North American Carbon Capture & Storage Association

New Carbon Sequestration Atlas Reveals up to 5,700 Years of CO₂ Storage Potential in U.S., Parts of Canada

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 1, 2010) — New data reveals there could be as much as 5,700 years of carbon storage potential across the United States and parts of Canada. The findings have been published in the U.S. Department of Energy's Carbon Sequestration Atlas (Third Edition).

Estimates suggest there are between 1.8 trillion to 20 trillion metric tons of storage potential, including saline formations, oil and gas reservoirs, and unmineable coal seams. At current emission rates, that would be enough storage for 500-5,700 years.

Data from the Atlas was compiled by 400 organizations, and covers 43 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces.

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EPA finalizes rules regarding CO₂ injection

WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 11, 2010) – The Environmental Protection Agency announced the passage of two rules designed to “reduce barriers to widespread deployment” of carbon capture and storage technology, a key component in the reduction of CO₂ as a greenhouse gas.

The new rules will:

Protect drinking water by creating a new class of injection well (Class IV) specifically designed for the injection and storage of carbon dioxide. All Class IV wells will have to be appropriately sited, constructed, tested, monitored, and closed, based on EPA requirements.
Track the amount of CO₂ injected by facilities by requiring those facilities (i.e. coal plants) submit their data to a Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. This program was created in 2009 under the authority of the clean Air Act.

The North American Carbon Capture & Storage Association (NACCSA) is a nonprofit organization of companies in North America that support the development of a sustainable carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture use and storage (CCUS) industry in the United States and Canada. Policymakers and companies are interested in CCUS technology because it may be used for energy recovery and holds significant promise as a tool to manage man-made emissions of carbon dioxide, one of the principle greenhouse gases (GHG).