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Where carbon capture or removal is a Hub component, Hubs have demonstrated plans and capabilities for safe and effective carbon management, transportation, and sequestration (or utilization).
WHAT IT MEANS IN PRACTICE
Hubs employing the capture and/or removal of carbon dioxide include comprehensive data, analysis, and project plans to effectively account for the safety, efficiency, and expected long-term sequestration outcomes of those components (see also Climate Pollutant Objective).
All Hubs incorporating carbon management activities must have environmental integrity (be technically sound and environmentally protective in design and operation and subject to rigorous legal regulatory oversight), be economically justified (as compared to available decarbonization alternatives), and meaningfully address community considerations (including consultation, collaboration, and proactive mitigation efforts).
Targeted outcomes
+Hubs with carbon management components are set up to track and demonstrate that:
COMMUNITY CONSIDERATIONS
Hubs meaningfully address carbon-management related community considerations.(see Community Engagement Objective).
95%
OF EMISSIONS CAPTURED
Carbon dioxide capture equipment is designed to efficiently capture at or above 95% of emissions.
<1%
LEAKAGE RATE OVER 1,000 YEARS
Geologic storage projects demonstrate an expected leakage rate of no more than 1% over 1,000 years.
ACHIEVE ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY
Geologic storage projects are designed and regulated to achieve environmental integrity – no groundwater contamination, no leakage, no significant earthquake risk.
SEDIMENTARY FORMATIONS
Geologic storage is limited to sedimentary formations until comprehensive research and science support alternatives, including basalt.
UNDERSTAND AIR QUALITY IMPLICATIONS
Capture-associated air quality co-benefits and increased risks are understood, monitored, and managed such that projects do not reduce local air quality and when possible, improve it.
LIABILITY EXEMPTIONS
Carbon storage operations do not occur in states with liability exemptions that reduce or remove the consequences of negative outcomes for storage operators (i.e., increase "moral hazard") or are inconsistent with federal policy (see Protective Regulatory Frameworks Objective).
CO2
PIPELINES
CO2 pipelines are sited, designed, and operated to create minimal local environmental or public health impacts (see Transportation Objective).
CO2
UTILIZATION
Hubs that claim to “utilize” captured carbon dioxide as a means of sequestration have appropriate and transparent monitoring, reporting, and verification procedures to comprehensively demonstrate the long-term security of the sequestration or utilization mechanism in addition to appropriate regulatory programs and permits to ensure safety and desired outcomes.
Resources & References
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