EPA must move faster on carbon to protect jobs and the environment

About the writer

Jeremy Garza represents the Second Ward on the Lansing City Council and is a plumber and the state political lead for the Michigan Pipes Trades Association.

Climate change is a serious threat here in Mid-Michigan. We’ve seen the consequences of this phenomenon firsthand and are eager to find equitable solutions for everyone.

 As a Lansing City Council member, I am deeply committed to addressing the issue of climate change and finding sustainable solutions that will benefit both our environment and our economy. We are faced with a global crisis that requires bold action, and we cannot afford to wait any longer to take decisive steps toward reducing our carbon emissions. I applaud the Biden administration for their efforts in pushing toward a carbon-neutral future with a plethora of renewable energy solutions to keep our planet safe and healthy.

 However, we must also recognize that many key industries in our state rely on the use of fossil fuels, such as the automobile industry. This means that, unfortunately, transitioning to a carbon-neutral or carbon-free future cannot happen overnight. That is why I am proud to support carbon capture and storage initiatives as a crucial step toward achieving our climate goals.

 Carbon capture and storage technology allows us to capture carbon dioxide emissions before they are released into the atmosphere and store them in a safe and secure manner, usually in underground geological formations or in underground minerals minerals such as magnesium oxide or calcium oxide. This technology has already had success in states like Illinois, where the Illinois Basin-Decatur Project and the Illinois Carbon Capture and Storage Project successfully captured and stored more than 3.5 million tons of carbon dioxide from a local ethanol production plant.

 Beyond the environmental benefits, carbon capture initiatives also have the potential to preserve good, high-paying union jobs that will keep up economic progress in regions that rely on these industries. By easing these industries into carbon-neutral solutions, we can ensure that the transition to a carbon-free future is as smooth and equitable as possible.

 Of course, carbon capture is not a silver bullet solution to climate change, but it is a critical piece of the puzzle. We need to use every available solution to combat climate change, and that includes carbon capture and storage. This means supporting both capture and storage technology to make sure we keep the carbon byproduct out of the atmosphere. Additionally, with the labor protections that organizations like mine have secured, we know that the workers on these jobs will receive fair wages and fair benefits.

 Recently, President Biden showed his commitment to carbon capture and storage with an impressive $2.5 billion commitment for two different programs. I commend him for this investment, but we cannot reap the full benefit of the programs unless the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency speeds up the regulatory system of approving carbon capture projects for federal permits. After waiting years, only two states have received primacy to oversee their own projects, and four other states are in limbo waiting for approval. Nearly 30 storage wells across the country are waiting on permit approval. I urge the EPA to accelerate their primacy and permit approval processes so we can start taking advantage of this exciting energy innovation.

 The Biden Administration has invested in many crucial tools to fight climate change, like renewable energy sources, electric vehicles, energy efficiency, and carbon capture and storage. They have made it clear that carbon capture and storage must be part of our climate change solution.  The EPA must allow us to build on this momentum and accelerate permit and primacy approval.