"Louisiana’s ability to regulate carbon capture injection wells went before the court of public opinion Wednesday as proponents and critics of the burgeoning industry sparred at the first day of a three-day public comment marathon on the state’s bid to wrest control of the wells from the federal government.

At a lengthy public hearing at the LaSalle Building in downtown Baton Rouge, critics took aim at the state Department of Natural Resources’ ability to oversee the wells safely and efficiently, while industry advocates said shifting control to Louisiana will lead to an economic and environmental boon for the state.

At the center of the debate is DNR’s request to gain “primacy,” or direct regulatory control, of Class VI wells, which are used to inject carbon dioxide into deep underground rock formations. The wells are a key piece of carbon capture, an increasingly popular method to curb carbon dioxide emissions amid global efforts to fight climate change."

Robert Stewart reports for the New Orleans Times-Picayune June 21, 2023. [2]