Legislative working group forms subcommittees to study carbon storage in Alabama

A legislative working group convened to study geologic carbon storage and announced the formation of three subcommittees to examine other states' approaches, potential economic benefits and safeguards for landowners and the environment.

The committee chair said the group's charge was clear: "Our job is straightforward. Understand the facts and determine what is the best long term interest for the state of Alabama." The chair urged members to avoid predetermined conclusions and to rely on lessons from other states before drafting any legislation.

Members were assigned to three focused teams: a comparative-policy subcommittee to survey other states' laws and permitting; an economic subcommittee to analyze jobs, investment and tax revenue distribution; and a safety subcommittee to evaluate groundwater, well integrity and liability protections. The chair asked each subcommittee to select a lead and report back in mid-December.

The committee set a goal of producing draft legislation next year based on the subcommittees' findings. The meeting adjourned after the schedule and assignments were confirmed.