Creation Covenant Alliance

Western Governors Aim to Profit from Carbon Removal Projects

Western states recently concluded that both carbon capture technology and natural conservation efforts are key for decarbonization.
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon, current chair of the Western Governors’ Association, released a “Decarbonizing the West” report. Credit: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Should the West become a proving ground for fledging carbon capture technology, or bolster conservation and land management projects that naturally sequester carbon emissions?

“Both” was the conclusion several Western states reached last month when Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon released a “Decarbonizing the West” report, aimed at garnering bipartisan support for ways to shrink carbon footprints. The report focused on how Western states can help pioneer industrial and natural methods of removing carbon from emissions and the atmosphere. However, it made few mentions of ramping up the transition to renewable energy to reduce carbon-loaded emissions.

The Western Governors’ Association, currently chaired by Gordon, a position that rotates through 18 other governors from states west of Louisiana and territorial governors from American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam, released the report. Gordon chose decarbonization as the focus because he is “an all-of-the-above energy policy leader, focused on ensuring hungry power grids continue to be fed—for the good of his home state and the nation,” his office stated.

Decarbonizing the West proposed two pathways: high-tech approaches such as carbon capture, utilization, and storage, and natural methods involving conservation and rewilding. Technologies being developed include carbon capture from smokestack emissions and CO2 removal from the atmosphere. The natural methods would incorporate conservation, rewilding, and resource extraction projects to absorb and sequester more CO2.

These decarbonization tactics are being developed with varying degrees of urgency in Wyoming, which has invested hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars into unproven carbon capture technology while spurning clean energy funding. Despite its commitment to using nature to draw down atmospheric carbon, Wyoming has objected to federal guidelines that would elevate conservation to the same status as industrial development in public land management decisions.

Fossil fuels and their accompanying emissions, largely responsible for increasing atmospheric carbon driving climate change, were not scrutinized much in the report. Instead, Gordon shifted focus away from “curtailing the use of fossil fuels” towards strategies Western states could adopt to commodify emissions sequestration efforts.

“We should be decarbonizing by using all the technologies at our disposal to emit less carbon in the first place,” said Rachael Hamby, a policy director for the Center For Western Priorities. Hamby applauded Gordon and the Western Governors’ Association for tackling a politically and technologically fraught topic.

In the technological carbon sequestration sector, the report recommended Western states “support large-scale technology development” for carbon capture and removal, urging federal agencies to subsidize such projects to help the industry “demonstrate commercial feasibility.”

Focusing on carbon capture is not without merit, said Monika Lenninger, director of external affairs and climate policy at the Nature Conservancy. “I appreciate the focus on those technologies because they’re an important part of the picture.” She noted that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has concluded it may be necessary to develop the technology to limit Earth’s warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

“We are at a point where some of this must happen whether we like it or not.”

Carbon capture technology should be used as a last resort in sectors where emissions are difficult to eliminate, like construction, Hamby said. “The window in which we could have avoided some of these carbon capture technologies is now closed.”

While industrial approaches to carbon capture have long found a home in Wyoming, nature-based approaches have not received as much attention. That’s partly because many of these approaches do not have clear, scientifically backed methods to quantify their carbon sequestration benefits, making them difficult to monetize and finance.

To help combat the unreliable nature of the carbon offset market, the report recommended the federal government “develop innovative carbon finance mechanisms to provide upfront capital to landowners seeking to implement projects.”

But just because nature-based sequestration projects aren’t easy to monetize doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be a priority, Hamby said. “The goal is to decarbonize the West and the country to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of climate change, whether that’s profitable or not.”

One area that may benefit from being integrated into the market is wildfire management. After a century of extinguishing all forest fires, forests across the West have become “overstocked” with biomass that has little economic value. Western states and federal agencies should help create a market for biomass carbon removal and storage processes—burning timber cut from forests as part of fire hazard reduction efforts to produce energy, and capturing and storing the resulting carbon emissions—the report said.

