Co-Sponsorship Memo Details

In the near future, I will introduce legislation creating the Pennsylvania Geologic Storage of Carbon Dioxide Act, which will establish the legal and regulatory framework for potential carbon dioxide capture and sequestration (CCS) projects in the state.
 
Carbon capture, utilization and storage, also referred to as carbon capture, utilization and sequestration, is a process that captures carbon dioxide emissions from sources like coal-fired power plants and either reuses or stores it so it will not enter the atmosphere.
 
At present, regulatory authority of carbon capture and sequestration projects is held at the federal level with the Environmental Protection Agency.  Establishing a Pennsylvania-specific statute is the first step to facilitate further studies of CCS feasibility in Pennsylvania. The proposed legislation would:

• Establish legislative intent to facilitate carbon capture in Pennsylvania;
• Designate property rights around storage sites in deep geologic formations;
• Assign state regulatory authority of CCS facilities in Pennsylvania;
• Specify the regulatory and permitting process within the existing federal structure; and
• Create a cash fund sustaining regulatory operations, minimizing impact to taxpayers.

I hope you will join me in co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation.