THE NETL CARBON

SEQUESTRATION NEWSLETTER: 

ANNUAL INDEX 

SEPTEMBER 2007 – AUGUST 2008 

This is a compilation of the past year’s monthly National Energy Technology Laboratory Carbon 

Sequestration Newsletter. The newsletter is produced by the NETL to provide information on 

activities and publications related to carbon sequestration. It covers domestic, international, 

public sector, and private sector news. This compilation covers newsletters issued between 

September 2007 and August 2008. It highlights the primary news and events that have taken 

place in the carbon sequestration arena over the past year. Information that has become 

outdated (e.g. conference dates, paper submittals, etc.) was removed. 

To navigate this document please use the Bookmarks tab or the Acrobat search tool (Ctrl+F). 

To subscribe to this newsletter, please visit: 

http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/carbon_seq/refshelf/subscribe.html. 

HIGHLIGHTS ............................................................................................................................................ 1

SEQUESTRATION IN THE NEWS .............................................................................................................. 8

SCIENCE................................................................................................................................................. 21

POLICY .................................................................................................................................................. 29

GEOLOGY .............................................................................................................................................. 39

TECHNOLOGY ....................................................................................................................................... 46

TERRESTRIAL/OCEAN........................................................................................................................... 55

TRADING ............................................................................................................................................... 61

RECENT PUBLICATIONS ........................................................................................................................ 67

LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY......................................................................................................................... 81

ANNOUNCEMENTS ................................................................................................................................ 88
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HIGHLIGHTS 

September 2007 

Fossil Energy Techline, “Climate Technology: DOE Readies First Big U.S. Projects in CO2 Capture 

and Storage.” The US Department of Energy (DOE) is currently reviewing Phase III proposals for largescale geologic sequestration projects in support of the Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership 

Program. The program, which was formed in 2003 to research the best approaches to capture and 

permanently store the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide (CO2), will enter its next phase in October with 

announcements of Phase III deployment projects. The new stage of the Regional Partnerships’ work will 

follow as a logical extension of work completed to date during Phase I and Phase II, which encompassed 

the identification of point-source emissions and potential geologic storage formations in the United States 

and Canada, identifying potential projects, and performing geologic field tests to examine the various 

sequestration options. The Phase III proposals present scenarios using large-scale sequestration in 

saline formations, CO2 capture in coal-based power generation, and CO2sequestration for enhanced oil 

recovery efforts. Each of the proposed large-scale tests encompasses full project cycles to cover site 

characterization, injection operations and monitoring, site closure, and post-injection monitoring activities. 

Phase III projects are expected to continue through 2017 and will greatly enhance present international 

efforts for viable, large-scale demonstrations of carbon capture and storage. To learn more about DOE’s 

Carbon Sequestration Regional Partnerships Program, visit DOE’s National Energy Technology 

Laboratory (NETL) Carbon Sequestration Regional Partnership website at: 

http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/carbon_seq/partnerships/partnerships.html. August 3, 2007, 

http://www.fossil.energy.gov/news/techlines/2007/PrintVersion_1_29416_29416.html?print. 

October 2007 

NETL News Release, “Regional Partner Launches Drilling Test in DOE’s Carbon Sequestration 

Program.” The Plains CO2 Reduction Partnership (PCOR), one of the seven Department of Energy 

(DOE) Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships, has begun a small-scale geologic field test as part 

of their validation phase efforts which will focus on carbon dioxide (CO2) storage in a lignite seam in 

Burke County, North Dakota. The PCOR Partnership, managed by the University of North Dakota’s 

Energy and Environmental Research Center, will partner with Eagle Operating Inc. of Kenmare, North 

Dakota to conduct the two-year, two-phased test. During phase one, data about the coal seam will be 

collected in order to evaluate the seam’s potential to produce coalbed methane. PCOR researchers will 

drill five test wells in order to complete a geologic characterization of the lignite coal seam. Phase two will 

involve the injection of CO2 into the coal seam, as well as the potential recovery of valuable coalbed 

methane. PCOR’s validation phase test will inject at least 400 tons of CO2 at a depth of approximately 

1,200 feet. Results from the field test will be used to conduct similar geologic sequestration and coalbed 

methane recovery tests in the PCOR region. August 30, 2007, 

http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/press/2007/070830-Regional_Partner_Launches_Drilling.html. 

November 2007 

NETL News Release, “DOE Awards First Three Large-Scale Carbon Sequestration Projects.” On 

October 9, US Deputy Secretary of Energy Clay Sell announced the awards for the first of three largescale carbon sequestration projects to be deployed as part of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) 

Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership Program. The ventures represent the first of several DOE 

large-scale sequestration projects to be awarded, each with the goal to store at least one million tons of 

carbon dioxide (CO2) in deep geologic formations. The projects will kick off the third phase of work being 

done by the Regional Partnerships. Previous phases of work consisted of evaluating CO2 sources and 

sinks in various parts of the United States and Canada and conducting a series of small-scale field tests 
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to validate the various geologic formations for safe and permanent storage of CO2. The first project 

award, which consists of geologic sequestration projects in North Dakota and northwestern Alberta, 

Canada, was made to the Plains CO2 Reduction Partnership (PCOR), led by the Energy and 

Environmental Research Center at the University of North Dakota. PCOR’s projects will demonstrate 

both enhanced oil recovery and sequestration of CO2. The Southeast Regional Carbon Sequestration 

Partnership (SECARB), led by the Southern States Energy Board, received the second project award, 

which is expected to begin in late 2008. SECARB will conduct a large-scale CO2 injection test in two 

steps in the lower Tuscaloosa Formation Massive Sand Unit. The third award was made to the 

Southwest Regional Partnership (SWP) for Carbon Sequestration, led by the New Mexico Institute of 

Mining and Technology. SWP plans to inject several million tons of CO2 into the Jurassic Entrada 

Formation, a deep saline formation present throughout the SWP region. Each of the Deployment Phase 

tests will encompass site characterization, injection operations and monitoring, and site closure and postinjection monitoring. To learn more about DOE’s Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships, click on: 

http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/carbon_seq/partnerships/partnerships.html. October 9, 2007, 

http://www.doe.gov/print/5597.htm. 

December 2007 

Fossil Energy Techline, “DOE Releases Environmental Impact Statement for FutureGen Project.” 

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 

the FutureGen Project, detailing the potential environmental effects of constructing the world’s first coalfired power plant that produces both electricity and commercial-grade hydrogen gas from coal, in addition 

to capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2). The document evaluated four possible project sites in 

Mattoon, Illinois; Tuscola, Illinois; Jewett, Texas; and Odessa, Texas, and concluded each site offers an 

acceptable locale for funding the project, which is scheduled to begin operating in 2012. DOE will issue a 

Record of Decision for the Final EIS no sooner than 30 days after the Environmental Protection Agency 

(EPA) publishes its Notice of Availability of the Final EIS in the Federal Register. The Final EIS contains 

extensive evaluations of the potential environmental impacts for each site with respect to design, 

construction, and operation of the facility. Following the release of the Draft EIS on June 1, 2007, DOE 

conducted public meetings around each of the four final sites during the 45 day comment period. The 

FutureGen Industrial Alliance, a nonprofit consortium of coal producers and electricity generators, is 

responsible for making the final decision regarding the siting of the facility, which DOE anticipates to be 

made public before the end of the 2007. Once operational, the 275-megawatt facility will serve as the 

cleanest fossil fuel-fired plant in the world. To view the Final Draft of the FutureGen Environmental 

Impact Statement, click on: 

http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/coalpower/futuregen/EIS/FG%20Summary%20-%20FINAL.pdf. 

November 9, 2007, 

http://www.fossil.energy.gov/news/techlines/2007/PrintVersion_1_29761_29761.html?plain%20target.

January 2008 

NETL News Release, “NETL Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Brazil.” On November 20, 

the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and Brazil’s 

Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding 

(MOU) to pursue collaborative work that advances the technological, environmental, and cost 

performance of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies. This follows initial discussions that 

began at the first Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF) workshop on Capacity Building for 

Emerging Economies in May 2007. The MOU includes the exchange of information; the exchange of 

scientists between NETL’s Office of Research and Development and PUC’s Center for Excellence on 

Carbon Storage Research (CEPAC); technical assistance in specific projects; and jointly funded activities 

between NETL and PUC. Research conducted under the MOU will primarily focus on the development of 

clean technologies for the use of fossil fuels, the development and assessment of sequestration options 
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for carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases, the development and assessment of technologies 

to recover coalbed methane and enhanced coalbed methane with CO2, and the development and 

assessment of technologies for underground coal gasification and production of syngas from high-ash 

coals. With Brazil’s designation as the world’s tenth largest energy consumer and third largest in the 

western hemisphere behind the United States and Canada, the MOU has the potential to help reduce the 

country’s anthropogenic CO2 emissions. For further information about NETL’s Carbon Sequestration 

Program, go to: http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/carbon_seq/. To learn more about CSLF endorsed 

projects, click: http://www.cslforum.org/. November 20, 2007, 

http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/press/2007/071120-NETL_Signs_Memorandum_with_Brazil.html. 

February 2008 

Fossil Energy Techline, “Energy Department Awards $66.7 Million for Large-Scale Carbon 

Sequestration Project.” Following three awards granted through the US Department of Energy (DOE) 

Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership Program in October 2007 totaling $318 million, DOE 

awarded $66.7 million to the Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium (MGSC) on December 18, 

2007, to conduct DOE’s fourth large-scale carbon sequestration project. Led by the Illinois State 

Geological Survey, the partnership will demonstrate the safe, permanent, and economic storage of more 

than one million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the Mount Simon Sandstone Formation, a massive 

geologic formation that spans Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. The formation has the potential to 

store an estimated 100 years of CO2 emissions from major sources in the region, which MGSC plans to 

test by injecting one million tons of CO2 into the formation at a rate of 1,000 tons per day. The CO2 will be 

injected for three years, after which the injection site will be closed and the effectiveness of the storage 

reservoir evaluated. The entire CO2 injection process will be carried out in association with the Archer 

Daniels Midland (ADM) Company, whose Decatur, Illinois-based ethanol plant will serve as the primary 

source for the project’s CO2. ADM will share the CO2 production costs and DOE will fund the 

dehydration, compression, short pipeline, and related facility costs to deliver the CO2 to the wellhead. 

The grant is the fourth of seven awards to be made under the Regional Carbon Sequestration 

Partnerships Program’s Deployment Phase. To learn more about DOE’s Regional Carbon Sequestration 

Partnerships, click: http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/carbon_seq/partnerships/partnerships.html. For 

further information about MGSC, go to: http://www.sequestration.org/. December 18, 2007, 

http://www.fossil.energy.gov/news/techlines/2007/07084-Illinois_Basin_Sequestration_Proje.html. 

Reuters, “FutureGen Picks Illinois for Coal Project,” and Greenwire, “Industry Group Picks Illinois 

Site for FutureGen.” On December 18, 2007, the FutureGen Alliance selected Mattoon, Illinois as the 

location to build FutureGen, a $1.5 billion, near-zero emissions, coal-fired power plant that will 

demonstrate carbon capture and sequestration technologies. After considering more than 100 siterelated factors, such as land, water, and geology, the Alliance selected Mattoon over three other site 

finalists – Tuscola, Illinois; Jewett, Texas; and Odessa, Texas – because of the ability to pump CO2

directly underground from the plant. FutureGen Alliance officials announced the site decision earlier than 

initially agreed upon with DOE. Originally, DOE was to publish the final environmental impact statements 

on each of the four sites, let a 30-day waiting period pass before the declaration that each of the four 

sites was or was not suitable for the project, and then the FutureGen Alliance would announce its final 

site decision. However, the FutureGen Alliance publicized its decision sooner, and consequently, the 

decision to build in Mattoon will remain tentative until DOE announces its Record of Decision on the 

site's suitability. The next challenge for the 275-megawatt plant, which is anticipated to be online in 2012, 

is to obtain more government funding as costs continue rise. The latest cost estimate for the project has 

increased to $1.76 billion, which will be funded according to a cost-sharing agreement that states the 

FutureGen Alliance must pay 26 percent of the cost, with DOE funding the remaining 74 percent. The 13-

member FutureGen Alliance, formed in 2003, includes US companies such as American Electric Power 

and Peabody Energy, along with international businesses Anglo American, BHP Billiton, and China's 

largest coal-based power company, China Huaneng Group. To read the FutureGen Alliance’s Final Site 

Selection Report, click: http://www.futuregenalliance.org/news/fg_final_site_selection_report.pdf. 
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December 18, 2007, http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN1849317620071218?sp=true and 

December 18, 2007, http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2007/12/18/1/#1. 

March 2008 

Fossil Energy Techline, “DOE Announces Restructured FutureGen Approach to Demonstrate 

Carbon Capture and Storage Technology at Multiple Clean Coal Plants.” On January 30, US 

Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman announced a restructured approach to the FutureGen project, 

which involves the demonstration of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology at several 

commercial-scale Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power plants. The US Department of 

Energy (DOE) said that the reorganized approach caps their financing at no more than the plant’s CCS 

component, allowing for plants to be operational as early as 2015. Under this restructured approach, 

DOE believes that at least twice the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) will be sequestered compared to the 

FutureGen project. The four sites evaluated in DOE’s Environmental Impact Statement – Mattoon, 

Illinois; Tuscola, Illinois; Jewett, Texas; and Odessa, Texas – are still eligible to host a commercial-scale 

IGCC plant with CCS technology. DOE also issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking industries’ 

input by March 3, 2008 on the viability of building IGCC plants that achieve FutureGen’s objectives. After 

the RFI period ends, DOE will issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to provide financing for 

CCS technology at IGCC plants that generate at least 300 megawatts. Announced in 2003, the 

FutureGen concept planned the creation of a near-zero emissions, 275-megawatt power plant that 

produced hydrogen and electricity from coal. Secretary Bodman also announced President Bush's 

budget request of $648 million, a $129 million increase from the FY2008 request, for DOE’s Office of 

Fossil Energy's Clean Coal Technology Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009, including $407 million for 

coal research and $241 million to demonstrate technologies for cost-effective CCS. To view DOE’s RFI, 

click: http://www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/powersystems/futuregen/final_futuregen_rfi0108.pdf. 

January 30, 2008, http://www.fossil.energy.gov/news/techlines/2008/08003-

DOE_Announces_Restructured_FutureG.html. 

Fossil Energy Techline, “Fossil Energy Requests $1.1 Billion for FY 2009 Budget.” DOE’s FY 2009 

coal budget request of $648 million is the largest for coal research in over 25 years, including $406.5 

million for coal research and development (R&D), $85 million for the Clean Coal Power Initiative (CCPI), 

and $156 million for the restructured FutureGen approach. In regards to specific programs, the budget 

allocates the following: an $81.7 million funding increase from the FY 2008 FutureGen budget, increasing 

the total to $156 million; a $30 million increase to $149 million for carbon sequestration; a $15.5 million 

increase to $69 million for gasification technology; $60 million for fuel cells; and $85 million for Round 3 

of President Bush’s CCPI. For more detailed information about the budget, click 

http://www.fossil.energy.gov/aboutus/budget/09/fe_budgetfactsheet_fy09.pdf to read DOE’s “Budget in 

Brief FY09.” February 4, 2008, http://www.fossil.energy.gov/news/techlines/2008/08004-

FY2009_Budget_Request.html. 

