{"id":24113,"date":"2025-11-13T14:34:06","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T19:34:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/?p=24113"},"modified":"2025-11-13T16:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T21:00:00","slug":"will-texas-carbon-storage-primacy-spark-a-world-class-permitting-and-enforcement-program-or-will-it-merely-check-the-boxes-only-time-will-tell-and-the-world-is-watching","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2025\/11\/13\/will-texas-carbon-storage-primacy-spark-a-world-class-permitting-and-enforcement-program-or-will-it-merely-check-the-boxes-only-time-will-tell-and-the-world-is-watching\/","title":{"rendered":"Will Texas carbon storage primacy spark a world-class permitting and enforcement program, or will it merely check the boxes? Only time will tell &#8211; and the world is watching"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/38\/files\/\/Screenshot-2025-11-13-131927.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24114\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/38\/files\/\/Screenshot-2025-11-13-131927.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"759\" height=\"491\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/38\/files\/Screenshot-2025-11-13-131927.png 759w, https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/38\/files\/Screenshot-2025-11-13-131927-300x194.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 759px) 100vw, 759px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>With EPA granting Texas primacy over Class VI wells, the state now controls permitting and oversight of underground carbon storage \u2014 and must prove it can enforce strong, science-based standards that protect people, water and climate.<\/li>\n<li>To build global credibility and public trust, the Railroad Commission should strengthen monitoring, seismic risk management, enforcement capacity and community engagement \u2014 ensuring Texas\u2019 carbon storage program is transparent, accountable and safe from the start.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As expected, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/newsreleases\/epa-grants-state-texas-primacy-protect-underground-water-resources\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this week<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> granted Texas primacy over Class VI wells under the Underground Injection Control program. This means that Texas \u2014 and not the federal agency \u2014 will directly administer the permitting, enforcement and oversight of underground carbon storage facilities in the state.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While there\u2019s no substitute for electrification, fuel switching and energy efficiency \u2014 which can achieve much of the emission reductions needed in our state \u2014 carbon sequestration also has a significant role to play in Texas. High levels of industrial emissions, significant economically viable pore space and deep industry expertise in doing this type of work coupled with increasing interest in low-carbon value chains for commodities produced here means carbon storage can be a huge player in climate solutions here. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ipcc.ch\/report\/ar6\/syr\/downloads\/report\/IPCC_AR6_SYR_SPM.pdf.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">has concluded<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with high confidence that \u201c[i]f the geological storage site is appropriately selected and managed, it is estimated that the [carbon dioxide] can be permanently isolated from the atmosphere.\u201d This is easier said than done. Implementing and enforcing a robust Class VI permitting program is a critical ingredient that can help Texas agencies and operators ensure sites are \u201cappropriately selected and managed\u201d and meet permanence expectations.<\/span><\/p>\n<span class='bctt-click-to-tweet'><span class='bctt-ctt-text'><a href='https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblogs.edf.org%2Fenergyexchange%2F2025%2F11%2F13%2Fwill-texas-carbon-storage-primacy-spark-a-world-class-permitting-and-enforcement-program-or-will-it-merely-check-the-boxes-only-time-will-tell-and-the-world-is-watching%2F&#038;text=Will%20Texas%20carbon%20storage%20primacy%20spark%20a%20world-class%20permitting%20and%20enforcement%20program%2C%20or%20will%20it%20merely%20check%20the%20boxes%3F%20Only%20time%20will%20tell%20-%20and%20the%20world%20is%20watching&#038;via=EDFEnergyEx&#038;related=EDFEnergyEx' target='_blank'rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Will Texas carbon storage primacy spark a world-class permitting and enforcement program, or will it merely check the boxes? Only time will tell - and the world is watching <\/a><\/span><a href='https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblogs.edf.org%2Fenergyexchange%2F2025%2F11%2F13%2Fwill-texas-carbon-storage-primacy-spark-a-world-class-permitting-and-enforcement-program-or-will-it-merely-check-the-boxes-only-time-will-tell-and-the-world-is-watching%2F&#038;text=Will%20Texas%20carbon%20storage%20primacy%20spark%20a%20world-class%20permitting%20and%20enforcement%20program%2C%20or%20will%20it%20merely%20check%20the%20boxes%3F%20Only%20time%20will%20tell%20-%20and%20the%20world%20is%20watching&#038;via=EDFEnergyEx&#038;related=EDFEnergyEx' target='_blank' class='bctt-ctt-btn'rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Texas certainly has the industry and technical expertise to build a credible, science-based oversight program that delivers the environmental and public safety protection required by law, though doing so will demand advancements beyond EPA\u2019s minimum requirements. And Texas has a far from perfect history in independently enforcing strong standards and holding industry accountable for a high bar of performance. So, now starts the critical test of whether the Texas Railroad Commission (the agency that will administer the process) will step up to this task and bolster both global credibility and local public trust in the program.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In other words, getting primacy was Step One. Now, Texas has to deliver.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019ve learned a lot in the 15 years since the federal Class VI program was adopted, both technically and with respect to specific community concerns.\u00a0 If Texas wants to lead \u2014 if it wants to help industry continue to prove that commercial CO2 storage can be done with environmental integrity and be safe and permanent \u2014 it must commit to a stronger, smarter and more transparent regulatory approach.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the EPA\u2019s public comment period, EDF <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pecanstreet.org\/dataport\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">submitted<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a collection of eleven recommendations we believe will put Texas on the best path to meeting this objective.\u00a0 As the Texas Railroad Commission moves forward, EDF will continue to work with Texas regulators and elected officials to ensure the RRC builds and implements the best possible program.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In doing so, we\u2019ll focus on four primary areas.