By Hannah Grover
As New Mexico works to reach its emission reduction goals in an attempt to address climate change, carbon capture proponents say it is important for the state to have the authority to permit wells intended for the underground sequestration of carbon dioxide, also known as Class VI injection wells.
The state House of Representatives on Tuesday approved House Bill 457 on a 48-15 vote. This legislation, if it becomes law, would pave the way for New Mexico to gain the authority to permit Class VI wells. HB 457 now heads to the Senate.
These types of wells are currently permitted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Bill sponsor Rep. Meredith Dixon, D-Albuquerque, said four states have primacy — the ability to permit Class VI wells — and nine have submitted applications to get the ability to permit those wells. She said 23 states, as well as the Navajo Nation, have stated their intent to pursue primacy.
“Primacy allows us — the Legislature — to put in place stricter, state-led guidelines,” she said.
She said primacy would also allow the state Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department to administer, monitor and regulate the process.
Carbon capture discussions ignited in New Mexico in 2019 when the City of Farmington announced a partnership with Enchant Energy to retrofit the San Juan Generating Station and keep it operating. That proposal ultimately failed, but the discussions about carbon capture — both direct air capture and from smoke stacks — have continued.
“The question is not whether we’re going to have carbon capture, but who is going to control it,” Rep. Jimmy Mason, R-Artesia, said.
Rep. Mark Murphy, R-Roswell, was optimistic about how carbon sequestration could help New Mexico.
“It is always better to have local control,” he said.
Dixon agreed with Murphy.
“New Mexico is a very different state than, let’s say, Texas or Washington D.C.,” she said.
However, some lawmakers, including Rep. Miguel Garcia, D-Albuquerque, expressed concerns that carbon capture and sequestration is a false solution in the effort to address climate change and may actually lead to more emissions.
Garcia said he is concerned about HB 457 and alleged several projects in the United States have proven that carbon capture is not a viable solution for dealing with climate change.
He said he started researching carbon capture a few years ago following discussions about hydrogen energy. Some forms of hydrogen energy — particularly those that split hydrogen off from methane molecules — rely upon carbon capture and sequestration.
Garcia provided several examples of carbon capture projects that received federal funding and were ultimately unsuccessful.
“What do these case studies tell us? They tell us that carbon capture cannot be the centerpiece of any serious climate plan,” he said. “And how carbon capture handouts do nothing to quell greenhouse gases, but actually enhance their extraction.”
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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