April 2008 

NETL News Release, “Carbon Sequestration Partner Initiates CO2 Injection into Michigan Basin.”

The Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (MRCSP), one of the US Department of 

Energy’s (DOE) Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships (RCSP), has commenced a two-month 

field test that will inject up to 10,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) into a saline formation some 

3,200 to 3,500 feet below the Earth’s surface. The Core Energy-owned, Antrim gas field location 

advantageously provides the project with a DTE Energy-owned gas processing plant that supplies the 

CO2; an eight-mile CO2 pipeline previously used for enhanced oil recovery; and perhaps most 

importantly, the field test location at the Michigan Basin’s northern rim offers a number of well 

documented, suitable formations ideal for the geological storage of CO2. The 3,500-foot deep injection 

well is located thousands of feet below drinking water levels, which are typically no deeper than 1,000 
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feet in the Michigan region, moreover, the Amherstburg and Lucas formations provide 900 feet of 

containment above the injection zone. Led by Battelle, MRCSP received an Underground Injection 

Control (UIC) permit from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through Core Energy LLC in 

December 2007, the first such permit in the region for CO2 sequestration; while the Michigan Department 

of Environmental Quality, Office of Geological Survey issued the permit to drill the test well. This 

Michigan Basin field test is one of three MRCSP-managed geologic tests and one of 20 or so similar 

projects currently underway throughout the United States. For more information about the MRCSP’s 

activities, go to: http://www.mrcsp.org/ or for more information about DOE’s RCSPs, browse: 

http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/carbon_seq/partnerships/partnerships.html. February 18, 2008, 

http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/press/2008/08005-CO2_Injection_Begins_in_Michigan.html. 

May 2008 

Fossil Energy Techline, “DOE Technology Monitors CO2 Injection in Australian Gas Field.” On 

April 2, Australia launched the Otway Basin Pilot Project – the first carbon sequestration project in the 

southern hemisphere – with the help of technology developed by United States Department of Energy 

(DOE) researchers. Over a span of one to two years, the $36 million project will inject up to 100,000 

metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) into a depleted gas field in the Waarre Formation of southeastern 

Australia’s Otway Basin, and an international team will monitor the site’s long-term storage viability. The 

project will use instrumentation sponsored by the DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) 

and developed at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) that uses seismic techniques to 

trace the mile deep CO2 plume before and after injection and provide data about location, migration, and 

permanent CO2 storage. In addition, a well sampling technique that taps the reservoir and delivers fluid 

samples to the surface will be used to determine CO2 content and to conduct geochemical analyses. The 

Otway Basin is thought to be an excellent test site, because it is a large source of natural CO2 and offers 

plenty of depleted gas fields containing rock formations conducive to safe, long-term CO2 storage. 

Several other international demonstration projects, such as CO2SINK near Berlin, Germany and the 

commercial-scale CO2 storage operation at In Salah, Algeria, will benefit from the transfer of 

sequestration technologies by LBNL. The project is one of 19 projects endorsed by the Carbon 

Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF) and is directed by Australia’s Cooperative Research Centre for 

Greenhouse Gas Technologies (CO2CRC). For more information about CSLF, go to: 

http://www.cslforum.org/, or visit http://www.co2crc.com.au/ to read more about Australia’s CO2CRC. To 

view a video of the project, click: 

http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=79363&newsChannel=environmentNews. April 3, 2008, 

http://www.fossil.energy.gov/news/techlines/2008/08009-Australian_CO2_Injection_Begins.html. 

June 2008 

Fossil Energy Techline, “DOE Awards $126.6 Million for Two More Large-Scale Carbon 

Sequestration Projects.” On May 6, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) announced awards 

totaling $126.6 million to the West Coast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (WESTCARB) and 

the Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (MRCSP) to conduct large-scale tests (in 

California and Ohio, respectively) that demonstrate the ability of a geologic formation to store more than 

one million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2). The projects are the fifth and sixth DOE grants for large-scale 

tests (industry partners will contribute $56.6 million in cost-shared funds) that study the three phases of 

geologic storage: pre-injection characterization, injection process monitoring, and post-injection 

monitoring. The initial 24-month stage will complete the necessary modeling, monitoring, and 

infrastructure improvements needed before CO2 is injected. Led by the California Energy Commission, 

WESTCARB will inject one million tons of CO2 over four years into geologic formations below the 50-

megawatt Clean Energy Systems power plant in Kimberlina, California. The plant’s oxyfuel system 

produces a relatively pure CO2 stream that will be compressed and injected. MRCSP, headed by Battelle 

Memorial Laboratories, plans to inject one million tons of CO2 from an ethanol production facility into the 
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Mount Simon Sandstone formation at a depth of approximately 3,000 feet. The Mount Simon formation 

stretches from Kentucky through Ohio and has the potential to store more than 100 years of CO2

emissions. For more information about MRCSP, click: www.mrcsp.org, or for further details about 

WESTCARB, visit: http://www.westcarb.org/. May 6, 2008, 

http://www.fossil.energy.gov/news/techlines/2008/08012-DOE_Funds_Large-Scale_Projects.html. 

Fossil Energy Techline, “DOE Takes Next Steps with Restructured FutureGen Approach.” DOE 

released a draft Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to solicit public input regarding the 

demonstration of commercial-scale Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power plants 

equipped with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology as part of the restructured FutureGen 

approach. The FOA, which provided the public with an opportunity to review and comment through May 

21, outlined the planned scope of the project, evaluation criteria, terms and conditions, and cost sharing 

requirements for public-private cooperation. DOE estimates the investment per project would range from 

$100 million to $600 million and envisions plant operation to begin as soon as the plants are 

commissioned by December 31, 2015. Also, the draft FOA stated that the project must produce at least 

300 megawatts (MW) gross electricity output, with at least 50 percent of this output being used to 

produce electricity. In addition, the project must be designed to achieve approximately 90 percent 

capture of CO2 (with a minimum capture rate of 81 percent). The Final FOA will be released in midsummer 2008 and project selection is forecast for December 2008. To read the Draft FOA, click: http://ecenter.doe.gov/iips/faopor.nsf/8df825feb86675de852564650046faea/37325dddc3cc2f5b8525744200579

f33?OpenDocument. May 7, 2008, http://www.fossil.energy.gov/news/techlines/2008/08013-

DOE_Takes_Next_Steps_With_Restruct.html.

Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum Press Release, “Twenty-One Nations, European 

Commission, Meet in South Africa to Discuss CO2 Sequestration.” Twenty-one Carbon 

Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF) members met in Cape Town, South Africa to discuss the 

development of cost-effective technologies for the separation, capture, transport, and long-term storage 

of CO2. The meeting resulted in agreements on several fronts, including: (1) a CSLF declaration 

supporting the Group of Eight (G-8) recommendations for near-term deployment of CCS; (2) updating the 

CSLF strategic plan; (3) examining CSLF priorities for moving CCS forward that may be recommended 

to Energy Ministers; (4) appropriate initiatives and projects that would remove barriers from CCS 

implementation; (5) updating a CCS roadmap; (6) creating successful pathways for the transfer of 

technologies, knowledge, and experience about CCS; and (7) increasing the role of stakeholders in 

implementing the policy priorities. More information on CSLF can be obtained at: 

http://www.cslforum.org/index.htm, or at DOE’s CSLF webpage at: 

http://www.fe.doe.gov/programs/sequestration/cslf/index.html. April 23, 2008, 

http://cslforum.org/documents/CSLFPressRelease042308.pdf.

July 2008 

Fossil Energy Techline, “IEA Finds U.S. CO2 Sequestration Program World's Most Ambitious.”

The International Energy Agency Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme (IEA GHG), an international 

collaborative research program set up under the auspices of the IEA, validated the US Department of 

Energy’s (DOE) Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships (RCSP) and their large-scale carbon 

dioxide (CO2) tests as the world’s most “ambitious” program to advance the field of carbon capture and 

storage (CCS). A panel of scientific experts selected by IEA GHG found that the seven RCSPs are 

unique in that no other country or region has initiated a similar effort. IEA GHG’s report says that the 

projects are realistic, achievable, and should be implemented immediately; the projects serve as a major 

research initiative; and Phase III seeks to achieve significant results for the United States and the 

international community. The RCSP Program is a Federal, state, and private sector collaboration 

intended to determine the requisite technologies, regulations, and infrastructure needed for future CCS in 

different geological regions of North America. RCSPs include more than 350 state agencies, universities, 

and private companies within 42 states, three Indian nations, and four Canadian provinces. DOE 
7

launched the three-phase RCSP Program in 2003 as the centerpiece of their efforts to commercialize 

CCS technologies. During the first phase of the program, RCSPs identified more than 3,000 billion metric 

tons of potential storage capacity in North American geologic formations, equivalent to more than 1,000 

years of storage capacity. The second phase involved implementing some 25 small-scale geologic 

storage tests to evaluate whether different geologic formations have the ability to safely sequester CO2

over the long term. RCSPs are currently engaged in Phase III, which will examine the long-term storage 

of more than one million tons of CO2 in several large-scale tests. The RCSPs encompass 96 percent of 

the total land mass in the United States, which is home to 97 percent of coal-fired CO2 emissions, 97 

percent of industrial CO2 emissions, and nearly all of the geologic sequestration sites available for CO2

storage. (See Recent Publications section for abstract and link to IEA GHG’s “Expert Review of 

Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships Phase III.”) To learn more about the RCSP Program, 

visit: http://www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/sequestration/partnerships/index.html, or click: 

http://www.ieagreen.org.uk for IEA GHG information. June 5, 2008, 

http://www.fossil.energy.gov/news/techlines/2008/08019-IEA_Finds_US_CCS_Plans_Ambitious.html. 

Fossil Energy Techline, “Hawaii Joins DOE's Carbon Sequestration Regional Partnership 

Program.” Hawaii became the 42nd state to join DOE’s RCSP Program on May 6, coinciding with 

funding awarded to the West Coast Carbon Sequestration Partnership (WESTCARB) for a Phase III 

large-scale test in California. The sequestration efforts in Hawaii will involve site characterization, or 

“source sink matching,” of CO2 emission point sources and the terrestrial and/or geologic sinks that could 

safely store CO2. Under the leadership of the University of Hawaii, scientists will examine and update an 

inventory of Hawaiian GHG sources as mandated by a new state law. Hawaii joins California, Arizona, 

Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and British Columbia in the California Energy Commissionmanaged WESTCARB, which will conduct a geologic storage project in the San Joaquin Basin in Central 

California as part of their Phase III efforts. To learn more about WESTCARB’s activities, click: 

http://www.westcarb.org/. June 9, 2008, http://www.fossil.energy.gov/news/techlines/2008/08021-

Hawaii_Joins_WESTCARB.html.

August 2008 

 

Fossil Energy Techline, “DOE Regional Partnerships Find New Use for Unmined Coal.” The 

Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium (MGSC) became the first of the seven Regional Carbon 

Sequestration Partnerships (RCSP) created by the US Department of Energy (DOE) to inject carbon 

dioxide (CO2) into a coal seam in the United States in a field project in Wabash County, Illinois. The 

Phase II pilot project, headed by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and the Illinois and 

Indiana State Geological Surveys, will test the viability of turning unmined coal deposits into a source of 

useable energy by extracting coalbed methane trapped in the coal. The Illinois State Geological Survey 

estimates that there is up to 3.6 billion tons of storage capacity in the Illinois Basin, with more than 10 

trillion cubic feet of recoverable coalbed methane from the unmined bituminous coal seams. The Wabash 

County project eliminates the need for dewatering, a process where water is pumped out of the coal to 

extract gas; dewatering is not conducive to carbon sequestration because it creates a low pressure 

environment that reduces CO2 storage capacity. To avoid this scenario, MGSC scientists pump truckedin CO2 through a heater and inject it as a gas, which increases the underground pressure, allowing CO2

to absorb into the surface of the coal and displace methane. However, this method results in coal 

swelling, which has the potential to reduce the injection rate of CO2 and limit the overall amount that can 

be injected and stored in the coal seam. MGSC scientists circumvent this challenge by injecting the CO2

in eight to 24-hour cycles to give the CO2 adequate time to absorb into the coal, reduce well pressure, 

and clear any possible congestion. Researchers anticipate up to 250 tons of CO2 will be injected over 

three months while field testing the new injection approach. This project is one of six small-scale field 

tests being conducted by MGSC during the Validation Phase of the RCSP program; other field tests 

involve injecting CO2 for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) or into saline formations a mile or more below the 

surface. To learn more about DOE’s RCSP Program, go to: 

http://www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/sequestration/partnerships/index.html, or click: 
8

http://www.sequestration.org/ for more information about MGSC. July 17, 2008, 

http://www.fossil.energy.gov/news/techlines/2008/08026-

Regional_Partnerships_Tap_Unmined_Coal.html

Sequestration in the News 

September 2007 

Pantagraph.com, "Blagojevich Signs FutureGen Incentive Bill," and The News-Gazette.com,

"FutureGen Bill Now a Law." Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich signed legislation aimed at helping to 

bring the $1.4 billion FutureGen plant to Illinois. FutureGen is DOE’s zero-emissions coal-fired power 

plant initiative. If the plant is sited in Illinois, it would be located in either Mattoon or Tuscola. Illinois' best 

and final offer to build FutureGen will be submitted on August 1. The offer will include a $17 million state 

grant, $50 million in low-interest loans from the Illinois Finance Authority, several tax breaks and a 

package of local incentives. Since the FutureGen project includes carbon sequestration, the new state 

law establishes monitoring responsibility and offers liability protection from lawsuits related to the highly 

unlikely release of carbon dioxide. Illinois is competing against Texas which would site the plant in either 

Jewett or Odessa. Texas has passed a law containing similar legal protections. 

July 30, 2007, 

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/07/30/money/doc46ae5ce578e01817155333.prt, and July 31, 

2007, http://www.news-gazette.com/news/print/2007/07/31/futuregen_bill_now_a_law/. (Subscription 

required.) 

KTRE, TX News Release, “FutureGen Project,” and The Dallas Morning News, “Perry Makes Final 

Pitch to FutureGen Plant.” On August 1, Texas Governor Rick Perry presented his state’s final 

proposal to become home to DOE’s FutureGen project. With the final site announcement pending before 

the end of the year, the Texas cities of Odessa and Jewett are competing for the FutureGen Industrial 

Alliance’s award to host the site. Perry hopes that the state’s energy expertise and strong business 

climate will land the plant in his state. Texas is offering financial incentives that include $240 million in tax 

credits, $21 million in state funding, and commitments of public-private partnerships with major 

corporations, including Luminant, NRG Energy and Kinder Morgan. Texas is also offering to support 

carbon sequestration in its FutureGen offer. Texas Railroad Chairman Michael Williams, who chairs the 

FutureGen Texas team, said that Texas would offer liability protection for that effort. Two Illinois towns, 

Mattoon and Tuscola, are also being considered for the project award. August 1, 2007, 

http://www.ktre.com/global/story.asp?s=6873451&ClientType=Printable and August 2, 2007, 

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/080207dnbusperryfuturegen.35a82a2.html. 

PR Newswire, “BP and Powerspan Collaborate to Demonstrate and Commercialize CO2 Capture 

Technology for Power Plants.” On August 3, BP Alternative Energy and Powerspan Corporation 

announced their collaboration on Powerspan’s CO2 capture technology for power plants, called ECO2. 

