There’s no silver bullet for reducing carbon emissions in California

OPINION – California is right to be proud of its decades of environmental leadership. The state’s commitment to carbon management is unequalled in the U.S. While addressing climate change requires unprecedented effort from societies all around the world, Californians are admirably committed to making sure our state is at the forefront of tackling this generational challenge.

And it’s clear that California is making progress: by reducing industrial and commercial carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, by incentivizing renewable energy development, and by increasing the number of electric vehicles on the roads. However, even all this is not enough.

The need for carbon capture and storage (CCS) in any climate change strategy is widely acknowledged, from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Lab. California’s Air Resources Board has also identified CCS as a critical greenhouse gas reduction measure, and Governor Gavin Newsom notes that CCS will be vital to bridge the gap to carbon neutrality, since there simply is no other way to eliminate all carbon emissions in a growing economy.

Here at California Resources Corporation, we are already leading our state’s efforts to capture CO2 and store it underground. In fact, we recently received the final Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permits that clear the way for us to start work on California’s first CCS project, located at CRC’s Elk Hills gas plant in Kern County. These permits are the result of over two years of hard work, numerous scientific studies, volumes of supporting documentation, and extensive input from members of the public and scientific community. Importantly, the permits represent EPA’s view that our CCS project is a safe and effective way to inject and store CO2 over the long term. This is also the first step to growing a dynamic CCS industry that will lead to new jobs in the San Joaquin Valley, a region where jobs are desperately needed.

Members of the community recognize our long legacy as a safe operator and strong partner to organized labor in our efforts to meet Californians’ energy needs. This is a role we proudly embrace as our state navigates energy transition. Our investment in carbon management technologies will continue that legacy and we expect this CCS project will be the first of many in the Central Valley. These former oil reservoirs are selected, tested, and permitted based on certain geology indicating they can permanently store CO2 at depths of about a mile. This permanent storage, based on well-established technology and geology, will be monitored with oversight by local, state, and federal regulatory agencies.

Partnership between the state and private sector will be vital to achieve our shared goals. Where state leaders in Sacramento can help us now is by: (1) aligning state-level regulations for CO2 pipelines with federal safety regulations, (2) including a CCS protocol in the state Cap-and-Trade Program and (3) streamlining California Environmental Quality Act procedures for carbon capture-related projects, similar to what has been done for other clean energy projects.

CRC prides itself on being a different kind of energy company. While some companies are giving up on California, we’re looking to partner with Governor Newsom and our home state to help it meet its ambitious climate goals. CCS represents an opportunity to marry the state’s ambitions with the capability of a private-sector partner who understands how to store carbon underground. We have the right partners, and the necessary expertise. Let’s get to work.

Francisco J. Leon is President and Chief Executive Officer of California Resources Corporation, an independent energy and carbon management company committed to energy transition.