Public Outreach

WESTCARB’s outreach objective is two-way communication on sequestration technology with the research community, policymakers, non-governmental groups, industry, and the public. The partnership is committed to maintaining an open dialogue with all stakeholders on issues surrounding pilot-scale and commercial-scale sequestration project development.

Much of WESTCARB’s public outreach work addresses geologic CO₂ storage technologies, because of their greater potential cost and impact. Nonetheless, the partnership will also work with those interested in terrestrial sequestration—foresters and timber companies, farmers, ranchers and agricultural officials, fishermen and fish and wildlife agencies, and environmental, conservation, and recreational groups—to disseminate information on costs, benefits, and land use implications.

One important WESTCARB activity is hosting multi-stakeholder "public forum" meetings in the region's major metropolitan areas and in communities where pilot projects may be proposed.

Successful commercial application of sequestration technology also requires outreach to potential industrial users (both of capture technologies and the resulting CO₂ streams), especially small to mid-size companies. WESTCARB will work with industry organizations, such as the Western States Petroleum Association, to inform regional oil producers about CO₂-enhanced recovery opportunities.