California’s moratorium on carbon dioxide pipelines could be over next summer if Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signs legislation that sets a path to lifting the ban.
Under SB 614, the existing moratorium would end once California’s state fire marshal adopts regulations for the “safe transportation” of CO2 via pipeline. The bill was passed by state lawmakers late last week.
The state fire marshal’s office — which is part of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) — would need to issue those standards by the beginning of July, according to the bill text. SB 614 is “critically important for California to deliver on our ambitious climate goals,” Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (D) said in an interview Tuesday.
Meeting the state’s carbon capture and removal targets isn’t possible “without the ability to transport carbon by pipeline and that’s the safest and best way to transport carbon,” said Petrie-Norris, the lead sponsor of the Assembly’s version of SB 614. “That’s why I think the bill is important, and that’s why I think [Newsom] is going to sign it.”
