In a significant advancement for California’s initiatives to mitigate climate change, Kern County’s Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Monday to approve a groundbreaking project aimed at sequestering climate-warming gases beneath the earth’s surface.

This initiative, led by California Resources Corp., the state’s primary oil and gas producer, hopes to capture millions of tons of carbon dioxide and inject it into deep geological formations in the western San Joaquin Valley, specifically south of Buttonwillow.

Named the Carbon Terra Vault project, this endeavor is part of a broader strategy employed by the fossil fuel industry to adapt to environmental changes while remaining operational in a state pushing toward decarbonization. While this approval marks a crucial point in the project’s progression, further steps are necessary before execution can commence.

The administration of Governor Newsom has expressed strong support for carbon capture and sequestration technologies, labeling them vital in California’s broader climate action plan aimed at slashing greenhouse gas emissions over the next two decades.

During a four-hour public meeting in Bakersfield, local residents and environmental justice advocates raised alarms regarding potential air pollution and the safety implications of injecting carbon dioxide underground. Conversely, industry representatives and community supporters argued that the project would provide an economic uplift to Kern County.

Ileana Navarro, an organizer for the Central California Environmental Justice Network, expressed her skepticism, stating, “Carbon Terra Vault will incentivize new polluting infrastructure throughout Kern County. This will not clean our air.”

Franco Leon, CEO of California Resources Corp., assured county supervisors that the initiative would protect high-paying jobs while significantly curtailing carbon emissions. He emphasized the company’s dedication to investing in the community and preparing the local workforce for emerging careers in “carbon management,” aided by partnerships with educational institutions like Kern Community College.

Leon remarked, “When we talk about an energy transition, the jobs have to be just as good; they cannot be just one-for-one. The state of California wants an energy transition. This is how you do it, with projects that deliver on every front. We’re ready to go.”

Before any construction activities can begin, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must grant final approval for the project. Earlier this year, the agency issued draft permits for the drilling of four wells intended for carbon dioxide injection, with the company currently seeking approval for two additional wells. In addition, the California Air Resources Board’s certification is crucial to qualify for state clean-fuel credits.

The environmental impact report estimates that the construction phase for carbon capture facilities will take approximately two years, while the pipeline installation would be completed within a year. Experts have noted that the location in Kern County is particularly suitable for carbon storage, with the EPA issuing the first permits in the nation for a depleted oil and gas field.

As oil production in California has slowed, industry advocates along with labor unions suggest that this technology can sustain jobs while aiding in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. However, environmental groups argue that fossil fuel industries should be phased out entirely as California moves toward a renewable energy economy. They contend that this technology could prolong reliance on oil and gas, thereby generating health hazards for low-income communities in the valley due to associated emissions.

Gordon Nipp, vice chair of a local Sierra Club chapter, criticized the initiative, calling it a “convoluted scheme” that wastes resources and yields limited job creation locally. He further stated, “If the carbon were just left in the ground to begin with, that would be a much simpler and more effective way of addressing the climate crisis, and there wouldn’t be these additional dangerous emissions into the air.”

Kern County Supervisor Phillip Peters responded to the critics by stating, “I don’t see any projects from them that are creating jobs or doing anything to benefit the environment.” He further clarified that the infrastructure for the oil industry is typically located where oil is found, not intentionally in disadvantaged communities.

Expressing pride in the oil sector, Supervisor Jeff Flores added, “It provides jobs, and I think it’s really a morally arrogant position to say that your jobs don’t matter.”

In a decisive 4-0 vote, the county supervisors approved changes to zoning and use permits, allowing for the “permanent underground storage of up to 49.1 million tons of carbon dioxide” in designated underground reservoirs across approximately 9,000 acres of the Elk Hills Oil and Gas Field. This plan includes the construction of pipelines and facilities dedicated to capturing carbon.

Carbon dioxide would be derived from natural gas production at the field before its combustion at the company’s associated power plant, which powers Pacific Gas & Electric. Additionally, carbon would be sourced from a proposed hydrogen facility and a direct air capture project, which utilizes fans and filters to extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

California Resources Corp. aims to capture approximately 1.46 million metric tons of carbon dioxide on an annual basis, injecting this gas over a mile deep into the Monterey Formation — a significant geological structure for California’s oil supply.

During construction, the operation of heavy machinery will produce smog-causing gases and fine particulate matter, and even once active, the facility may still emit minor fugitive pollutants during the carbon capture process, though local air quality officials will regulate these emissions. The environmental impact report also indicated possible detriment to local wildlife and protected plant species, necessitating precautionary measures to mitigate harm.

The EPA will require long-term monitoring of injection wells for 100 years to ensure groundwater safety, with preliminary assessments indicating no immediate threats to drinking water sources from the carbon injections. However, the project is expected to consume a substantial amount of groundwater, an issue as the basin is already experiencing over-extraction.

A coalition of environmental organizations, including groups such as the Sierra Club and EarthJustice, has labeled the proposal “inadequate” according to California environmental laws. They argue that the report fails to consider how fossil fuel operations will continue in the area.

Carbon capture technology has been in existence since the 1970s, having been implemented in other states and countries primarily in coal-dependent contexts, though facing critique for being expensive and complex.

In the U.S., most carbon injections have historically been utilized for oil recovery, a practice California outlawed in 2022. The Kern County initiative instead targets the carbon dioxide produced from natural gas operations at oilfields.

Since 2022, federal authorities have accelerated the development of carbon capture projects across the country through the enhancement of tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act. There are currently 250 applications for carbon capture injection wells awaiting approval nationwide, according to the Clean Air Task Force.

The Kern County endeavor is regarded as a pioneering step toward establishing California as a center for carbon capture, which could garner substantial federal funding.

Federal officials are also assessing 13 other carbon capture proposals throughout California — mostly focused in the Central Valley, encompassing oil operations, power facilities, and various other sites.

California Resources Corp., through its subsidiary Carbon TerraVault, has submitted seven applications, seeking permits for 38 wells, with estimates showing these projects could qualify for federal tax credits potentially amounting to nearly $6 billion over a 12-year span. Another subsidiary, Aera Energy, has also filed for approval on a separate project.

California is tasked with achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2045 as per state laws, which entails balancing all human-caused emissions through measures that remove carbon from the atmosphere. To align with this mandate, California adopted an ambitious strategy in 2022 aimed at reducing reliance on fossil fuels by 94%, while also integrating carbon capture into the plan.

To remain on track, officials from the California Air Resources Board have indicated that an increased reliance on carbon capture technologies is necessary beyond initial expectations, stating, “It became clear that we could not get to 85% below 1990 levels (of greenhouse gases) by 2045 without broader application of (carbon capture and sequestration) on large emitting sources.”