josh shapiro
Newsletter
Credit: Ralf Vetterle/Pixabay
Pennsylvania accelerates into carbon capture with new legislation
Pennsylvania's government is advancing a controversial plan to capture and store carbon emissions underground, facing criticism over environmental risks and untested technology.
In short:
- Governor Josh Shapiro signed legislation to promote carbon capture and storage in Pennsylvania, though environmentalists criticize the plan, arguing it overstates benefits and overlooks risks.
- The law sets a new regulatory framework, increasing notification requirements to 75% of landowners for storage sites, and extends state liability for wells from 10 to 50 years after use.
- Some lawmakers and activists fear that carbon capture could repeat issues seen with fracking, including water contamination and inadequate environmental safeguards.
Key quote:
“Declaring a nonexistent technology to be in the public interest defies logic.”
— The Better Path Coalition, a grassroots environmental group
Why this matters:
Carbon capture is part of efforts to reduce emissions, but concerns about safety, effectiveness and potential environmental harm need thorough consideration. Critics argue that relying on unproven technology may distract from more sustainable solutions like renewable energy and stricter emission regulations.
Related EHN coverage:
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Newsletter
Credit: Kristina Marusic for Environmental Health News
EHN reporter discusses new proposed fracking regulations in Pennsylvania on "Living on Earth"
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro directed regulatory agencies in Pennsylvania to draft new regulations that would improve the disclosure of the chemicals used during fracking.
PITTSBURGH — Environmental Health News reporter Kristina Marusic joined NPR's "Living on Earth" to discuss whether newly proposed fracking regulations in Pennsylvania could improve transparency about the chemicals used by the industry.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro recently announced that he has directed regulatory agencies in Pennsylvania to draft new regulations that would improve the disclosure of the chemicals used during fracking, better control methane emissions, and create stronger protections related to waste products from fracking, among other new protections.
Marusic has previously reported on how the industry's methane emissions are higher than reported, and on how regulatory loopholes allow fracking companies to withhold information about what chemicals are used during the drilling process from both the public and regulators. Marusic's previous reporting has also revealed that families who live near fracking wells in Pennsylvania are being exposed to potentially harmful chemicals like benzene, toluene, and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a.k.a. "forever chemicals").
"If people living near fracking wells start experiencing health issues, it's really important that they and their doctors know what chemicals they may have been exposed to when trying to figure out what's going on," Marusic said during the Living On Earth interview. "And it's important for regulators to know too, so that if there's suspected contamination, they know what to look for if they're testing water and soil."
The interview is available at Living on Earth, on Spotify, and below.
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