The joint project will also include sequestration of the CO2 captured at the test site into an 8,000 foot test 

well for secure, long-term storage. DOE’s Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership is 

collaborating on the pilot scale testing at FirstEnergy Corporation’s R.E. Burger plant in Shadyside, Ohio. 

The test is scheduled to begin in early 2008. BP and Powerspan will conduct pilot testing of the 

ammonia-based CO2 capture technology, which would be the first test of its kind to demonstrate both 

CO2 capture and sequestration at a conventional coal-fired power plant. The process, developed through 

a cooperative agreement with NETL and Powerspan, uses an ammonia-based solution to capture the 

CO2 in flue gas, which can then be used for enhanced oil recovery efforts or geologic sequestration. With 

success of the pilot test, BP and Powerspan hope for full-scale commercial deployment of the 

technology. DOE estimates that the ammonia-based CO2 capture process could be more cost effective 

than commercially available amine-based capture technologies, and can be retrofitted to existing coal-
9

fired power plants. August 8, 2007, http://www.prnewswire.com/cgibin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-08-2007/0004641839&EDATE=. 

October 2007

ZeroGen Media Release, “Clean Coal Project Achieves Significant Milestone,” and The Age 

(Australia), “Queensland ZeroGen Project Passes First Test.” A significant milestone was reached 

with ZeroGen, Australia’s zero-emissions, clean coal power demonstration project, located in central 

Queensland. The Australian project combines Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) 

technology with CO2 capture and storage in efforts to greatly reduce atmospheric CO2 emissions. The 

first phase of testing, known as Drilling Program One (DP1), was completed successfully and involved 

drilling two test wells, both more than one kilometer deep. Results of the test have established the safe 

injection and storage of CO2 into saline formations in the Northern Denison Trough. Knowledge gained 

about the geology of the formation will assist ZeroGen researchers in locating suitable geologic 

formations for long-term storage of CO2. It will also allow them to move into the next phase of testing, 

Drilling Program 2 (DP2), which will involve locating a formation with sufficient storage capacity, 

analyzing project costs, performing risk assessment, and conducting monitoring and verification studies. 

More information about Australia’s ZeroGen project can be found at: www.zerogen.com.au. August 30, 

2007, 

http://www.zerogen.com.au/files/Media%20Release%2030%20August%202007%20Clean%20Coal%20

project%20achieves%20significant%20milestone.pdf, and August 30, 2007, 

http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Qld-ZeroGen-project-passes-firsttest/2007/08/30/1188067237414.html#. 

Greenwire, “Blue Source Will Capture Kansas CO2, Use for Oil Recovery Elsewhere.” Blue Source 

LLC will partner with Coffeyville Resources Nitrogen Fertilizers LLC on a carbon sequestration project 

that will capture and transport CO2 for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) efforts. Once the CO2 is 

sequestered, CO2 emission levels are expected to be reduced by 650,000 metric tons per year. The 

project involves capturing CO2 from Coffeyville Resources’ fertilizer plant in Kansas and transporting it 

via pipeline to depleted oil fields 120 miles away. Blue Source intends to market the emissions credits 

created by this project to fund other EOR or geologic sequestration projects. The project will cost 

between $50 million and $80 million. Blue Source has collaborated on many similar projects in the past 

and has about thirteen more in the planning stages. August 23, 2007, 

http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2007/08/23/14. 

The Age (Australia), “Big Firms Set for Carbon Opportunities.” While no firm emissions targets were 

established at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held in Sydney, many large 

Australian companies are recognizing investment opportunities in carbon-related business ventures, 

such as geosequestration and other clean coal technologies. At the same time, businesses including 

Chevron in Western Australia, BP Australia, Rio Tinto, Santos Limited, and Worley Parsons are reluctant 

and uncertain to move forward with emissions reduction investments in the absence of a clear regulatory 

framework and a structured carbon trading market. Carbon-related opportunities for Australian 

businesses include involvement of BP Australia and Rio Tinto in geosequestration, Santos’ large-scale 

carbon sequestration project in the Cooper Basin in Victoria, and General Electric’s clean coal 

technology development. September 11, 2007, http://www.theage.com.au/news/Business/Big-firms-setfor-carbon-opportunities/2007/09/11/1189276710149.html#

November 2007

Odessa American Online, “More on FutureGen.” Research conducted by Dr. Weon Shik Han of the 

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology shows that a local brine formation near the possible 

FutureGen site in Odessa, Texas is best suited for sequestering the plant’s CO2. By simulating the 
10

injection history of the United States’ oldest CO2 sequestration site, located at the Scurry Area Canyon 

Reef Operators Committee (SACROC) field near Snyder, Texas, Han deduced that having an oil 

reservoir near the injection site creates a physical barrier to prevent CO2 leakage. Han created a 

numerical model based on the 13 million tons of CO2 injected into the field’s northern quadrant, thus 

allowing him to identify the range of the trapping mechanisms. The well records showed that six million 

tons of CO2 had been produced in secondary recovery operations, while the remaining seven million tons 

of CO2 were successfully sequestered. Han, whose research is partly affiliated with President Bush’s 

Global Climate Change Initiative, concluded that when CO2 density is greater than oil density, a perfect 

seal is created. The Penwell site is vying against Jewett, Texas, and two Illinois towns, Mattoon and 

Tuscola, for the $1.5 billion, near-zero emissions, coal-fired power plant, whose final location will be 

announced by the FutureGen Alliance in December 2007. September 28, 2007, 

http://www.oaoa.com/news/co2_8216___article.html/futuregen_site.html. 

RWE News Release, “RWE Npower to Develop First 'Carbon Dioxide Capture’ Technology Pilot at 

a UK Coal Power Station.” By 2010, RWE npower plans to have the United Kingdom’s (UK) first CO2

capture pilot plant fully operational at the coal powered Aberthaw Power Station in South Wales. The 

UK’s largest electricity supplier will direct an initial $17.1 million (£8.4 million) toward a 1 megawatt (MW) 

capture plant, then focus further investment on a CO2 capture and storage demonstrator plant of at least 

25 MW. Unlike other CO2 capture and storage techniques, RWE will utilize post-combustion technology 

in both plants, a technology which is functional in already existing coal power plants. Once completed, 

the pilot plant will allow RWE to harness the technical and commercial issues surrounding CO2 capture 

and storage technology. The larger CO2 capture and storage demonstrator plant, currently under testing 

at existing plant sites in Tilbury, Essex, and Blyth, Northumberland, will form part of RWE’s high 

efficiency, supercritical power stations. This development came on the heels of RWE npower’s sister 

company announcing that it will team with BASF and The Linde Group to design, construct, and operate 

a CO2 capture and storage system at the lignite-fired Niederaussem Power Station in Germany. October 

10, 2007, http://www.rwe.com/generator.aspx/presse/language=en/id=76864?pmid=4001863. 

Blue Source LLC News Release, “Blue Source Announces Reduction of C02 Emissions at Natural 

Gas Plant in Carbon Capture Project for South Central Colorado,” and Reuters, “Blue Source to 

Pipe Colorado CO2 to Boost Oil Output.” Blue Source LLC, a leader in the marketing of greenhouse 

gas offsets in North America, announced plans to capture 20 million cubic feet of CO2 per day from the 

Apple Tree natural gas processing plant in southwest Colorado and pipe it to an aging petroleum field in 

the Permian Basin. In order for the 20 million cubic feet of CO2, equal to the emissions of 70,000 cars, to 

reach its destination, Blue Source will need an $8 million capital infusion to connect the Apple Tree vent 

stack to the Sheep Mountain CO2 Pipeline located 16 miles from the site. Blue Source officials said they 

plan to sell the gas to energy producers or purchase market credits, known as Voluntary Emissions 

Reductions (VERs), which will work to finance the investment. In addition to the Apple Tree development, 

Blue Source previously announced plans in August to capture CO2 from a Kansas fertilizer plant and 

pipe it from 70 to 120 miles for enhanced oil recovery at a cost of $50 million to $80 million. Similar Blue 

Source projects are in the works. October 8, 2007, http://www.ghgworks.com/5c-pr07-10-08.html and 

October 9, 2007, http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKN0941836420071009?pageNumber=1. 

NETL News Release, “DOE Releases Draft Funding Opportunity Announcement for CCPI Round 

3.” DOE has released the draft Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), Model Cooperative 

Agreement, and Model Payment Agreement for Round 3 of the Clean Coal Power Initiative (CCPI), 

which focuses on technologies that capture and sequester CO2 emissions and put them to beneficial 

use. DOE established the following goals for demonstration at a commercial scale in a commercial 

setting: technologies that capture and sequester at least 50 percent of CO2 emissions from the proposed 

facility, or put them to beneficial reuse; technologies that show significant progress toward 90 percent 

carbon capture; and technologies that show significant progress toward CO2 capture and sequestration 

with less than 10 percent increase in electricity costs. Round 3 is structured for demonstration projects 

that align with ongoing sequestration field tests, which could already be operational when new projects 
11

become available. Interested parties are encouraged to inquire about the cost-shared partnership during 

the public comment period, which began October 4, 2007 and ends November 9, 2007. A public 

workshop will be held in Pittsburgh, PA on November 1, 2007 related to the FOA. The final FOA is 

expected to be released by the end of November 2007 with an application due date of April 29, 2008. 

Serving as part of President Bush’s commitment to clean coal technology, the CCPI began in 2002 as a 

10-year, $2 billion program to advance coal based power generation by seeking innovative technologies 

on a commercial scale. To read the Draft FOA, click on: https://ecenter.doe.gov/iips/faopor.nsf/UNID/381D0BFF0BCDDEFD852572E60065938E?OpenDocument. 

(See the Announcements section of this newsletter for more information about the CCPI public 

meeting being held in response to this announcement.) October 4, 2007, 

http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/press/2007/07071-DOE_Seeks_CCPI_Comments_.html. 

December 2007

Arizona Public Service News Release, “APS, SRP, Tucson Electric Power Join Coalition to Test 

Storing Carbon Dioxide Underground to Reduce Greenhouse Gases.” Three major utilities 

participating in the West Coast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (WESTCARB) will launch a 

geologic sequestration pilot test near Joseph City, Arizona. The validation test, to be conducted by 

Arizona Public Service, Salt River Project, and Tucson Electric Power, involves injecting commercial CO2

at a depth of approximately 4,000 feet into an underground saline formation. Although located near the 

APS Cholla Power Plant, the project will not capture the emissions from the coal-burning power plant for 

this test. The injected CO2 will be monitored to validate the safety and long-term storage potential of this 

geologic formation. Local residents and community leaders gave positive feedback about the project at 

public hearings held in August. WESTCARB is one of the seven Regional Carbon Sequestration 

Partnerships formed by DOE to determine the best approaches for capturing and permanently storing 

CO2. To learn more about WESTCARB, visit the partnership website at: www.westcarb.org. October 24, 

2007, http://www.aps.com/general_info/newsrelease/newsreleases/NewsRelease_424.html. 

Reuters, “NRG to Test CO2 Capture at Coal Unit,” and Greenwire, “Companies Will Add CarbonCapture to Texas Power Plant.” NRG Energy and Powerspan Corporation announced plans to 

demonstrate a CO2 capture and storage process at the NRG-owned, coal-fired WA Parish plant in Fort 

Bend County, located southwest of Houston, Texas. After the CO2 is captured from the 125-megawatt 

plant’s flue gas, using Powerspan’s electrocatalytic oxidation technology (ECO2), companies in the 

region will use the CO2 for enhanced oil recovery. The ammonia-based ECO2 solution is designed to 

capture CO2 from flue gas emitted after combustion. Powerspan expects the facility to be operational in 

2012, with 90 percent of the flue gas CO2 captured – totaling an NRG-projected one million tons of CO2

captured and sequestered annually. Once functional, the $150 million venture will rank among the 

world’s largest carbon sequestration projects. The announcement comes on the heels of Powerspan’s 

teaming with BP Alternative Energy in August to commercialize the ECO2 technology and conduct a pilot 

test at an Ohio coal plant in early 2008. November 2, 2007. 

http://www.reuters.com/articlePrint?articleId=USN0257439020071102 and November 2, 2007, 

http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2007/11/02/11. 

Columbus Dispatch, “Going Underground,” and Columbus Dispatch, “CO2 Could Go 

Underground.” Researchers from the Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership, headed by 

Battelle, have completed an experimental well to determine the potential of Ohio’s geology to sequester 

the region’s CO2 emissions. As part of the Ohio Stratigraphic Borehole Project, sensing equipment was 

placed, and a hole was drilled to a depth of 8,695 feet. Beginning at 40 feet deep, the team collected 

geological cuttings every five feet until the 1,215 foot mark, where the sampling collection rate shifted to 

every 10 feet. Following the drilling, geologists conducted several tests, including examining core 

samples and lowering equipment into the shaft to measure porosity, testing for radioactivity levels; and 

injecting saline into prospective layers to determine how fluids move through rock. Tests revealed that 

the Rose Run and Clinton sandstones are potentially porous enough to sequester CO2 in the region. 
12

While the project took place in eastern Ohio’s Tuscarawas County, geologists are also monitoring the 

Mount Simon sandstone in western Ohio and a layer called Copper Ridge in southern Ohio as potential 

CO2 storage sites. November 6, 2007, 

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/science/stories/2007/11/06/sci_borehole.ART_ART_11-

06-07_B4_NN8ARQL.html?print=yes&sid=101 and November 6, 2007, 

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2007/11/06/borehole.ART_ART_11-

06-07_B1_TV8CSPE.html?print=yes&sid=101. 

January 2008 

Salt Lake Tribune, “Project Plans to Bury CO2,” and Salt Lake Tribune, “Putting a Lid on Global 

Warming.” A 10-year, $88 million carbon sequestration research project, funded primarily by a $67 

million grant from DOE’s NETL, is targeting the long term CO2 injection and storage capabilities of miledeep, saltwater-filled sandstone formations located 130 miles southeast of Salt Lake City in Wellington, 

Utah. The project, managed by the Southwest Regional Partnership (SWP), plans to capture naturally 

occurring CO2 from the Pure Energy-owned site and pipe CO2 from a coalbed methane site; compress 

the CO2 at 2,200 pounds per square inch (psi); and inject some three million tons of CO2 over the next 

four years into a 200 to 300 feet thick sandstone formation covered by an impervious layer of shale. The 

new, Wellington-based project phase is focused on an area called Farnham Dome, a storage site located 

5,000 feet below the desert surface that has naturally stored CO2 for some 10 to 50 million years. In fact, 

businesses collected CO2 from the naturally occurring CO2 pool until 1979 for use during the production 

of dry ice and soft drinks. For further information about SWP projects, partners, and events, go to: 

http://www.southwestcarbonpartnership.org/. November 16, 2007, http://www.sltrib.com/ci_7488186 and 

November 16, 2007, http://www.sltrib.com/ci_7478872 (Subscription required). 

