Opinion: Put politics aside, cut the red tape and allow state regulation of carbon capture projects in Utah

The debate over energy and climate is often presented as a divisive, hyper-partisan issue. But if you know where to look, there is actually some common ground between conservatives and progressives about the best way forward.

It’s no secret that conservatives support an “all of the above” approach to energy and climate that includes carbon capture and storage technologies for fossil fuels, especially natural gas and coal.

For example, when I served in the Utah Legislature, I sponsored HB244 Geological Carbon Capture Sequestration Amendments to accelerate carbon capture projects here by putting state regulators — not the federal EPA — in charge of permitting. It passed and is now being implemented.

But on the left, you might be surprised to learn that the importance of carbon capture is also recognized by some progressives like Democratic Governor Jared Polis of Colorado.

“I wish it was just as simple as saying there’s going to be more solar and wind,” Governor Polis said last year when signing a bill on state-level regulation of carbon capture. “That gets us to a big part of [net-zero carbon emissions], but for the final piece, if we truly seek to be net zero … we need to look at carbon dioxide removal and carbon capture and sequestration and direct air capture.”

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Opinion: Put politics aside, cut the red tape and allow state regulation of carbon capture projects in Utah

Opinion: Put politics aside, cut the red tape and allow state regulation of carbon capture projects in Utah

Opinion: Put politics aside, cut the red tape and allow state regulation of carbon capture projects in Utah

Opinion: Put politics aside, cut the red tape and allow state regulation of carbon capture projects in Utah

Opinion: Put politics aside, cut the red tape and allow state regulation of carbon capture projects in Utah