In a recent Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), a prominent voice on energy policy, delivered compelling remarks addressing the critical importance of carbon capture technologies. His statement highlighted both the potential and the hurdles in deploying carbon capture utilization and sequestration (CCUS) and direct air capture (DAC) technologies across federal and non-federal lands. Senator Barrasso’s assertive stance underscored the ongoing debate surrounding energy innovation and the Biden administration’s energy policies.
During the hearing, which convened to explore opportunities and challenges within the carbon capture sector, Senator Barrasso did not hold back his criticism of the current administration. He began by addressing a recent development concerning Lease Sale 261, expressing strong disapproval of what he perceived as a lack of transparency and disregard for due process. “Just last week,” Senator Barrasso stated, “the Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Elizabeth Klein, sat at this table… and she told the committee all systems are go for lease sale 261… Well, she lied to the committee. Because today, this very morning, she postponed the sale indefinitely.” This accusation set a confrontational tone, reflecting Senator Barrasso’s broader concerns about the administration’s approach to energy policy.
Senator John Barrasso then transitioned to President Biden’s stated goal of eliminating coal production and use in the United States. He quoted President Biden’s commitment to “shutting these [coal] plants down all across America and having wind and solar,” arguing that the administration was actively pursuing this agenda through various measures. Barrasso detailed these actions as including blocking coal leasing on federal lands, delaying mining permits, and proposing emissions regulations that threaten to close coal-fired power plants. He characterized this strategy as “attempting to kill coal by a thousand cuts,” and warned of the detrimental consequences for the nation’s energy security.
Countering the administration’s direction, Senator Barrasso emphasized the continued importance of coal in the energy mix. Referencing the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration, he pointed out that coal is projected to remain a significant energy source for decades. He argued against the logic of hindering domestic coal production only to become reliant on imports from other countries. John Barrasso further elaborated on the unique advantage of coal-fired plants, noting their capacity to provide dispatchable power – a consistent and reliable electricity supply available 24/7, unlike the intermittent nature of wind and solar energy.
Drawing upon recent testimonies from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) before the committee, Senator Barrasso reinforced his point about energy reliability. He highlighted their shared warnings about the risks associated with prematurely retiring dispatchable generation sources, including coal. John Barrasso asserted that eliminating such sources jeopardizes the nation’s electric grid reliability, potentially leading to power outages and hindering the adoption of electric vehicles, which the administration promotes. He advocated for innovation and practical solutions over what he described as an elimination-focused approach.
Wyoming, Senator Barrasso’s home state, was presented as a model for proactive energy innovation. He lauded the Integrated Test Center in Gillette, Wyoming, as a prime example of a successful public-private partnership dedicated to advancing carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies in real-world operating environments. He also acknowledged the University of Wyoming’s pioneering role in carbon capture research and development, particularly its involvement in the Department of Energy’s CarbonSAFE program. This program aims to establish geologic storage sites capable of holding significant amounts of carbon dioxide. Senator Barrasso highlighted the University’s recent funding boost to further develop a carbon capture and storage hub within the Greater Green River Basin, utilizing carbon dioxide from trona mining and direct air capture technologies.
Despite these technological advancements, Senator John Barrasso acknowledged existing challenges in the widespread deployment of carbon capture. He specifically mentioned the need for new carbon dioxide pipelines to facilitate transportation and the regulatory uncertainties surrounding carbon dioxide storage on federal lands. However, he expressed confidence that these logistical and regulatory hurdles could be overcome.
Senator Barrasso identified “ideological obstacles” as a more significant impediment. He criticized “environmental extremists” who oppose carbon capture, viewing coal, oil, and natural gas as inherently problematic, regardless of emissions reduction efforts. John Barrasso accused the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of succumbing to pressure from these groups, citing the limited number of states granted authority to permit carbon dioxide injection wells. He pointed out that only Wyoming and North Dakota currently possess this authority, while projects in other states face lengthy EPA permitting processes, potentially taking up to six years for approval. Simultaneously, he argued, the EPA is promoting stringent air regulations that necessitate widespread carbon capture deployment, even before the technology can be practically implemented due to permitting bottlenecks. Senator Barrasso suggested that the EPA’s actions indicate an intention to impede, rather than facilitate, the progress of carbon capture technologies.
Concluding his remarks, Senator John Barrasso reiterated the critical need to balance emissions reduction with maintaining electric reliability. He emphasized that realizing the full potential of carbon capture technologies is essential for achieving both goals. He expressed his hope that the hearing would contribute to advancing policies that support and enable the growth of the carbon capture sector. John Barrasso thanked the chairman, concluding his statement with a call to action towards practical and effective energy solutions.