Tulsa World, “Capturing Carbon: AEP-PSO Program to Route CO2 to State Oil Fields.” After 

signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SemGreen in October, American Electric PowerPublic Service Company of Oklahoma (AEP-PSO) announced plans to capture and pipe about half of the 

CO2 produced from one of its 450-megawatt units located at the Northeastern Station in Oologah, 

Oklahoma to mature oil fields. Under the agreement, SemGreen, a subsidiary of Tulsa-based SemGroup 

LP, will receive 1.5 million tons of CO2 per year that will be used by SemGreen or sold to other 

companies for enhanced oil recovery. AEP expects the project, which is billed as the largest of its kind in 

the nation, to be installed and operational by 2012, helping to reduce the emissions from the world’s 

seventh largest CO2 producing company. In addition, AEP selected Oklahoma as a viable location for the 

technology due to the state’s active energy industry and the prospect that the recovered CO2 could be 

used for developing declining oil resources. Although Oklahoma’s oil production has recently dipped, 

industry hopes CO2 injection can increase oil production at more than 74,000 wells that are responsible 

for producing about 85 percent of the state’s total oil output. November 17, 2007,

http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?articleID=071117_238_E1_hAEPP48341. 

Penn West Energy Trust News Release, “Penn West Announces Update on South Swan Hills CO2

Pilot Project.” Penn West Energy Trust announced a partnership with the Government of Alberta to 

initiate a CO2 enhanced oil recovery pilot test at the South Swan Hills Unit, which includes the permanent 

sequestration of large volumes of CO2 in a portion of the reservoir that has not yet been effectively 

tapped by prior hydrocarbon injection. By using the CO2 flooding process, Penn West hopes to safely 

store CO2 underground that would otherwise be emitted into the air and develop infrastructure necessary 

for an industry wide movement toward commercial scale CO2 enhanced oil recovery projects within the 

basin. Penn West officials believe the project is the first key step in evaluating and confirming the 

economic viability of recovering additional oil from the Swan Hills area using CO2 enhanced oil recovery 

techniques. The project is expected to begin during the first quarter of 2008, with Penn West and Alberta 

Energy investing approximately $20 million and $6.5 million, respectively, to bring the project to life. As 

part of Alberta Energy’s Innovative Energy Technologies Program (IETP), the project is one of several 
13

that benefits from a five-year, $200 million commitment to pilot projects that demonstrate new 

technologies that increase and encourage responsible development of oil and natural gas reserves. 

December 11, 2007, http://www.pennwest.com/documents/SSHUPressRelease.pdf. 

February 2008 

Business Week, “FutureGen Developers Propose Cost Change.” Less than one month after the 

designatation of Mattoon, Illinois as the future location of FutureGen, DOE threatened to delay or 

rescope the project into several research sites across the country in light of ever increasing construction 

costs. Government projections show the plant’s projected cost has risen from $950 million to $1.8 billion, 

boosting DOE’s obligation to around $1.3 billion – significantly up from the $800 million originally 

projected in 2003. Consequently, DOE has offered to lower the government’s contribution to the same 

level as when the project was announced, leaving the FutureGen Alliance to cover the remaining cost 

and assume any further cost increases, more than likely funded through a combination of bank financing 

and repayments from plant-generated revenue. In response, FutureGen Alliance officials have been 

receptive to dialogue and offered to increase their contribution, because adding sites would delay the 

project by another two to five years due to further environmental reviews and other testing to prove site 

suitability. DOE has yet to issue its Record of Decision for the Mattoon site – a requirement before the 

department can spend taxpayer money on the project. January 11, 2008, 

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8U419PG0.htm. 

Houston Business Journal, “Proposed Freeport Plant Will Capture, Re-use Waste,” and Dow 

Chemical Company News Release, “Dow Signs MOU for Gasification Facility.” Houston-based 

Hunton Energy and Michigan-based Dow Chemical Company announced the signing of a 15-year 

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will result in the construction of a capture-ready synthetic 

natural gas plant in Freeport, Texas. Under the terms of the MOU, the plant will manufacture syngas by 

mixing oxygen with petroleum coke and biomass and then convert it to methane, liquid sulfur, and slag – 

in addition to capturing 100 percent of CO2 emissions. Hunton Energy would own, build, and operate the 

plant, which would be located on Dow’s Oyster Creek property, and once the gasification plant is 

completed, Dow would purchase synthetic natural gas and steam from Hunton for transport to its large 

Texas Operations manufacturing site, located in Freeport as well. Over the course of the project, Hunton 

plans to use steam turbines to produce additional power, sell CO2 for enhanced oil recovery use, and sell 

byproduct sulfur and slag to fertilizer and concrete manufacturers, respectively. Groundbreaking for the 

plant is expected to take place in late 2008, giving Dow seven years to fulfill their company initiative to 

reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2015. December 17, 2007, 

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2007/12/17/daily8.html and December 13, 2007, 

http://news.dow.com/dow_news/corporate/2007/20071213c.htm. 

Total Press Release, “Total and Indonesia Sign a Memorandum of Understanding on CO2 Capture 

and Storage,” and Energy Business Review, “Total and Indonesia Sign Carbon Capture and 

Storage Deal.” On December 17, Total announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding 

(MOU) by Total E&P Indonesia and the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, allowing 

for Indonesia’s Agency of Research and Development for Energy and Mineral Resources to access 

Total’s data from a CO2 pilot project taking place near Lacq in southwest France. The project, dubbed as 

one of the first in the world to encompass the complete sequence from fuel combustion to geological 

storage, is anticipated to prove the viability of an integrated carbon capture and storage methodology. 

The agreement provides Indonesia with the opportunity to evolve its economical and technical 

knowledge of geologic CO2 storage mechanisms and assist the Indonesian Government in the 

establishment of proper regulatory framework for comparable projects. Total, Indonesia’s leading gas 

producer, supplies a portion of the domestic market and foreign markets in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. 

December 17, 2007, http://www.total.com/en/press/press_releases/pr_2007/071217-indonesia-co2-

capture-storage_14383.htm and December 17, 2007, http://www.energy-businessreview.com/article_news.asp?guid=E1C793B2-00F3-446F-9040-F7C888F8F0FC. 
14

March 2008 

Wall Street Journal Online, “China Works To Trap, Use Carbon Output.” On January 30, Hong 

Kong-based Enviro Energy International Holding Ltd. and Canada-based Petromin Resources Ltd. 

signed an agreement with China United Coalbed Methane Corp. to initiate a five-year, multi-well CO2

injection-based enhanced coal bed methane pilot project. The $1.39 million (10 million yuan) project, 

partially funded by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, includes drilling wells in an 

unminable coal bed located about 3,000 feet below the surface. China is interested in using methane to 

power turbines in power plants because of the country’s 90-gigawatt rise in electricity capacity over the 

past two years – a figure equivalent to the combined generating capacity of the United Kingdom and 

France in 2006-07. A $9 million (64.6 million yuan) pilot test conducted near the South Qinshui Basin in 

Shanxi Province revealed that methane rates double when CO2 was injected into the coal bed. January 

30, 2008, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120166910098728185.html.

The Canadian Press, “Enbridge to Lead Group of 19 Energy Companies in Carbon Capture 

Project.” Enbridge Inc., a Canadian pipeline company, is leading the Alberta Saline Aquifer Project 

(ASAP), an initiative that intends to inject CO2 emissions into underground saltwater pools. The project, 

conducted by a group of 19 energy industry members, is currently in its first phase, which includes a 

study to find ideal locations to commence the project at a cost of $750,000. Officials said a small-scale 

pilot project capable of injecting 1,000 tonnes of CO2 per day would cost $20 million to $30 million and 

the price of commercializing the technology would exceed $200 million – a figure significantly lower than 

a $2 billion fee estimated by a Canadian government taskforce on CO2 capture and storage. A similar 

Canadian initiative, the Integrated CO2 Network (ICO2N), seeks to create a nationwide system to capture 

emissions from a number of industrial sites and move them by pipeline to depleted oil and gas fields, 

unmineable coal formations, or deep saline aquifers. February 4, 2008, 

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jkXSSwenMdSK8TW3j7Jwrlrn4krA.

Norway Post, “Aker to Invest in Pioneering Carbon Capture Facility,” and Aker ASA Press 

Release, “Invests Close to a Billion Kroner in Pioneering Carbon Capture Facility.” Aker Clean 

Carbon announced plans to build a CO2 capture and storage facility near the natural gas-fired power 

plant and gas processing facilities at Kårstø in Rogoland, Norway, capable of capturing 100,000 tons of 

CO2 annually from exhaust gases – a project billed as the world’s first and largest CO2 capture facility of 

its kind. The facility, expected to be operational in 2009, is connected to both CO2 point sources to allow 

for continuous CO2 removal. In addition, the new CO2 capture plant is projected to cost $160 million 

(NOK 875 million), with operating costs of $27 million (NOK 150 million) over a three-year period. Aker 

said that their recent efforts have focused on mitigating the cost of carbon sequestration, so that building 

facilities for CO2 capture and storage becomes a more economically friendly option than polluting.

January 24, 2008, http://www.norwaypost.no/cgi-bin/norwaypost/imaker?id=127340 and January 24, 

2008, http://www.akercleancarbon.com/publish_files/080124_Aker_Clean_Carbon_PME_1100.pdf. 

Reuters UK, “UAE Carbon Storage to Cost $2-$3 Billion - SNC Lavalin.” The Canadian engineering 

and construction company SNC-Lavalin revealed that a plan to build CO2 capture and storage network 

would reduce the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) CO2 emissions by around 10 percent, boost oil output, 

and cost from $2 billion to $3 billion. Based on an estimated 76 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, 

a study proposed that four to six projects, costing approximately $500 million each, could be quickly built 

to reduce CO2 emissions from six million to eight million tonnes per year. The aim of the project, which 

would be the largest single integrated CO2 capture and storage project in the world, is to inject CO2 into 

oilfields to maintain oil pressure and enhance output. UAE, the world's fifth-largest oil exporter, will 

benefit from the close proximity of emissions sites to oilfields and the abundance of large reservoirs that 

can be used for CO2 storage. January 22, 2008, 

http://uk.reuters.com/article/UK_SMALLCAPSRPT/idUKL2265559420080122.
15

Kyodo News, “Power Firm Succeeds in Injecting Large Amount of CO2 into Coal Beds.” General 

Environmental Technos Corporation, a subsidiary of Kansai Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO), announced 

the successful, large scale injection of CO2 into deep coal beds through the use of nitrogen – a first in the 

world. The nitrogen technology enabled 6.6 tons of CO2 to be injected per day, equivalent to the amount 

of CO2 absorbed by 900,000 cedar trees each day. In addition to enhancing the recovery of coal bed 

methane, the use of nitrogen prevents the coal bed from swelling, which would reduce the space 

available for greenhouse gas (GHG) storage. The nitrogen-based technology has undergone testing 

since 2004 in Yubari, Hokkaido under a project promoted by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade 

and Industry. January 28, 2008, http://home.kyodo.co.jp/modules/fstStory/index.php?storyid=360105. 

(Subscription required.) 

April 2008 

Urbana/Champaign News-Gazette, “States Join Illinois' Call for Original FutureGen Plan,” and 

LiveMint.com, “India May Pull Out of FutureGen as US Mulls Project Scaleback.” On March 5, 

representatives from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and West Virginia sent a letter to 

President George W. Bush emphasizing the need to keep the FutureGen project in Mattoon, Illinois and 

the importance of developing clean coal technology and maintaining commitments to foreign countries 

financially contributing to the project. Although the restructured approach allows DOE to partially fund 

multiple projects, the letter presented concerns about the project failing to sequester as much CO2 as the 

original FutureGen plan and questioned the expenses of those who originally applied. Dozens of 

proposals were received by DOE regarding the restructured approach, which will help shape bids for the 

project and approximate cost and project feasibility. DOE expects to begin taking industry bids sometime 

this spring. Meanwhile, India is considering withdrawing from the FutureGen initiative despite having 

already invested $10 million, but Indian officials have maintained open lines of communication with US 

officials about the project. As India generates a significant portion of its electricity from coal, the 

FutureGen project’s advanced technologies interested the Indian government, but now Indian officials 

describe their interest for the project as “extremely low.” The restructured FutureGen approach would 

invest in only the carbon capture and storage (CCS) portion of the project and not an entire plant’s 

construction, which would allow for multiple plants to be commercially working by 2015 with viable CCS 

technologies. For further information about FutureGen, visit: 

http://www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/powersystems/futuregen/. March 6, 2008, http://www.newsgazette.com/news/local/2008/03/06/states_join_illinois_call_for_original, and March 7, 2008, 

http://www.livemint.com/2008/03/06231204/India-may-pull-out-of-FutureGe.html. (Subscription required.) 

Bloomberg.com, “Canada Requires New Oil-Sands Projects to Capture, Store Carbon,” and 

Google News, “Canada Unveils Carbon Capture Plan, Ban on Dirty Coal.” New environmental 

regulations announced by the Canadian government state that oil sands projects beginning operation in 

2012 or later will be required to capture and store their CO2 emissions and the construction of new coalfired power plants will be restricted, aiding Canada in its goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) levels by 

20 percent by 2020. Alberta’s oil sands are the second largest oil reserve in the world, but the estimated 

173 billion barrels had gone largely untouched until 2000 due to high extraction costs (oil sands must be 

mined and bitumen separated from the sand and water, then upgraded and refined). However, Canadian 

officials believe the GHG emissions of oil sands projects, which extract oil from tar deposits, may double 

by 2015 if oil sand output triples over the next decade as projected. Some officials believe the new 

carbon regulations will deter future investment in such projects, although Enbridge Inc. announced in 

February that it will head a group of 19 energy firms studying the feasibility of injecting and storing CO2 in 

saline formations 8,000 feet deep. March 10, 2008, 

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=aQ3QdGGEE8H4&refer=canada, and March 

10, 2008, http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i2qa6dmy7kOB4_yvmPNZRUsxCxaw.
16

Oil Voice, “State and RWE Dea Launch CO2 Storage Project to Aid Climate Protection.” Following 

$39 million (25 million euros) in research grants to the University of Kiel and Leibniz Institute of Marine 

Sciences IFM-GEOMAR last year, the German Federal state of Schleswig-Holstein and RWE Dea AG 

are initiating a CO2 storage project that will explore three regions in Germany’s northern, lowland plains – 

North Frisia, East Holstein, and the North Sea. RWE Dea has already applied for permission from the 

German State Department for Mining, Energy and Geology to examine the CO2 storage potential in 

these regions and hopes that once approval is received, seismic survey results could be available by the 

end of 2009. Should these seismic results align with projections, an exploratory well could be drilled early 

in the summer of 2010, which could lead to the construction of a CO2 storage facility in SchleswigHolstein. Current RWE Dea projections estimate that a $93.2 million (60 million euros) investment would 

be necessary for the construction of a plant that would have an annual $6.2 million (4 million euros) 

operating cost. March 12, 2008, 

http://www.oilvoice.com/n/State_and_RWE_Dea_Launch_CO2_Storage_Project_to_Aid_Climate_Protec

tion/aa2df854.aspx. 

