Edwards criticizes EPA for slow approval of carbon reduction projects

Gov. John Bel Edwards. (AP Photo/Lee Celano, File)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is moving too slowly to allow states to permit and oversee carbon-reduction projects, says Gov. John Bel Edwards in a recent letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan. As a result, reports Offshore Engineer, they’re slowing millions of dollars in investments designed to tackle greenhouse gas reduction.

Louisiana and other top oil-producing states say they can speed up permitting of carbon sequestration projects if allowed to handle decisions that currently fall under the EPA. There are dozens of these projects with multi-million dollar price tags proposed by energy firms around the U.S.

Developers would benefit from broadening permitting of so-called Class VI carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) wells to states, Edwards says in the letter, saying the process has lacked clarity and a clear timeline. Read the entire story.