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Aim higher than minimum standards<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The EPA\u2019s authority to regulate underground injection projects like carbon sequestration predominantly turns on preventing impacts to underground sources of drinking water \u2014 not <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">every<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> surface or subsurface issue that may arise \u2014 meaning Class VI standards are a strong foundation for environmental integrity for carbon storage, but not the final word. There\u2019s much to be learned from both real-time experience and leading research on what best practices look like for subsurface activities to avoid impacts like felt earthquakes, containment leaks that don\u2019t reach groundwater and over-pressurization, and much of that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/gccc.beg.utexas.edu\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">expertise is here in Texas<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The RRC has the ability and, now, the authority to build a stronger-than-baseline technical program that protects more than just groundwater if it has the will to do it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Specifically, EDF\u2019s comments recommended that Texas:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Update monitoring well standards to reflect knowledge learned from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eenews.net\/articles\/epa-finalizes-order-on-carbon-leak-as-adm-plans-to-restart-injections\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">recent incidents<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at ADM\u2019s well in Decatur, IL.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Issue clear public guidance on how RRC will address seismic risks that may fall below EPA\u2019s threshold for storage complex integrity but could still cause felt earthquakes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adopt more protective and proactive approaches to identifying undocumented wells in areas of review.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adopt rules or establish guidance to prevent adverse impacts to storage facilities from other subsurface activities.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Assess the limitations of \u2018<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gwpc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Pressure-interference-white-paper-updated-12-6-24.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pressure space<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2019 in addition to pore space and risks that may increase as more projects come online.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Strong oversight and enforcement<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Much of the excitement around Class VI primacy seems to stem from a desire to expedite the permitting process. But Texas\u2019 program must not sacrifice oversight for speed, or it risks cutting corners and unsafe projects. We\u2019ve seen with the Class II program how things can go wrong quickly if a flood of projects overwhelms staff and impacts enforcement, from seismicity to sinkholes. The RRC has to get Class VI right from the start and avoid repeating the mistakes of the past with other injection programs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Specifically, EDF\u2019s comments recommended that Texas:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensure the RRC has enough funding and trained staff to safely oversee the Class VI program.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid changing <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2024\/08\/19\/carbon-dioxide-injection-wells-require-deliberate-and-protective-liability-rules\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">liability law<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">s in a way that reduces RRC\u2019s authority to enforce Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Avoid backsliding<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Primacy also gives Texas a bigger decision-making role when it comes to less clear and untested aspects of the Class VI program, such as how it will apply in coastal waters or at what point other types of wells that inject carbon need to upgrade to Class VI standards. It\u2019s vital that the RRC avoid backsliding when it comes to answering these questions and, instead, show leadership in requiring best practices that provide the strongest protections for communities and the environment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Specifically, EDF\u2019s comments recommended that Texas:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provide more formalized guidance or additional rulemaking to clarify how the RRC will make decisions on when and how other carbon injection wells, like enhanced oil recovery wells, can or must meet Class VI requirements.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apply full Class VI rules to projects in coastal or state-water areas, even if underground sources of drinking water aren\u2019t present, to prevent integrity loss.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Safety and people first<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lost in many discussions of primacy are safety and people \u2014 a core reason to have rules and regulations in the first place. Done right, carbon storage in Texas can provide many benefits \u2014 energy, climate, landowner revenue and others. Yet the RRC must ensure we do not chase these benefits at the expense of public safety and the people who will be affected by these new facilities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Specifically, EDF\u2019s comments recommended that Texas:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strengthen emergency planning and coordinate with local responders.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Build a stronger public engagement program, including mandating outreach and public information sharing.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">EDF stands ready to help \u2014 and to hold to account<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We are cautiously optimistic that the RRC can and will, and in some cases may already, exceed the federal Class VI requirements. With primacy, Texas now has a responsibility to further build public, corporate and investor confidence in carbon management technologies. And doing so will require a stronger, smarter and more transparent regulatory approach.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Texas has a chance to get it right from the start. With thoughtful enhancements and a commitment to public accountability, the RRC can build a Class VI program that meets the moment \u2014 protecting people, water and climate while supporting economic opportunity. EDF stands ready to support this outcome. But we will also continue to hold regulators and operators accountable to the high standards this work demands.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; With EPA granting Texas primacy over Class VI wells, the state now controls permitting and oversight of underground carbon storage \u2014 and must prove it can enforce strong, science-based standards that protect people, water and climate. To build global credibility and public trust, the Railroad Commission should strengthen monitoring, seismic risk management, enforcement capacity &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":69512,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"coauthors":[114165],"class_list":["post-24113","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Will Texas carbon storage primacy spark a world-class permitting and enforcement program, or will it merely check the boxes? 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