Saskatoon Star Phoenix, “Gov't Proceeding with $1.4B Clean Coal-Carbon Capture Project,” and 

SaskPower News Release, “New Federal Funding Opens Door to Major Carbon Capture 

Demonstration Project in Saskatchewan.” Saskatchewan’s provincial government announced plans to 

commence a seven-year project that will reconstruct and repower SaskPower’s coal-fired power 

generation unit at the Boundary Dam Power Station. The announcement came one day after the 

Canadian Federal budget allotted $240 million to Saskatchewan to demonstrate a clean-coal project; 

SaskPower’s share of the total $1.4 billion cost will be approximately $758 million. The proposed project 

would produce 100 megawatts of baseload power, reduce SaskPower’s GHG emissions by about one 

million tonnes per year, and use the captured CO2 for enhanced oil recovery. SaskPower’s 

announcement follows their cancelled initiative to construct a 300-megawatt, near-zero emission, 

pulverized coal plant, which failed to progress because SaskPower needed the Federal government to 

up their financial support for an initial $3.8 billion plant near Estevan. The project will contribute to the 

Saskatchewan Party government’s goal to cut GHG emissions by 32 percent by 2020. February 27, 

2008, http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/story.html?id=98b0cc5b-943b-48ef-89bd99eddfb95925&k=88812, and February 27, 2008, 

http://www.saskpower.com/aboutus/news/?p=368#more-368.

Google News, “Utility Proposes First US Coal-Fired Plant to Capture CO2,” and Tenaska News 

Release, “Tenaska Proposes Nation’s First New Conventional Coal-Fueled Power Plant to 

Capture Carbon Dioxide.” US energy company Tenaska announced a proposal for a new 600-

megawatt, coal-fired power plant in Texas that would capture 90 percent of its CO2 emissions to sell for 

enhanced oil recovery in the Permian Basin. If the plant is built it will be located near Sweetwater, Texas 

and operate as the first commercial-scale coal-fired plant to capture and provide storage for CO2. 

Tenaska has already requested a state air permit through the Texas Commission on Environmental 

Quality for the three billion dollar plant, but withheld any future plans, saying the final decision will come 

in 2009 based on government incentives, construction costs, and the price of electricity and CO2. In 

addition to transporting the CO2 via pipeline for geological storage, the plant, which could be operational 

in 2014 if construction begins in late 2009, will power some 600,000 homes and contribute more than 

one billion dollars in oil production to Texas’ economy. February 19, 2008, 

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hpAuRg-wbtc5esL6s6_sm6ML7K9w, and February 19, 2008, 

http://www.tenaska.com/newsItem.aspx?id=30. 

May 2008 

Environment & Energy Daily, “DOE May Lower FutureGen Requirement for Capturing CO2,” and

House Committee on Science and Technology Press Release, “Subcommittee Reviews DOE’s 

Plans for FutureGen.” On April 8, the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee held 
17

a hearing to discuss the restructured FutureGen project and it was recommended that DOE reduce the 

90 percent capture requirement for restructured FutureGen project proposals, because it is 

uneconomical to increase a gasifier’s CO2 capture rate. Other topics discussed included: the possibility 

of a “dual track” program combining the original and restructured FutureGen approach, which would cost 

nearly $3 billion; a regulatory framework that encourages technological development; economic 

incentives; carbon pricing; a cost-sharing plan for the first adopters of the technology; and a plan to 

address liability issues. Another hearing held on April 16 by the House Science and Technology 

Committee’s Energy and Environment Subcommittee reviewed DOE’s decision to restructure FutureGen 

and questioned individuals about DOE’s decision making process and whether this approach is the best 

method to exhibit carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies. Some committee members also 

expressed concern that the restructured FutureGen program will delay the development, demonstration, 

and advancement of CCS technologies after being told they must head in a new direction following five 

years of thinking FutureGen would solve one of the United States' critical environmental challenges. April 

10, 2008, http://www.eenews.net/EEDaily/2008/04/10/2/, and April 15, 2008, 

http://science.house.gov/press/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=2157.

Business Wire, “Southern California Edison Launches the Nation’s First Full Commercial Scale 

Assessment of Advanced Coal Generation Technologies.” Following plan approval by the California 

Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on April 10, the United States’ first advanced coal technology 

feasibility study will be conducted by Southern California Edison (SCE) at a commercial-scale, 600-

megawatt facility. The two-year, $50 million project will test the following elements for the first time: 

capturing as much as 90 percent of CO2 and sequestering the CO2 in a deep saline or depleted oil 

formation for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). On October 9, 2007, SCE received a share of a $65 million 

DOE grant, a portion of which also was awarded to the Southwest Regional Partnership (SWP) of DOE’s 

Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (RCSP) Program. SWP plans to inject one million tons of 

CO2 in the Western United States’ Entrada Sandstone Formation as part of SCE’s Clean Hydrogen 

Power Generation program. For more information about the SWP, click: 

http://www.southwestcarbonpartnership.org/. April 10, 2008, 

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080410006160&ne

wsLang=en. 

ZeroGen Media Release, “Reconfigured ZeroGen Project to Deliver Large Scale Clean Coal Power 

Plant by 2017,” and ZeroGen Media Release, “Coal Industry Funds Revamped ZeroGen 

Queensland Clean Coal Project.” On March 20, ZeroGen Pty Ltd announced that Queensland, 

Australia’s ZeroGen project is being reconfigured into two stages that will minimize the technological risk 

associated with building the world’s first coal gasification power plant. Under this modified plan, Stage 

One would entail building an 80-megawatt demonstration plant by 2012 capable of capturing 75 percent 

of emissions with the state-of-the-art 6-flow turbine. The CO2 emissions will be transported approximately 

137 miles by truck from the plant’s Rockhampton location in Central Queensland to reservoirs in the 

Northern Denison Trough for injection and safe storage. Stage Two involves building the world’s first 

large-scale, 330-megawatt plant by 2017 that would be capable of capturing up to 90 percent of CO2

emissions. A feasibility study to determine the location of the plant will run concurrently to Stage One, 

with hopes research can be completed by the end of 2009. The Australian Coal Association (ACA) 

supports the reconfigured project and said it would provide up to $26 million through the COAL21 Fund 

to finance the Stage One study. To view the ZeroGen website, click: http://www.zerogen.com.au/home. 

March 20, 2008, http://www.zerogen.com.au/files/ReconfiguredZeroGenproject_0.pdf, and March 20, 

2008, http://www.zerogen.com.au/files/Australian%20Coal%20Association%20media%20release.pdf. 

Environment & Energy Daily, “Miners Seek $1 Billion per Year Sequestration Fund.” In a letter 

submitted to John Dingell, the House Energy and Commerce Chairman, the presidents of the United 

Mine Workers of America (UMWA) and National Mining Association (NMA) asked Congress to fund a 

new $1 billion per year sequestration fund that would finance the development of coal-fired power plants 

fitted with CCS technology. The suggested fund would not be included in Congress’s annual 
18

appropriations, but rather the letter offered that fossil fuel energy users be charged a fee to finance the 

fund. The joint letter arose from a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sponsored report 

conducted by the Advanced Coal Technology Work Group that advocated funding five to 10 commercialscale power plants capable of capturing and storing greenhouse gases (GHG). The working group, 

composed of industry officials, academics, scientists, and environmentalists, also expressed the need to 

establish a carbon “market driver” and expand EPA outreach efforts regarding health risks and benefits. 

Representatives Dingell and Rich Boucher, the Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee chairman, have 

previously communicated their desire to increase incentives for carbon technologies and draft a broader 

global warming bill as early as this spring. To read the EPA-sponsored report, go to: 

http://www.eenews.net/features/documents/2008/04/01/document_daily_03.pdf. To view the UMWANWA letter, click: http://www.eenews.net/features/documents/2008/04/01/document_daily_01.pdf. April 

1, 2008, http://www.eenews.net/EEDaily/2008/04/01/3/. 

Jamestown Post-Journal, “Budget Includes $400K for Carbon Capture Testing.” A New York state 

budget bill passed on April 4 includes $400,000 to fund an in-depth geological study in western New 

York that will investigate equipping a proposed 43-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Jamestown with 

CCS technology. With the state matching an earlier $400,000 grant from the New York State Energy 

Research and Development Authority (NYSERSA), the study is entirely government funded and will likely 

be completed within an 18-month period. Battelle Labs, which is already responsible for conducting 

DOE’s Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (MRCSP) project in Columbus, Ohio, will 

drill the test wells for the study and examine rock structures located at least 3,000 feet beneath the 

Earth’s surface. The project, backed by President George W. Bush’s administration, is also supported by 

the Democrat-controlled Assembly, the Republican-controlled state Senate, and New York Governor 

David Paterson. For more information about New York’s state-funded, carbon sequestration research 

projects, click: http://www.nyserda.org/Press_Releases/2008/PressRelease20081401_3.asp. April 8, 

2008, http://post-journal.com/articles.asp?articleID=26523. 

June 2008 

Montana State University News Service, “Montana Carbon Sequestration Study Receives State 

Funding.” The Montana Board of Research and Commercialization awarded the Big Sky Carbon 

Sequestration Partnership a $157,000 grant to help fund a study investigating the geological storage 

potential at Kevin Dome in northern Montana. Led by Montana State University geologists David Bowen 

and David Lageson, the study will use existing well logs, core samples, and seismic surveys to determine 

the porosity, permeability, thickness, areal extent, and structural features of the underground, domeshaped rock formation. As part of the DOE-funded Regional Carbon Sequestration Program’s (RCSP) 

Validation Phase, the project will commence this summer, under the premise that the Kevin Dome study 

will shed light on the storage characteristics of similar formations in the region. Additional details about 

DOE’s Validation Phase are available at: 

http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/carbon_seq/partnerships/validation-phase.html, or visit: 

http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/carbon_seq/partnerships/validation.html to view a field test map. 

For more information about the Big Sky Carbon Sequestration Partnership, click: 

http://www.bigskyco2.org/. April 28, 2008, http://www.montana.edu/cpa/news/nwview.php?article=5868. 

Premier of Victoria Media Release, “$127.4 Million to Secure Victoria’s Clean Coal Future.” An 

April 30th announcement by the Victoria Premier established a $102 million ($110 million Australian) fund 

to launch new commercial-scale CCS demonstration projects in the Latrobe Valley and an $11.4 million 

($12.2 million Australian) fund to establish an organization designed for maximizing Victoria’s coal 

resources, called Clean Coal Victoria. Another $4.9 million ($5.2 million Australian) will finance research 

and modeling that investigates the storage potential of the Gippsland Basin in southeastern Australia. 

The investment is part of the Energy Technology Innovation Strategy’s (ETIS) second phase. The first 

phase involved the development of the Latrobe Valley Post Combustion Project at Loy Yang Power 
19

Station outside of Traralgon. The Latrobe Valley project initiated on April 30 and will capture up to 1,000 

tonnes of CO2 per year. Officials hope their additional investment will enhance the project’s ability to 

demonstrate CCS technologies at a commercial-scale. Since 2002, the Australian government has 

invested some $244 million in clean coal technology. April 30, 2008, 

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/newsroom/$127.4-million-to-secure-victorias-clean-coal-future.html. 

Business Wire, “ExxonMobil to Build Commercial Demonstration Plant to Remove Carbon 

Dioxide from Natural Gas.” ExxonMobil announced it will commit some $100 million toward building a 

commercial-scale demonstration plant near LaBarge, Wyoming that will develop and test a natural gas 

treatment technology that could reduce the cost of CCS technology and significantly reduce GHGs. The 

technology, called Controlled Freeze Zone (CFZ), is a single-step cryogenic separation process that 

freezes out and then melts the CO2 and removes other components. Using the CFZ process, CO2 and 

the other components are discharged as a high-pressure liquid stream conducive to CO2 injection for 

underground storage or improving the enhanced oil recovery (EOR) process. The demonstration plant 

will be located at ExxonMobil's Shute Creek Treating Facility and will process about 14 million cubic feet 

of gas per day. Construction is set to commence this summer and plant startup expected in late 2009. 

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/exxonmobil/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&ndmConfigId=10

01106&newsId=20080505006145&newsLang=en. 

Fort Saskatchewan Record, “Carbon Capture Project Planned for Heartland.” Led by the Alberta 

Research Council and ARC Energy Trust, the Heartland Area Redwater Project will evaluate the ability to 

store as much as 1,000 megatonnes (1,102 megatons) of CO2 in the Redwater Leduc Reef located near 

the industrial region north of Fort Saskatchewan, Canada. The 373-square-mile geological reef is 

capable of storing approximately 20 years worth of CO2 emissions, because the reef’s porous texture 

allows for CO2 to mix with brine located about 1,000 meters below the reef. The project will be 

implemented in three phases: during the initial $1.8 million phase, which is expected to be completed by 

Spring 2009, the Redwater reef’s size and suitability for storing CO2 will be determined; during the 

second phase, a test well will be drilled to collect more detailed data; and efforts during the third phase 

will demonstrate CO2 injection and storage. Officials also hope the sequestration project will aide EOR 

projects in the region and attract investors to build a CO2 pipeline for future projects. April 18, 2008, 

http://cgi.bowesonline.com/pedro.php?id=10&x=story&xid=393714. 

July 2008

Springfield News-Leader, “City Utilities to Test Plan for Clean Coal.” After receiving a $2.46 million 

Federal grant and $98,000 from each of five utility partners, City Utilities (CU) of Springfield, Missouri, is 

preparing to inject food-grade CO2 from its Southwest Power Station into a 2,000-foot deep saline 

formation. CU will work with Missouri State University, Missouri University of Science and Technology, 

and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources over the next three years to determine whether the 

geological storage of CO2 is an economic and safe method for reducing GHG emissions. CU’s 

Southwest Power Station generates 3,562 tons of CO2 per day and their 300-megawatt Southwest 2 

power plant will generate 6,052 tons of CO2 per day once it comes online in 2010. CU officials hope that 

successful testing will free the utility from the cost of building pipelines to transport CO2 to injection sites 

in northern states. A presentation outlining the particulars of the “Missouri Carbon Sequestration Project” 

is available at: http://www.cityutilities.net/community/missouricarbonproject.pdf, or click 

http://www.cityutilities.net/community/missourcarbonproject-hi.wmv for a project video. May 21, 2008, 

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008805280465. 

Reuters, “Spectra Eyes Big Carbon Capture Project in Canada,” and Vancouver Sun, “Study 

Examines Underground Carbon Dioxide Storage in B.C.” Spectra Energy Corporation plans to 

examine the viability of building a large-scale carbon sequestration facility at its natural gas plant in 

northeastern British Columbia that would store CO2 in a depleted natural gas reservoir 1.3 miles (two 

kilometers) underground. The reservoir could potentially store one million tons of CO2 annually – a figure 
20

equivalent to the plant’s CO2 production over the next 20 to 50 years. Spectra has previously captured 

and stored 200,000 tonnes of CO2 in depleted natural gas reservoirs. The provincial government 

provided $3.4 million ($3.5 million Canadian) toward the project’s $11.8 million (12.1 million Canadian) 

budget as part of their effort to reduce GHG emissions by 33 percent by 2020. May 26, 2008, 

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN2629605920080526, and May 26, 2008, 

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=28b15589-844e-46f4-9d26-

c265c15b5c15.

The Chronicle-Herald, “Search for Places to Store CO2 Emissions Set to Begin.” A CCS project led 

by the Carbon Storage Research Consortium of Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia Power, and Nova 

Scotia’s Energy Department will be initiated this summer by searching for potential CO2 storage sites in 

Cape Breton and northern Nova Scotia. The four-phase project, which recently received $4.87 million ($5 

million Canadian) in Federal research funds, will also examine the regulatory issues and economic 

impacts facing CO2 storage, in addition to assessing the geology of northern Nova Scotia’s oil reservoirs 

and deep coalbeds. Officials said that only certain locales are deemed feasible for geologic storage in 

Canada – mainly Alberta, southern Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia emits about 20 million 

tonnes of GHGs annually, with coal-fired power plants serving as the largest point source of GHGs at 

about 10 million tonnes annually. If the project succeeds, it is believed that Nova Scotia could be storing 

up to 10,000 tonnes of CO2 per day by 2018 to 2020. June 5, 2008, 

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1060298.html.

