Scuttled CO2 pipeline renews debate about state hurdles
The cancellation of a major carbon dioxide pipeline Friday rippled far beyond the Corn Belt, raising questions about the fate of similar projects and the viability of carbon capture technology at the scale envisioned by the Biden administration.
Opponents celebrated Navigator CO2 Ventures’ decision to scuttle the 1,300-mile Midwestern project weeks after a permit application was rejected by South Dakota regulators. Supporters lamented the company’s decision to cancel the Heartland Greenway pipeline — and at least one rival developer appears primed to pick up some of the pieces.
Related Knowledge Center: Pipelines
Advocates of rapid action to address climate change face worldwide plans for a significant increase in pipeline capacity, likely committing nations to expanded use of natural gas and oil.
Related Knowledge Center: Carbon capture
The federal government is investing heavily in the development of carbon capture and storage (or sequestration), which offers the enticing prospect of preventing carbon dioxide emissions produced during combustion from entering the atmosphere and contributing to climate change. But the technologies involved, while proven, remain expensive, an obstacle to widespread adoption.