WATER AND CO SHOULDN'T MIX

Abstract

THE ENVIRONMENTAL Protection Agency has proposed to broaden the range of geological formations where coal-based electric utilities and companies that generate carbon dioxide may inject the greenhouse gas for sequestration. The Aug. 26 proposal allows CO 2 injection and sequestration at shallower depths that are not necessarily below drinking water aquifers, contrary to what the agency proposed a year ago. Capturing carbon dioxide and sequestering it underground is considered the only way the world can continue to burn coal and avoid the ravages of climate change. Coal supplies half of the electricity in the U.S., but it generates one-third of the 6 billion tons of CO 2 the nation emits annually. However, sequestering CO 2 underground risks damaging drinking water aquifers, and for the past year, EPA has been wrestling with development of regulations that protect groundwater and allow carbon sequestration. Water suppliers tell C&EN they don’t like EPA’s latest plan. They are worried that it won’t protect ...