Reuters, “Vattenfall to Build Carbon Capture Test Plant,” and Vattenfall Press Release, “Vattenfall 

Will Build CCS Demonstration Plant in Jänschwalde.” Vattenfall plans to build a demonstration plant 

equipped with CCS technology at one of their 500-megawatt blocks at the Jänschwalde facility in the 

State of Brandenburg, Germany. Following an investment estimated at around $1.57 billion (1 billion 

euros), the Swedish-owned utility said it expects full-scale operation no later than 2015. The CCSequipped block will house two boilers: a newly built boiler with Oxyfuel technology and a boiler retrofitted 

with post-combustion technology. Gaz de France Production and Exploration GmbH will collaborate with 

Vattenfall to test technology for storing the captured CO2 in a depleted natural gas field in Altmark, 

Germany. Vattenfall will open the world’s first pilot-scale plant – a $108.2 million (70 million euro), 30-

megawatt effort – for CO2 separation at Schwarze Pumpe power station in the State of Brandenburg this 

summer. May 23, 2008, http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSL2385285020080523, and 

May 23, 2008, 

http://www.vattenfall.com/www/vf_com/vf_com/370103press/558539press/index.jsp?pmid=91724. 

August 2008 

Kentucky Post, “Ky. Partners To Research CO2 Storage,” and Courier-Journal.com, “Kentucky 

Carbon Storage Test Partnership Formed.” The Western Kentucky Carbon Storage Foundation has 

teamed up with the Kentucky Geological Survey to improve the long-term CO2 storage opportunities 

within the state. The $7.8 million research project will drill more than 8,000 feet deep into the Knox and 

Mount Simon geological formations in Hancock County to test their ability to store CO2. While the 

Kentucky Geological Survey will lead the project research with other state agencies, the Western 

Kentucky Carbon Storage Foundation will provide technical assistance as well as most of the funding. 

Drilling will begin in late 2008 and CO2 injection is expected to occur in early 2009. The non-profit 

Western Kentucky Carbon Storage Foundation was formed by three private partners – Peabody Energy, 

ConocoPhillips, and E.ON U.S. – as a result of a mandate by the Kentucky legislature. To read the 

Governor’s official press release, go to: 

http://governor.ky.gov/pressrelease.htm?PostingGUID=%7B5B8EE408-5CD8-46B1-96F9-

83920FC3BE8A%7D. July 1, 2008, 

http://www.kypost.com/content/news/commonwealth/story.aspx?content_id=fc2102ee-f8c3-4618-b275-

607e1c10c85e, and June 30, 2008, http://www.courierjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080630/BUSINESS/80630034. 
21

Boston.com, “ND Utility to Unveil Plans to Capture CO2,” and Greenwire, “N.D. Utility Plans to 

Capture CO2 at Power Plant.” Basin Electric Power Cooperative and Powerspan Corporation plan to 

capture 1 million tons of CO2 annually from one of the two units at the 900-megawatt Antelope Valley 

Station in central North Dakota. Powerspan’s post-combustion technology consists of an ammonia-based 

solution that captures CO2 from a power plant’s flue gas and releases it in a form that is ready for 

compression, safe transportation, and geological storage. Basin Electric’s goal is to use the technology 

to capture and remove the amount of CO2 equivalent to that emitted by a 120-megawatt power plant. 

The CO2 will then be piped to Canada where it will be used for EOR. The project is expected to begin in 

late 2009 and end in 2012. To read the official press release, go to: 

http://www.basinelectric.com/News_Center/News_Releases/Basin_Electric%2C_Powerspan_brin.html. 

June 17, 2008, 

http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2008/06/17/nd_utility_to_unveil_plans_to_cap

ture_c02/?page=full, and June 18, 2008, http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2008/06/18/13/. 

Reuters, “Enhance Plans Alberta Carbon Dioxide Pipeline,” and globeandmail.com, “Shell 

Launches Carbon-Capture Project.” The Government of Alberta will invest $1.98 billion ($2 billion 

Canadian) over the next five years to launch several large-scale, industry run carbon capture and 

storage (CCS) projects. Royal Dutch Shell PLC, in one of the first initiatives under the new plan, will 

begin testing for ways to capture and store CO2 at its Scotford Upgrader near Fort Saskatchewan, 

Alberta. Shell’s project, Quest, would reduce emissions from their oil sands operations by 1 million 

tonnes a year beginning in 2015. The Scotford mine and upgrader currently produces more than 1.75 

million tonnes of emissions annually. Enhance Energy Incorporated plans to build Alberta’s first major 

CO2 pipeline system in central Alberta that will capture GHGs from a planned oil sand upgrader and 

nitrogen plant and transport them 149 miles (240 kilometers) to oilfields for EOR. Enhance’s $300 million 

CO2 pipeline will initially have a capacity of 5,000 tonnes per day and increase to 25,000 tonnes per day 

over time. Regulatory applications are planned for the spring of 2009 and project start-up is expected in 

2011. A video of Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach’s announcement is available at: 

http://www.premier.alberta.ca/media/mediaPage.cfm. July 10, 2008, 

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN1020839120080710, and July 9, 2008, 

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080709.RSHELL09/TPStory/Business. 

(Subscription required). 

Bloomberg, “Australia Agency Captures Carbon from Power Plant Gas,” and ClimateWire, 

“Australia Successfully Tests Gas-Trapping Method.” Australia’s national science agency, the 

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), successfully captured CO2 at 

the coal-fired Loy Yang power plant in Victoria. According to CSIRO, the trial technology could capture 

as much as 1,000 metric tons of CO2 per year, which is more than 85 percent of total emissions. This 

marks the first time post-combustion capture technology has been successfully applied in the Southern 

Hemisphere. The project is a joint collaboration between the Australian Government, Loy Yang Power, 

and International Power PLC. Australia generates more than 80 percent of its energy from coal. To learn 

more about CSIRO’s research, visit: http://www.csiro.au/science/ps3m.html. July 9, 2008, 

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=azRqQQ4pghr0#, and July 10, 2008, 

http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2008/07/10/8. 

Science 

September 2007

Science Daily, “Global Warming: Carbon Dioxide ‘Tree Banking’ May Help, Provided Trees Have 

Optimal Water and Nutrient Levels.” Results of a ten-year study, known as Free Air Carbon 

Enrichment (FACE), indicate that the introduction of extra CO2 may result in trees growing more tissue, 
22

but there is a limit to the amount of CO2 that a tree can store over time. During the experiment, the 

researchers pumped one and half times more CO2 to the test pines than the trees would normally 

receive. Scientists were then able to formulate results about the carbon accumulations in the trees. The 

experimental data suggest that only those pines receiving greater amounts of both water and fertilizers 

are able to have an effect on the atmospheric concentrations of CO2. Trees that received less water at 

the same time that CO2 levels were increased showed no net gain in carbon sequestration. Increased 

levels of CO2 also had no effect on “self thinning” of the forests, a process by which smaller trees die off 

as the most successful grow bigger. Furthermore, trees that grow more foliage due to increased CO2 

levels do not result in increased carbon storage, because foliage does not store carbon over time as 

effectively as carbon stored in wood. August 7, 2007, 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070807084202.htm. 

Reuters, "Floods, Heat Hit Europe, but Is It Global Warming?," Climate scientist Myles Allen, of 

Oxford University, leads a research project which uses computer modeling to determine if single weather 

events can be linked to global warming. The research involves "borrowing" the computing time of over 

6,000 members of the general public to model run thousands of simulations of an individual British flood 

that happened in 2000, the wettest autumn recorded in 230 years. The individual computers run one 

climate simulation with or without manmade greenhouse gas emissions, to identify the contribution of 

global warming to the flood. The results will be published later this year. To read more about the World 

Wildlife Federation's Climateprediction.net project or to join the Climateprediction.net experiment go to 

http://www.climateprediction.net/. July 27, 2007, 

http://www.planetark.com/avantgo/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=43316. 

October 2007

SciDev.Net (London), “Soil Degradation Issues ‘Swept Aside’, Say Experts.” Scientists in 

attendance at the International Forum of Soils, Society and Global Change, held in Selfoss, Ireland, 

claim that the connection between soil and land degradation and climate change is significant. Global 

emissions from deforestation and degradation of lands are contributing as much as 25 percent of the 

excess CO2 in the atmosphere. Without the cover of vegetation, land becomes more reflective and heats 

the air above it, causing temperatures to increase. Attendees at the forum are calling for the 

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to draft a special report on this subject. They are also 

demanding more attention be given to the potential for carbon sequestration in soils, noting that land and 

forest restoration have the capacity to replace one to two billion tons of carbon by restoring degraded 

ecosystems. September 7, 2007, 

http://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=3879&language=1. 

Reuters, “Islands Emerge as Arctic Ice Shrinks to Record Low.” Significant decreases in ice and 

snow amounts are occurring on the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, and unmapped islands are 

appearing out of the water. Data from the US National Snow and Ice Data Center show that the 2007 

level of Arctic sea ice is currently below the all-time recorded low, which was registered back in 2005. 

Norwegian Environment Minister Helen Bjoernoy spoke to scientists and politicians at a seminar in Ny 

Alesund, a settlement and base for Arctic research that is located 750 miles from the North Pole. 

Bjoernoy and others believe that the acceleration of melting ice may be occurring at a faster rate than 

that predicted by the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The reduction of 

snow and ice is already having adverse effects on polar bears, seals, and other species. August 21, 

2007, http://www.planetark.com/avantgo/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=43813. 

November 2007 

CNN.com, “Gore Shares Nobel Peace Prize with U.N. Panel,” and Chicago Tribune, “Local Nobel 

‘Winners’ Were Just Glad to Help.” In recognition of their work to raise awareness about global 
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warming, former Vice President Al Gore and the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 

received the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel committee commended both recipients on their efforts 

to expand knowledge and research about man-made climate change and formulate policies necessary to 

bringing about change. The committee also dubbed Gore, who plans to donate his share of the $1.5 

million prize to the Alliance for Climate Protection, as “one of the world’s leading environmental 

politicians.” The Nobel Prize is the most recent of several awards bestowed to Gore, who collected two 

Oscars for his film “An Inconvenient Truth” and an Emmy for a television show he co-created called 

“Current TV.” Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the IPCC, praised the 2,000 scientists that contribute to 

the IPCC and encouraged them to do even more in the future. Many of the panel members conducted 

their work pro bono, mostly reading journal articles and editing reports for several years. The award 

draws attention to work that otherwise goes overlooked by many. Former President Bill Clinton praised 

Gore’s foresight of the dangers accompanying climate change and President Bush offered his 

congratulations through a spokesman. The award ceremony will take place December 10, 2007 in Oslo, 

Norway. To view the Nobel Committee press release, click: 

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2007/press.html. October 12, 2007, 

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/12/nobel.gore/index.html and October 13, 2007, Link 

unavailable. 

Associated Press, “Lacking Sea Ice, Walruses Head for Shore.” Likely due to record low Arctic sea 

ice and warming temperatures, thousands of walruses currently line Alaska’s northwest shore, spanning 

from Barrow, America’s northernmost point, to Cape Lisburne, located about 300 miles southwest on the 

Chukchi Sea. The arrival of the walruses in late July, occurring a month earlier than usual, has fueled 

concerns among individuals affiliated with the US Fish and Wildlife Service in Anchorage, Alaska. These 

fears include walruses stampeding into the water due to avoidable human contact, losing energy from 

having to travel farther to hunt food, and leaving orphan calves to fend for themselves. Also, some worry 

about the walruses’ anxiety and stress levels and sometimes thin appearance. During the 2007 melt 

season, the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) reported that Arctic sea ice dropped to its 

lowest levels since measurements started in 1979. This further hampers the walruses’ ability to hunt for 

food, forcing them to dive to the sea bottom in waters that exceed their maximum diving depth of about 

630 feet. At 1.65 million square miles, this September’s average sea ice extent is the lowest September 

on record, passing the previous record set in 2005 by 23 percent. The walruses are expected to remain 

along the Alaskan shore until November, when they will move south as the Chukchi Sea freezes. To read 

the complete NSIDC press release, which includes statistical data, video analysis, and high-resolution 

photos, go to: http://www.nsidc.org/news/press/2007_seaiceminimum/20071001_pressrelease.html. 

October 5, 2007, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21148381/.

December 2007 

University of East Anglia News Release, “North Atlantic Slows on the Uptake of CO2.” Results of a 

decade long study, conducted by Dr. Ute Schuster and Professor Andrew Watson of the University of 

East Anglia’s School of Environmental Sciences, show that the North Atlantic Ocean’s CO2 uptake 

slowed considerably between the mid-1990s and early 2000s. The paper, titled “Large variations in 

anthropogenic carbon accumulation in the North Atlantic subtropics,” surmises that the North Atlantic 

served as the most intense sink for atmospheric CO2 since the industrial revolution, consequently 

slowing climate change. However, after collecting data from merchant ships equipped with automatic 

instruments for measuring CO2 levels in the water, Schuster and Watson found a sudden proportional 

decrease in the North Atlantic’s CO2 uptake and inferred a slowdown in Southern Atlantic’s uptake. The 

majority of the data came from a container ship making a round-trip from the West Indies to the United 

Kingdom once a month, generating more than 90,000 CO2 measurements over the course of the study. 

Specifically, the data reveal that uptake decreased 50 percent from the mid-1990s to 2002-05. To view a 

PDF of the study, click: http://lgmacweb.env.uea.ac.uk/ajw/Reprints/brown_et_al_submitted.pdf. October 

22, 2007, http://comm.uea.ac.uk/press/release.asp?id=796. 
24

Greenwire, “Warming Tied to Mass Extinctions -- Study,” and University of York Press Release, 

“Fossil Record Supports Evidence of Impending Mass Extinction.” According to research 

conducted by Dr. Peter Mayhew of the University of York and University of Leeds Professor Tim Benton, 

the gradual rises in temperature and sea level throughout Earth’s history have been precursors for mass 

extinctions. The two population ecologists predict that if future, real world conditions align with their 

projections, a new mass extinction event could occur, affecting some 50 percent of the animal and plant 

species on Earth. Through the analysis of fossil records, the scientists compared the number of species 

and overall marine and terrestrial biodiversity to sea temperatures and divided their data into 10 millionyear-periods. They concluded that biodiversity is lower during warmer “greenhouse” phases and 

extinction rates relatively high, with the opposite holding true in “icehouse” periods. As a result of their 

findings, they believe that four of the past five mass extinctions over the last 520 million years are 

attributable to warmer tropical seas and thus, a warmer Earth. The two believe the last mass extinction 

occurred 251 million years ago, when 95 percent of animal and plant species died. Also, the study shows 

the Earth goes through 60-million-year climate cycles, oscillating between warmer “greenhouse” periods 

and cooler “icehouse” phases. To see a full text version of the study, go to: 

http://www.journals.royalsoc.ac.uk/content/3x081w5n5358qj01/fulltext.pdf. October 24, 2007, 

http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2007/10/24/13 and October 24, 2007, 

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-10/uoy-frs102207.php#. 

