalent emissions reductions. These regulations are fiercely opposed by Republicans, who say they will force power plants to retire. 

Meanwhile, environmentalists and others have also raised questions about the safety of carbon pipeline infrastructure as some leaks have occurred.

Prior to West Virginia, the Trump administration gave North Dakota and Wyoming the authority to approve these projects, while the Biden administration gave the same authority to Louisiana. 

Zack Budryk contributed.