Power Plants Going Green With Carbon Capture and Sequestration
Last week, on July 15, 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency embarked on laying the groundwork for regulations to govern the emerging practice of storing carbon dioxide emissions underground.
Proponents of the new method of dealing with CO2, referred to as Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS), say that it will be an effective way of dealing with the emissions to stave off changes in the worlds climate. In short, emissions produced from power plants and manufacturers which use fossil fuels will be collected before they are allowed to enter into the air. The harmful carbon will then be injected deep within the earth.
The EPA will be developing standards and regulations designed to protect the water supply. Officials say that these regulations will be necessary so that the injection wells will be properly located, built, and properly tested and monitored. Once a well has been filled it must also be closed and contained in a safe manner.
Stephen L. Johnson, an Administrator for the EPA said these regulations will be essential to protect the public health while also helping to lower changes in the climate.
Analysts have estimated that there is sufficient space in the United States to safely store over 3,000 gigatons of carbon dioxide. This would equate to the emissions output of around 1,000 coal fired powered plants over a period of 1,000 years.
The European Union, Canada, Australia, Japan and the UK are also testing Carbon Capture and Sequestration.