January 2008

Science Daily, “Delay in Autumn Color Caused By Increased Carbon Dioxide Not Global 

Warming.” A study conducted by University of Southampton researchers suggests that the delay in 

autumnal leaf coloration and leaf fall is caused by increasing levels of CO2 in the atmosphere and not by 

rising global temperatures. The process of plant aging where leaves discolor and fall, known as autumnal 

senescence, has been delayed by 1.3 to 1.8 days each decade over the last 30 years across Europe, 

which has been explained by rising global temperatures causing prolonged growing seasons. However, 

while a strong correlation exists between increased global temperatures and earlier spring “re-greening” 

in some 14 European countries, the association between autumn leaf color change and fall and 

temperature trends is weak. The researchers found that atmospheric CO2 has risen by 13.5 percent over 

the 30 years autumnal senescence has been monitored. In addition, experimental tests show that 

increased atmospheric CO2 impacts plant physiology and function. By simulating atmospheric CO2

concentrations in the year 2050, researchers were able to measure changes in the tree canopy through 

the use of remote sensing. The measurements revealed that trees exposed to elevated CO2 levels 

retained their leaves longer and possessed a smaller decline in end of the season chlorophyll content, 

consequently resulting in a greener autumn hue relative those trees exposed to ambient CO2 levels. To 

read the study, titled, “Future atmospheric CO2 leads to delayed autumnal senescence,” click: 

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2007.01473.x (Subscription required). 

November 19, 2007, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071117104404.htm. 

The Independent, “Expanding Tropics ‘A Threat to Millions’.” A recent study warns the Earth’s 

tropical belt is expanding north and south at an unprecedented rate, posing a threat to large regions of 

the world where the climate figures to become more arid or stormier depending on the location. 

Compared to 1980, the study reveals that during the past 25 years the region around the equator 

classified as “tropical” has expanded toward the poles by about 172 miles, meaning that an additional 8.5 

million square miles are now thought of as having tropical climate. In other words, the Earth’s tropical 

region has moved farther north and south by about 2.5 degrees of latitude, which is greater than the 

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) “extreme scenario” prediction of a 2 degree shift 

by 2100. Specifically, scientists warn the millions of people living in dry, subtropical regions are at risk for 

a more arid climate due to possible changes in rainfall patterns and wind directions; those living in the 

Mediterranean, southwest US, northern Mexico, southern Australia, southern Africa, and parts of South 

America face agricultural problems due to shrinking water supplies; and all humans are threatened with 

irreversible climate damage, as water vapor, an important greenhouse gas, is pumped naturally into the 
25

atmosphere at an increasing rate. Scientists believe Australia would be the most affected country, 

because westerly winds that deliver much needed rainfall to the continent’s southern coast would be 

pushed further south by the shifting tropics, meaning rain would fall over the ocean rather than land. 

December 3, 2007, http://environment.independent.co.uk/climate_change/article3218026.ece. 

February 2008 

Science Daily, “Penguins In Peril As Climate Warms.” According to a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) 

report, the four penguin populations that breed on the Antarctic continent – the Adélie, Emperor, 

Chinstrap and Gentoo – are facing increasing pressure to survive as global warming shrinks both their 

food supply and the ground where their young are raised. Data show that the Antarctic Peninsula is 

warming five times faster than the average rate of global warming. The vast Southern Ocean has 

warmed to a depth of 3,000 meters, which has significantly reduced the area’s krill population. In regards 

to the West Antarctic Peninsula, sea ice covers 40 percent less area than it did 26 years ago, which has 

decreased the Chinstrap penguin population by as much as 30 percent to 66 percent in some colonies. 

Moreover, the Emperor penguin has seen some of its colonies decrease 50 percent over the past half 

century, as warmer winter temperatures and stronger winds cause sea ice to prematurely break off, 

sending many eggs and chicks away before they can survive on their own. The Antarctic Peninsula’s 

northwestern coast has been affected most by warming, causing Adélie penguin population to drop by 65 

percent over the past 25 years. To view the report, titled “Antarctic Penguins and Climate Change,” click: 

http://assets.panda.org/downloads/folleto_penguins.pdf. December 15, 2007, 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071213203604.htm. 

Reuters, “2008 to be in Top 10 Warmest Years Say Forecasters.” Projections by experts at the Met 

Office and the University of East Anglia show 2008 will be slightly cooler than recent years, but still rank 

among the top 10 warmest years on record since 1850. The forecasters said global average 

temperatures would be 0.37 of a degree Celsius above the long term 1961 to 1990 average of 14 

degrees – the coolest since 2000. In comparison, from 2001 to 2007 the rate of warming averaged 0.44 

degrees Celsius above the 1961 to 1990 average and 0.21 degrees Celsius warmer than corresponding 

values for 1991 to 2000. The projections take into account the annual Pacific Ocean La Nina weather 

phenomenon, which is expected to be strong this year and consequently limit the warming trend, and 

rising atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, solar variations, and natural changes in the 

ocean currents. Due to the current La Nina reducing the sea surface temperature by around 0.5 degrees 

Celsius, the global surface temperature response to the cooling effect is expected to be slightly greater in 

2008 than it was in 2007. In December 2007, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said that the 

10 years from 1998 to 2007 were the hottest decade on record. The Met Office Hadley Centre added that 

the top 11 warmest years have all occurred over the past 13 years. January 3, 2008, 

http://uk.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUKL0314515220080103?sp=true. 

March 2008 

MSNBC.COM, "Study on Hurricanes, Warming Creates Storm." Researchers at the National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Miami Lab and the University of Miami believe that global 

warming could reduce the number of hurricanes that make landfall in the United States. In the study, 

warming waters in the Indian and Pacific Oceans are linked to increased wind shear – referring to a 

change in wind speed or direction – in the Atlantic Ocean to show that global warming makes it more 

difficult for hurricanes to form, strengthen, and subsist. The study also suggests that wind shear within 

the 10 degree to 20 degree North latitude belt that stretches from West Africa to Central America is 

crucial to determining future Atlantic hurricane activity. Specifically, Chunzai Wang, the study’s author, 

believes that wind shear increases up to 10 miles per hour for every degree Celsius that the oceans 

warm, consequently weakening a storm’s ability to form. Data analyzed from 1854 to 2006 show sea 

surface temperatures increasing across the globe, although at a higher rate in the tropical regions of the 
26

Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans – producing increased vertical wind shear in the area where Atlantic 

hurricanes typically form. Thus, the warming of the Pacific and Indian Oceans increases vertical wind 

shear, which curbs Atlantic hurricane activity. Wang said that while wind shear is the most important 

factor, atmospheric humidity, sea level pressure, and sea surface temperature also affect hurricane 

strength. To read an abstract of the study, titled “Global warming and United States landfalling 

hurricanes,” click: http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2008/2007GL032396.shtml. January 23, 2008, 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22790698/. 

Science Daily, “Tipping Elements in Earth's Climate System.” According to a climate research report 

published by the Potsdam Institute, several elements of the Earth’s climate system could exceed a 

critical threshold, dubbed the “tipping element,” this century. However, the authors stress that even small 

changes in human activities can have positive, long-term consequences for the Earth’s climate system. 

The study presents nine tipping elements and a forecast for when these events may occur: melting of 

Arctic sea ice (approximately 10 years); decay of the Greenland ice sheet (more than 300 years); 

collapse of the West Antarctic ice sheet (more than 300 years); collapse of the Atlantic thermohaline 

circulation (approximately 100 years); increase in the El Nino Southern Oscillation (approximately 100 

years); collapse of the Indian summer monsoon (approximately 1 year); greening of the Sahara/Sahel 

and disruption of the West African monsoon (approximately 10 years); dieback of the Amazon rainforest 

(approximately 50 years); and dieback of the Boreal Forest (approximately 50 years). The study says the 

most sensitive tipping elements with the smallest uncertainty, due to global warming, are the Arctic seaice and Greenland ice sheet scenarios. The scenarios with the largest uncertainty are the West Antarctic 

ice sheet, Amazon rainforest and Boreal forests, the El Niño phenomenon, and the West African 

monsoon scenarios. February 4, 2008, 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080204172224.htm. 

April 2008 

Discovery News, “Pythons Could Slither North as Climate Warms.” A US Geological Survey 

(USGS) climate model for the year 2100 shows that 20-foot pythons could move into a number of US 

states due to global warming replicating their native Pakistani and Indonesian climates in North America. 

Regions where the pythons could appear include the northernmost parts of Texas and Arkansas, the 

southeast half of Kansas, the southern half of Missouri, and parts of southern Illinois and Indiana; while 

states like Tennessee, Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, California, Arizona, Nevada, New 

Mexico, Washington, and Oregon may prove climatically hospitable to python populations in the future. 

Gordon Rodda, the USGS’ invasive snake expert, conducted the model and admitted that factors like 

food and habitat were not taken into account, but he still expects the pythons could spread north 

wherever and whenever possible. The pythons, which can weigh over 250 pounds in some cases, are 

thought to be the offspring of a released pet and were first found in 2003 in the Florida Everglades. The 

largest snake in North America is either the bull snake or indigo snake, which are both shorter than nine 

feet long – a stark contrast to a python capable of killing deer, alligators, and even adult humans. USGS 

researchers are currently investigating the possibility of nine similar snakes, including the boa constrictor 

and yellow anacondas, invading North America. February 22, 2008, 

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/02/22/python-climate-change.html. 

Washington Post, “Carbon Output Must Near Zero to Avert Danger, New Studies Say.” Two recent, 

separately conducted studies claim that both developing and industrial nations must reduce their GHG 

emissions as soon as 2050 to prevent global warming scenarios that could result in changing 

precipitation patterns and water sources drying up across the globe. Through the utilization of advanced 

computer models, the studies conclude CO2 emissions must be reduced to near zero levels as soon as 

possible, although worldwide CO2 output totals some 10 billion tons per year and continues to steadily 

rise. In fact, the scientists believe the situation has worsened to the point where it is no longer logical to 

set a GHG emissions threshold and instead, they favor setting a temperature threshold, because the 
27

Earth has already warmed by 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit above pre-industrial levels. The consensus among 

scientists is that an increase of 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit could have disastrous consequences; one of the 

studies suggests if the status quo holds the Earth will warm by 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100 and more 

than 15 degrees Fahrenheit by 2300. Moreover, the scientists cautioned that even after the world’s 

emissions reach zero, warming will still take place, as CO2 can trigger deep sea warming despite natural 

cycles removing roughly half of anthropogenic CO2 emissions from the atmosphere over the next 100 

years. A report published by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said 

that industrialized nations would have to cut emissions 80 to 95 percent by 2050 to reduce GHG 

emissions to the 450 parts per million (ppm) goal. The global warming studies are available at 

http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2008/2007GB002953.shtml and 

http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2008/2007GL032388.shtml. March 10, 2008, 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2008/03/09/AR2008030901867.html. 

May 2008

Science Daily, “Satellite Makes First Ever Observation of Regionally Elevated Carbon Dioxide 

from Manmade Emissions,” and Science Daily, “'Revolutionary' Carbon Dioxide Maps Zoom In On 

Greenhouse Gas Sources.” Through the use of the SCIAMACHY instrument on the European Space 

Agency’s (ESA) Envisat environmental satellite, scientists have detected regionally elevated levels of 

atmospheric CO2 caused by manmade emissions for the first time. Data analyzed from 2003 to 2005 

shows a large plume over Europe’s most heavily populated region, which stretches from Amsterdam in 

the Netherlands to Frankfurt, Germany. The scientists acknowledged that detecting regional manmade 

CO2 emissions can be difficult due to natural CO2 fluxes, but they hope a better understanding of the 

Earth’s carbon cycle will aid scientists in their efforts to project future climate change. Another CO2

mapping project, called Vulcan, revealed the southeastern United States is responsible for a much larger 

portion of GHGs than previously estimated. The three-year, DOE and National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration (NASA) funded project is able to depict CO2 emissions at more than 100 times more detail 

than was previously available, because the Vulcan model examines CO2 emissions at local levels on an 

hourly basis. In particular, Vulcan tracks CO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants, factories, 

roadways, neighborhoods, and commercial districts and merges this data with geographic information 

systems (GIS) data to attribute CO2 emissions to specific roads and regions. To view the satellite 

images, click: http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM1DUQ08ZE_Protecting_0.html. The Vulcan data is available 

for download at: http://www.eas.purdue.edu/carbon/vulcan. March 20, 2008, 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080318110330.htm, and April 8, 2008, 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080407172656.htm. 

Science Daily, “Carbon Dioxide Removed From Smokestacks Could Be Useful In DVD And CDROM Manufacture.” Two chemists presented separate reports at an American Chemical Society (ACS) 

meeting on April 8 about how removing CO2 from smokestack emissions could be useful in making 

polycarbonate plastics for consumer products in a less expensive, safer, and greener fashion than is 

currently used. One paper researched at the Catalytic Center (CAT) stressed the fact that CO2 is readily 

available and a cheap starting material capable of replacing more expensive starting materials and 

becoming an economic driving force in the process. In addition, it was pointed out that millions of tons of 

polycarbonates are sold every year and consumer products, such as eyeglass lenses, automotive 

headlamp lenses, DVDs and CDs, and beverage bottles, possess great potential as CO2 sinks. Another 

presentation, given by Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 

suggested using CO2 as an alternative feedstock to convert carbonates and urethanes into plastics and 

battery components. The scientists believe it is only a matter of years before CO2-derived polymers are 

available to the public. To learn more about CAT, visit: http://www.catalyticcenter.rwth-aachen.de/, or for 

further information about AIST, click: http://www.aist.go.jp/index_en.html. April 9, 2008, 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080408144824.htm. 
28

June 2008 

The Independent, “Insects ‘Will be Climate Change's First Victims.’” A recent study found that 

tropical insects may be among the first species to face extinction as a result of climate change. New 

research shows that although the polar regions may experience the largest change in average 

temperature this century, a smaller shift in the average tropical temperature could have a more 

widespread impact on nature. With many insects thought to be living at the threshold of their temperature 

range, scientists believe an average tropical temperature rise of one or two degrees Celsius could 

unravel the interconnectedness of the tropical ecosystem. For example, the tropics depend on insects for 

breaking down organic matter, pollinating flowers to produce fruits and nuts, and providing food for 

animals higher up the food chain. After analyzing daily and monthly global temperatures from 1950 to 

2000 and comparing the data with a series of factors like population growth rates and physical 

performance, the scientists arrived at their conclusion, adding that shade would provide little relief and 

tropical insects have no way to adapt or other locations to move to. Finally, the scientists said changing 

rainfall patterns resulting from climate change could impact food crops in tropical regions. The study is 

available at: http://beta.pnas.org/content/105/18/6668.abstract?sid=3eefb478-100c-47c3-8d3dd2091fedf2eb. (Subscription may be required.) May 6, 2008, 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/insects-will-be-climate-changes-first-victims-821616.html. 

