The Midland Basin hub could start injecting carbon dioxide underground in oil and gas country as early as 2025.
Carlos Anchondo
Sept 29, 2023
ENERGYWIRE | An energy waste storage company has unveiled plans to develop a carbon sequestration hub in West Texas, positioning the project as a “low-cost” option to reduce emissions in a region known for oil and gas.
A representative of Commission Shift, a nonprofit group created to reform the state’s energy regulation, called for a pause on new CO2 injection facilities in Texas.
“Class II injection wells are causing earthquakes, sinkholes, well blowouts, and contaminating groundwater all across Texas,” said Paige Powell, policy manager with Commission Shift, in an email Thursday.
“Until these systemic issues are addressed by the Railroad Commission, the state of Texas should not permit any new CO2 injection facilities,” Powell said.
Powell also said EPA should reject the agency’s application to obtain primary enforcement authority, or “primacy,” over Class VI wells “based on concerns around Class II program mismanagement and ethics violations.”