Looking for ways to make natural carbon sequestration a profitable industry aligns with Wyoming’s attitude towards the energy transition.

“Our state is so dependent on fossil fuels. We don’t have many [tax revenue] options outside of tourism if fossil fuels continue to decline,” Leininger said. As a result, when the federal government proposes a new rule about managing lands in Wyoming, like the Bureau of Land Management’s recent proposal to elevate conservation to the same level as resource extraction, it often sparks “a lot of fear.” “I think that’s why you see that reaction, even though Wyoming people do value conservation and open spaces.”

The recommendations proposed in the report—prioritizing conservation grants for small farmers and increasing Western timber mill infrastructure—are in-keeping with initiatives already underway in the state, Leininger said.

Just days after Gordon released the report, he sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack expressing frustration over the U.S. Forest Service’s national old growth amendment, which would prohibit managing old growth trees for economic purposes. Recent research suggests old, mature trees are some of the best at storing CO2, accounting for about 10 percent of the worldwide emissions stored across ecosystems. However, prior to Vilsack’s announcement, the Forest Service had been criticized for selling logging concessions that allow the harvest of old-growth by the timber industry.

Original Story at insideclimatenews.org

Trending News

Mississippi River Faces Persistent Saltwater Intrusion, Region Seeks Long-Term Solutions



For the third consecutive year, the Mississippi River is experiencing significant saltwater intrusion, prompting local communities and environmental experts to search for sustainable solutions. This recurring issue arises as the river’s flow decreases, allowing saltwater to move upstream and threaten drinking water supplies. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is actively involved in addressing this problem, employing temporary measures like saltwater barriers to mitigate the impact on affected areas.



Saltwater infiltration poses serious risks to public health and agriculture, as freshwater sources become compromised. The situation is exacerbated by prolonged periods of drought, which have reduced freshwater flow in the Mississippi River. According to the National Weather Service, drought conditions have worsened due to climate change, increasing the frequency and severity of saltwater intrusion events.



Local authorities are collaborating with federal agencies to explore permanent solutions. Among the proposed strategies are enhanced levee systems and improved water management techniques. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating the feasibility of long-term infrastructure projects to prevent further saltwater encroachment. Additionally, community leaders are advocating for increased funding to support these initiatives and safeguard the region’s water resources.



The impact of saltwater intrusion extends beyond drinking water concerns, affecting local ecosystems and agricultural productivity. Farmers in the region have reported crop damage due to elevated salinity levels in irrigation water. The Natural Resources Conservation Service is working with farmers to implement adaptive practices, such as planting salt-tolerant crops and improving soil management techniques.



As the Mississippi River continues to face challenges from saltwater intrusion, stakeholders emphasize the importance of collaborative efforts and innovative solutions. The ongoing threat underscores the need for comprehensive planning and investment to protect one of America’s most vital waterways from the impacts of climate change and environmental stressors.

November 19, 2024



Environmental activists have raised concerns over the fossil fuel sector’s significant impact on COP29, the latest United Nations Climate Change Conference. Activists argue that the industry’s presence diverts focus from critical climate actions.



The conference, designed to promote global climate agreements, faces criticism for allowing fossil fuel companies to participate extensively. Environmental groups claim these companies undermine efforts to reduce carbon emissions and transition to renewable energy sources.



According to Climate Action Network, fossil fuel representatives have increased their lobbying activities, aiming to weaken climate policies. These industries allegedly influence negotiations, leading to watered-down commitments that fail to address the urgency of climate change effectively.



Experts suggest that the influence of these companies stems from financial contributions and longstanding relationships with decision-makers. Critics argue that this affects the conference’s ability to enforce meaningful climate change regulations.



During the event, several protests highlighted the need for transparency and a stronger focus on sustainable energy solutions. Activists are calling for increased participation of renewable energy stakeholders in future conferences.



The controversy surrounding fossil fuel involvement at COP29 underscores the ongoing challenge of balancing industrial interests with the global imperative to combat climate change.



November 19, 2024