Giving more power to states is good for the environment.
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Thisweek,EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)AdministratorLeeZeldinapprovedWestVirginia’sbidtoregulateClassVIcarbondioxide(CO2)storagewellsinthestate.TheUnitedStatesisagloballeaderinenergyproductionandemissionsreduction.Thisannouncementwillallowittocontinueitsleadershipinboth.
ClassVIinjectionwellswereestablishedin2010bytheEPAtostorecarbondioxideindeeprockformationsmorethanamileundergroundandwellbelowthewatertable.Theagencyalsoregulatesfiveotherclassesofundergroundinjectionwellsthatarenotasdeep(butstilldeepenoughtoprotectpublichealth)includingthosethatstoreindustrialwaste,fluidsfromminingoperations,andradioactivewaste.
TheemissionsreductionpotentialfromClassVIstorageispotentiallyenormous;theDepartmentofEnergyestimatesthecountry’sgeologicalstoragecapacityrangesfrom2.2trillionmetrictonsofCO2to21.2trillionmetrictonsofCO2.Forcontext,theU.S.emittedalittlemorethan4.8billionmetrictonsofCO2in2023.Commercial-scalegeologicalstor
