Enviro Group: CO2 Capture Legislation Has Problems

A coalition of business, labor, academic experts, and some environmental groups is supporting new legislation that could enable the capture and underground storage of carbon dioxide emissions. This legislation aims to address Michigan's climate goals while fostering economic and technological advancements.

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The bills are sponsored by Democratic Senator Sean McCann (SB 1131), Republican Senator Joe Bellino (SB 1132), and Democratic Senator John Cherry (SB 1133).

More information about the legislation and carbon capture, utilization, and storage is available here.

The Michigan Environmental Council (MEC) has expressed concerns about the lack of precautions in the proposed legislation. They point to risks such as leaks from CO2 pipelines or underground storage, which could have significant environmental and public health impacts.

“That leaking can cause carbonic acid to form, which can then leach minerals and heavy metals from the ground, such as arsenic and uranium, and can have really big impacts potentially on groundwater and drinking water,” said Charlotte Jameson, Chief Policy Officer for MEC.

Jameson noted that the nation’s first commercial carbon dioxide capture project in Illinois experienced two leaks. She emphasized that the company involved did not notify authorities, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.

The MEC is advocating for additional measures in the legislation to mitigate risks. One of their suggestions is to allocate funding for training first responders who may need to address potential leaks.

Another concern is the potential for the state to bear liability for damages or injuries related to CO2 capture and storage projects. “How do we do it in a way that it’s got a lot of safeguards and protections built into place so that we can ensure that we’re not going to see water contamination or public health concerns going forward,” said Charlotte Jameson.

The MEC hopes lawmakers will delay passing the bills during the lame-duck session. They believe additional time is necessary to refine the legislation and incorporate stronger safeguards.

Further work on the legislation next year could address these concerns and create a more robust framework for carbon capture and storage in Michigan.