Carbon sequestration is sort of like the fuel cell car of the energy industry, a seeming magic bullet that still may be decades away from practical use. However, a number of news items I've seen recently suggest that Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) could be gaining ground.

Two of these looked at new research projects. Walla Walla has already begun drilling on a multi-stage project beginning with a test injection of 1,000 tons of liquid CO2 into 4,000 ft deep basalt. If that's successful, a 1 million ton commercial-scale test could follow. At Montana State University, researchers will use a $1.4 million grant from the Department of Energy to study the effects of sequestration on the environment, including microbes and plants around the injection site.

Critics say that CCS is a pipe dream of Big Coal, while supporters argue that its implementation is the only realistic way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But the real dirty secret is that the technology simply hasn't been put through enough paces to know yet.

Meanwhile, other efforts are underway to lay a legal foundation for CCS, since the rules governing it are few. On the state side, North Dakota is considering a bill that would implement a permitting process and create oversight standards for the technology. With a broader perspective, Carnegie Mellon recently released a 150-page report (PDF) making a case for a "two-stage" approach to draw up national CCS regulations. The first stage would put in place rules governing large-scale test projects, with the second phase finalizing regulations based on the results of these experiments.

CCS is not, in fact, a magic bullet. Nor is it an evil corporate plot. We need to explore all avenues for reducing CO2 emissions, especially given that coal is such a major source of U.S. electricity. It's about time all of us learn the difference between CCS and a hole in the ground.

Photo Credit: Flickr user tanakawho

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