The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) reaffirmed their support for deployment of carbon capture technologies during their annual meeting this week. NARUC also recently collaborated with the Western Interstate Energy Board to host a six-part webinar series on carbon capture, utilization, and storage.
NARUC resolution on carbon capture, utilization, and storage
The NARUC Board of Directors approved a resolution that calls on Congress and the administration to work with states to “help develop regional carbon hubs, to capture larger amounts of CO2, and to transport that CO2 for safe and permanent geologic storage or beneficial utilization that reduces emissions” and to “support legislation, budget measures, and regulations that provide assistance to the development and deployment of cost-effective carbon capture and direct air capture technology, CO2 transport infrastructure, and geologic storage sites.”
The resolution also calls on Congress and the Administration to “robustly and rapidly act on this resolution to support domestic energy production, industry, and manufacturing; and create economic and job opportunities at this time of great national need.”
NARUC previously adopted a resolution in 2016 urging support for legislation and budget measures aimed at supporting the development and deployment of cost-effective carbon capture technologies.
Western States Energy Board & NARUC: Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage Workshop
The six-part webinar series featured experts and stakeholders from around the country and explored the current state of the industry, both in the US and abroad. The series also reviewed the financial picture for carbon capture and highlighted regulatory and policy considerations at the state and federal levels.
A summary of the webinar series and links to the webinar recordings can be found on the NARUC website.
Great Plains Institute vice presidents Brad Crabtree and Doug Scott presented during the webinar series. Crabtree provided an overview of US carbon capture industry in Webinar 1, highlighting GPI’s “all hands on deck” approach to carbon capture—working at the federal, regional, and state levels and across sectors. Crabtree noted that carbon capture is essential to meeting midcentury emissions reductions goals and to do so affordably.
Scott joined Wyoming Public Service Commission Chairman Kara Fornstrom in Webinar 6 to detail regulatory and policy considerations for state regulators and others. Scott showcased GPI’s regional and state level work, including detailed analysis released this summer on carbon capture that identifies potential capture facilities throughout the Western and Midwestern regions, as well as primary modeling scenarios and conclusions on regional CO2 capture, transport, and storage opportunities, along with data sources and the analytical methodology.
To learn more about carbon capture, visit http://carboncaptureready.org.
