AB 1925 Report to the California Legislature on Geologic Carbon Sequestration Strategies

View Agenda and Presentations from June 28, 2007, Staff Workshop

Background

Executive Order S-03-05, issued by Governor Schwarzenegger in June 2005, established state targets for progressively reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including CO₂, over various timeframes. For 2020, S-03-05 called for California to reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels. This was codified into law with the passage of AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which also explicitly stated that CO₂ emissions associated with imported electricity should be included in the state's tally. S-03-05 sets a more aggressive GHG emissions reduction target for 2050—80% below 1990 levels. Additional policy decisions, such as the creation of a CO₂ emissions performance standard for long-term baseload power contracts (established by the California Public Utilities Commission and the Energy Commission pursuant to of SB 1368), help ensure that the electric energy California imports will contribute to reducing the state's "carbon footprint." AB 1925, authored by Assembly Member Sam Blakeslee, requires that the Energy Commission, in coordination with the Department of Conservation, submit a report to the Legislature, also to be included in the 2007 Integrated Energy Policy Report, that contains "recommendations for how the state can develop parameters to accelerate the adoption of cost-effective geologic sequestration strategies for the long-term management of industrial carbon dioxide."

AB 1925 focuses on geologic CO₂ capture and storage, one approach with promise for meeting the deep cuts needed in GHG emissions. Carbon sequestration involves use of industrial processes to capture CO₂ before it is emitted to the atmosphere at power plants and other large stationary sources, allowing the CO₂ to be transported and stored securely underground in geologic formations such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs or similar well-sealed formations filled with saltwater that cannot be used for beneficial purposes. Geologic CCS is an emerging technology that holds particular promise for playing a major role in reducing GHG emissions in the critical period from 2020 to 2050.

Public Participation

The Energy Commission encourages public participation in the AB 1925 report development process. You may transmit comments via e-mail to Elizabeth Burton [Eburton@energy.state.ca.us] or call her at (925) 422-7330 or e-mail Kelly Birkinshaw [KBirkins@energy.state.ca.us] or call him at (916) 654-4542.