06.28.22

Hoeven: North Dakota the Absolute Leader in Cracking the Code on CCUS

Senator Addresses EERC Energizing ND’s Future Conference, Outlines Importance of Carbon Capture to the Future of Coal-Fired Electric

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – At the Energizing North Dakota’s Future Conference today, Senator John Hoeven outlined North Dakota’s ever-growing leadership in cracking the code on carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS). The senator stressed the technology’s role in ensuring Americans have access to affordable, reliable electricity for years to come by enabling the nation to continue utilizing its vast coal resources. These efforts, which include the Energy & Environmental Research Center’s (EERC) work to implement this technology at Project Tundra and other facilities, are able to move forward due to Hoeven’s efforts for nearly 15 years to position North Dakota to lead the way in CCUS. Specifically, he worked: 

  • As governor, to create a regulatory framework for carbon storage when:
    • He established the North Dakota CO2 Storage Workgroup in 2008.
    • He advanced a bill through the legislature to grant this authority to the North Dakota Industrial Commission.
    • The state enacted legislation that granted ownership of the pore space to the owner of the overlying surface estate.
  • As U.S. Senator, to secure approval of the state’s application for regulatory primacy over the use of Class VI wells for geologic storage of CO2.
    • North Dakota is one of only two states to have this regulatory authority.
  • To implement and enhance the 45Q tax credit, one of the most important incentives to make CCUS projects commercially-viable.
  • To fund critical loan guarantees from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). 
  • To secure front end investment in technology development, including bolstering the partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy and the EERC.

“Access to low-cost, dependable energy is directly related to our economic and national security,” said Hoeven. “That’s why we’ve built North Dakota into the absolute leader in CCUS, which is vital to carry coal-fired electric into the future. We’ve been at this for nearly 15 years, and the EERC continues to lead the way. Our state is going to crack the code on this important technology for the benefit of our entire nation.”

At the same time, Hoeven continues pressing the Biden administration to reverse course on its harmful environmental agenda, take the handcuffs off U.S. energy producers and empower the nation to realize the full potential of its abundant energy resources, including its coal, oil and natural gas reserves. To this end, Hoeven is working to advance legislation like his American Energy Independence from Russia Act, which would take immediate action to increase U.S. energy production, including:  

  • Authorizing the construction and operation of the Keystone XL pipeline.
  • Removing regulatory hurdles to increase liquefied natural gas exports.
  • Prohibiting any presidential moratoria on new energy leases.
  • Requiring the U.S. Department of the Interior to hold a minimum of 4 oil and natural gas lease sales in each state with land available for leasing in fiscal year 2022.
  • Prohibiting the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy from drawdowns of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) until the Secretary of the Interior issues a plan to increase oil and gas production on federal lands and waters.   

 

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