Plug Begins Construction at Peachtree Green Hydrogen Plant

American CCUS Forum Recap, Part 4

This last take-away is important to everyone in the carbon value chain. From source to sink, the industry must engage communities and individuals more.

Read the take-aways from the event:

• Funding opportunities with DOE & creative investors
• Regulatory primacy & permitting process
• Supply chain bottlenecks
• Staffing challenges
• Public perception

🎙 Public Perception & Community Engagement

Public perception for carbon capture and storage varies widely across geographies and demographics. Land owners who own surface and sub-surface rights are very engaged in the carbon storage discussion. Communities where CO2 pipelines are proposed are learning about the risks and benefits to their cities and towns. Local and state governments are evaluating environmental justice programs and creating clean energy development programs.

Using a combination of community engagement approaches will help to engage communities:

• Local in-person dialogues to address land owner and community needs
• Public meetings through city and county organizations
• Online groups and forums to ask and answer questions or concerns
• Online resources and services that are not viewed as marketing
• Small group meetings to share project details and plans

Over the last year, CO2 transportation companies in the midwest faced public scrutiny and challenges getting regulatory approval.

Regulators and government agencies are expecting an organized and thoughtful approach to community engagement. The EPA (and likely state regulatory bodies) doesn't just require a public notice, a community engagement plan must be in place in order to approve the carbon storage site. If your organization applies for a grant or loan through the Department of Energy (DOE), the DOE requires an extensive study on environmental justice to be compliant with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) as well.

It's Time to Do More

Although there was not a panel on public perception, the topic of CCUS in the public's eye was a common discussion among conference attendees. Talking to industry insiders, it is clear that more communication and public engagement is required. Industry challenges have been well publicized in all forms of media. To move forward, we need more community engagement.

We can do more. More engagement to educate stakeholders on risks and how project teams mitigate those risks. Do more to understand the public perspective and listen to concerns they have about their community. More public meetings to answer questions in a public forum. More online engagement to share the benefits of CCS to the community.

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Inside this Issue

🛣 New Harvard Business Review research with Schneider Electric captures best practices for local officials planning low-carbon transportation infrastructure
🚧 S&B Begins Construction of Plug’s Hydrogen Plant
🤖 Kelvin Maps Proactively Helps Industrial Organizations Meet Emission Targets for 2030 and Beyond
🏦 #DeployDeployDeploy: 3. The Carbon Dioxide Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation (CIFIA) Program