Science Daily, “Hot Climate Could Shut Down Plate Tectonics.” A new finding that links climate and 

the Earth’s geophysics may explain the evolutionary difference between Earth and similar planets: 

prolonged atmospheric heating can shut down plate tectonics and lock a planet's crust into place. For 

instance, while Earth and Venus are similar in size and geological composition, Venus possesses a CO2-

rich atmosphere that is 100 times denser than Earth’s, causing Venus to have a surface temperature 

hotter than the closest planet to the sun, Mercury. The researchers found that the process where Earth’s 

crust (segments of which are called tectonic plates) returns to the Earth’s interior by sliding beneath other 

plates can become unstable if the Earth’s surface temperature would rise by 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 

more over the course of a few million years. Specifically, as rising atmospheric temperatures heat the 

crust of a planet, the deep inside of a planet can heat to the point where tectonic plate movement 

ceases. For the Earth, the mantle (the flowing layer of rock that extends from the planet's outer core 

located about 1,800 miles below the surface to within about 30 miles of the surface) becomes less active 

if it heats up. The scientists said their most noteworthy finding is that the atmospheric heating needed to 

disrupt plate tectonics is noticeably less than the temperature that would cause free water on the Earth's 

surface to evaporate. The study, titled, “A climate change induced transition in the tectonic style of a 

terrestrial planet,” is available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V61-4S6P23T2/1/2ac76bfc6a7976a6b353da2567aa2f33. (Subscription may be required.) May 13, 2008, 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080512135102.htm.

July 2008

Baltimore Sun, “Outlook is Bleak for State Shoreline.” A recent report by the National Wildlife 

Federation (NWF) says rising sea levels caused by global warming could destroy more than half the 

beaches on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The study states that recent developments along the shoreline 

have prevented beaches from shifting inward as water levels rise. According to the study’s authors, the 

cause of the rising water levels is due to GHGs melting glaciers and causing bodies of water to expand. 

NWF’s analysis predicts that 415 square miles of open water will replace beaches and coastal land. The 

report also says that 161,000 acres of marsh will be destroyed over the next century, disrupting the 

breeding of fish and birds. Higher water temperatures also could result in low-oxygen dead zones in the 

Chesapeake Bay, leading to less aquatic vegetation. The report is based on calculations from the 

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that predicted global sea levels will rise up to 27 

inches by 2100. Specifically, an NWF consultant employed a computerized model based on these 
29

predictions to calculate what the data could mean for marshes and shorelines around the Chesapeake 

Bay. The report concluded that by 2100, 69 percent of the beach acreage and 58 percent of oceanfront 

beaches in the area could be washed out. To view NWF’s technical report, titled, “Sea-Level Rise and 

Coastal Habitats of the Chesapeake Bay,” go to: 

http://www.nwf.org/sealevelrise/pdfs/SeaLevelRiseandCoastalHabitats_ChesapeakeRegion.pdf, or visit: 

http://www.nwf.org/sealevelrise/chesapeake.cfm for more information. May 23, 2008, 

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/outdoors/bal-md.shore23may23,0,1010861.story. 

The Independent, “Warmer Seas Blamed for Rapid Decline of Scottish Puffin Colony,” and 

MSNBC.com, “Decline of Scottish Puffins Seen as Climate Sign.” Researchers on the Island of May, 

home to the largest Atlantic puffin colony in the North Sea, revealed new data that shows after 40 years 

of steady increase, the resident population of puffins has plummeted by nearly one-third in the past five 

years. The last time researchers surveyed the birds, in 2003, there were 69,300 breeding pairs and the 

population was growing at 10 percent a year; today, however, there are only 41,000 pairs. Researchers 

have not been able to determine the exact cause of the decline, but the emeritus professor for Britain’s 

Center of Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) believes climate change could possibly be at fault. According to 

CEH, as the sea temperature rises, the number of fish available for the puffin to eat drops. Research 

shows that many of the pairs that survived the winter were under their typical weight. Sand eels, puffins’ 

staple food source, have also seen a population decline. Since the puffin sits near the top of the Atlantic 

Ocean’s food chain, researchers believe they are excellent bio-indicators for the health of the 

environment and this decline could signal a national trend. The Scottish island has been the focal point 

of the United Kingdom’s research for three decades. To view more of CEH’s research, go to: 

http://www.ceh.ac.uk/news/news_archive/2008_news_item_16.html. June 4, 2008, 

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/warmer-seas-blamed-for-rapid-decline-of-scottishpuffin-colony-839600.html, and June 5, 2008, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24986904/. 

August 2008 

Science Daily, “Whales Set To Chase Shrinking Feed Zones,” and Reuters, “Retreating Antarctic 

Sea Ice Threatens Southern Whales.” Research conducted by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) found 

that endangered migratory whales may be faced with shrinking Antarctic foraging zones that will contain 

less food and will be further away. WWF’s research, which was summarized in the report titled, “Ice 

breaker: Pushing the boundaries for whales,” says that predicted global warming levels over the next 40 

years could lead to a 30 percent decline of winter sea ice coverage in key areas of the Southern Ocean. 

The result may force migratory whale species to travel 144 to 360 miles (200 to 500 kilometers) further 

south to find “frontal” zones that contain their sea ice-dependent, primary food source – krill. As the 

amount of sea ice drops, the abundance of krill is expected to as well, reducing the quantity of food for 

whales in feeding areas. Also, due to the distance of the migration paths, the duration of the feeding 

season could be reduced. Migratory whale species, including blue whales, Earth's largest living 

creatures, and humpback whales, which were recently near-extinction due to commercial whaling, have 

the potential to be affected. WWF’s research is based on the assumption that average temperatures will 

rise by two degrees Celsius (3.6 [degrees Fahrenheit]) by 2042. To view WWF’s report, go to: 

http://assets.panda.org/downloads/english_final_proof_final.pdf. July 1, 2008, 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080629143936.htm, and June 19, 2008, 

http://uk.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUKL1943431320080619. 

Rocky Mountain News, “North Pole Soon May Be Ice-Free,” and National Geographic, “North Pole 

May Be Ice-Free for First Time This Summer.” Scientists at the National Snow and Ice Data Center 

(NSIDC) at the University of Colorado in Boulder believe the ice at the North Pole could be completely 

melted by September 2008, before refreezing during the Arctic winter. NSIDC believes GHGs have 

helped elevate temperatures two to seven degrees Fahrenheit across the Arctic. Last September, the 

part of the Arctic Ocean that was ice-free opened up a new area of water the size of California and Texas 

combined. The melting has accelerated at such levels in recent years that scientists predict the entire
30

Arctic Ocean could be ice-free for at least one day by 2020 – 50 years sooner than originally predicted. 

Satellite images show that the area around the North Pole is mostly made up of first-year ice – thin, new 

ice that forms each year and is more susceptible to melting during warmer months than multiyear ice, 

which is thicker and denser. According to researchers, sea ice is crucial to the global climate system, as 

without it the Earth loses its capacity to regulate temperature via the ocean currents. Scientists have 

been tracking the recession of sea ice in the Arctic Sea for 29 years using satellite data. The North Pole 

has never been ice-free in its recorded history. To view NSIDC’s website, which offers daily Arctic sea 

ice data, visit: http://www.nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/. June 28, 2008, 

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/27/north-pole-may-be-ice-free-september/, and June 

20, 2008, http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/06/080620-north-pole.html. 

Policy 

September 2007 

Reuters, “UN Climate Change Meeting Aims at Rich Countries,” and Reuters, “UN Climate Chief 

Skeptical about Global Carbon Tax.” The first full-scale United Nations session dedicated to climate 

change was held on August 30 and 31 in New York. The meeting called for rich countries to take on the 

economic burden of global climate change. Assisting poorer countries to finance their efforts to cut 

greenhouse gas emissions was an option suggested to wealthy nations. The United States continues to 

support voluntary emissions cuts and President Bush has agreed with other Group of Eight industrialized 

nations to negotiate a new climate pact to extend the Kyoto Protocol beyond its expiration in 2012. Yvo 

de Boar, head of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, expressed skepticism about a 

global carbon tax, but stated that national taxes were possible. Moreover, he favors cap-and-trade laws, 

which offer financial incentive for emission reductions by assigning a cost to pollution. Another U.N. 

meeting on climate change is scheduled for September 24. August 2, 2007, 

http://www.planetark.org/avantgo/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=43427, and August 2, 2007, 

http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-28774420070801. 

“Science-based permitting of geological sequestration of CO2 in brine reservoirs in the U.S.” [The 

authors] present a science-based approach to the regulation and permitting of CO2 sequestration 

activities. Any such regulatory scheme should address both operational (or short-term) issues and the 

long-term goals of geological sequestration of CO2. In the United States many of the key operational 

issues, such as permitting injection wells and CO2 pipelines, are reasonably well addressed in current 

Federal- and State-based rules and legislation. The long-term, overarching goal of sequestration projects 

of decreasing the rate of increase in atmospheric concentrations of CO2 is not addressed by current 

regulations. [The authors] propose a hierarchical approach, in which the State/Federal government is 

responsible for developing regional assessments that result in broad regions of brine reservoirs being 

rated as “sequestration ready” (and designated in this paper as general permits). The burden faced by an 

applicant in permitting an injection site should be considerably less if the general area of the chosen site 

has been ranked favorably. Such a phased, hierarchical permitting process would be helpful in 

addressing public and stakeholder concerns related to the impact and safety of geological sequestration 

operations. It will also build in coordination between neighboring injection sites, where interferences are 

likely because of the large amount of CO2 to be injected. Jean-Philippe Nicot and Ian J. Duncan, 

Environmental Science and Policy, Published online June 25, 2007, doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2007.05.003, 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6VP6-4P248H6-

1/2/7a7dfaf6624caa2e9f41ced822b1b8d1. (Subscription may be required.) 

October 2007

Greenwire, “Asia-Pacific Business Leaders Want Carbon Pricing.” During the Asia Pacific Economic 

Cooperation (APEC) summit in Australia, business leaders pledged that they will make urgent appeals to 
31

their governments to implement CO2 emissions trading schemes. Attendees also requested that their 

leaders provide incentives to invest in energy saving technologies to control greenhouse gas emissions. 

Australia has placed significant importance on climate change at the summit. The government has 

expressed interest in a new treaty after the 2012 expiration of the Kyoto Protocol that would require more 

effort on the part of developing nations to reduce emissions. While the United States backs Australia’s 

sentiments, developing nations such as India and China do not support agreements that duplicate or 

replace the United Nations framework on climate change. Other APEC leaders have expressed their 

exclusive support to the United Nations emissions framework. According to research conducted in 

Australia, the country’s failure to ratify the Kyoto Protocol is costing the country billions of dollars in lost 

investment opportunities by hindering investment in low-emissions technologies that could be funded 

through carbon credits. September 5, 2007, http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2007/09/05/13. 

(Subscription may be required.) 

“Research for Deployment: Incorporating Risk, Regulation, and Liability for Carbon Capture and 

Sequestration.” Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) has the potential to enable deep reductions in 

global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, however this promise can only be fulfilled with large-scale 

deployment. For this to happen, CCS must be successfully embedded into a larger legal and regulatory 

context, and any potential risks must be effectively managed. [The authors] developed a list of 

outstanding research and technical questions driven by the demands of the regulatory and legal systems 

for the geologic sequestration (GS) component of CCS. [The authors] then looked at case studies that 

bound uncertainty within two of the research themes that emerge. These case studies, on surface 

leakage from abandoned wells and groundwater quality impacts from metals mobilization, illustrate how 

research can inform decision makers on issues of policy, regulatory need, and legal considerations. A 

central challenge is to ensure that the research program supports development of general regulatory and 

legal frameworks, and also the development of geological, geophysical, geochemical, and modeling 

methods necessary for effective GS site monitoring and verification (M&V) protocols, as well as 

mitigation and remediation plans. If large-scale deployment of GS is to occur in a manner that adequately 

protects human and ecological health and does not discourage private investment, strengthening the 

scientific underpinnings of regulatory and legal decision-making is crucial. 

Elizabeth J. Wilson, S. Julio Friedmann, and Melisa F. Pollak, Environmental Science Technology,

Published online July 25, 2007, DOI: 10.1021/es062272t, http://pubs.acs.org/cgibin/abstract.cgi/esthag/2007/41/i17/abs/es062272t.html. (Subscription required.) 

November 2007

Reuters, “UN Chief Sees Major Commitment to Climate Change.” On September 24, U.N. SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon convened a one day event titled “The Future in our Hands: Addressing the 

Leadership Challenge of Climate Change” with hopes to build momentum in advance of the U.N. Climate 

Change Conference in December. Ban believes the conference served as a turning point in the battle 

against global warming and said he was pleased with the political commitment. Some 80 heads of state 

or government attended, including Brazilian President Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva, Greenpeace China 

leader Lo Sze Ping, and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who represented President George 

Bush. Speaking to the attendees, Rice acknowledged that climate change is a generational and global 

challenge because of the issue’s complex nature and stressed that the US is committed to the U.N. 

Framework Convention on Climate Change. Also, Rice encouraged a technological revolution based on 

clean energy technology, such as hydrogen technologies; carbon sequestration; and advanced nuclear 

energy, which would lessen humans’ dependence on fossil fuels. With President Bush contending the 

Kyoto Protocol burdens rich countries and the European Commission insisting success is possible only 

with US involvement, talks to replace the soon expiring agreement could prove to be challenging. The 

U.N. Climate Change Conference is scheduled to be held December 3-14 in Bali, Indonesia. To view the 

complete text of Secretary Rice’s “Remarks at the U.N. General Assembly High-Level Event on Climate 

Technology Session,” click: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2007/09/92662.htm. September 24, 2007, 

http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSN24278607._CH_.2400.
32

“Investment risks under certain climate change policy.” This paper describes results from a model of 

decision-making under uncertainty using a real options methodology, developed by the International 

Energy Agency (IEA). The model represents investment decisions in power generation from the 

perspective of a private company. The investments are subject to uncertain future climate policy, which is 

treated as an external risk factor over which the company has no control. The aims of this paper are to (i) 

quantify these regulatory risks in order to improve understanding of how policy uncertainty may affect 

investment behavior by private companies and (ii) illustrate the effectiveness of the real options approach 

as a policy analysis tool. The study analyzed firms’ investment options of coal- and gas-fired power 

plants and carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies. Policy uncertainty is represented as an 

exogenous event that creates uncertainty in the carbon price. [The authors’] findings indicate that climate 

policy uncertainty creates a risk premium for power generation investments. In the case of gas- and coalfired power generation, the risk premium would lead to an increase in electricity prices of 5–10 [percent] 

in order to stimulate investment. In the case of CCS, the risk premium would increase the carbon price 

required to stimulate investment by 16–37 [percent] compared to a situation of perfect certainty. The 

option to retrofit CCS acts as a hedge against high future carbon prices, and could accelerate investment 

in coal plant. This paper concludes that to minimize investment risks in low carbon technologies, policymakers should aim to provide some long-term regulatory certainty. William Blyth, Richard Bradley, 

Derek Bunn, Charlie Clarke, Tom Wilson and Ming Yang, Energy Policy, Volume 31, Issue 11, 

November 2007, Pages 5766-5773. Available online August 17, 2007, doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2007.05.030 , 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V2W-4PFDPNY1/2/69e44caf1745e2e072cc26fda459d35d. (Subscription may be required.) 

December 2007 

Wall Street Journal Online, “Energy (A Special Report) -- Regulators; Cutting Edge: Is Canada’s 

Approach to Reducing Greenhouse-Gas Emissions a Breakthrough – or a PR Gimmick?” In 2010, 

Canada will become the first country to implement a different approach to the Kyoto Protocol. Rather 

than limiting the total amount of emissions, oil, gas, power, iron, steel, chemical, cement, and other 

material producers can increase production so long as the ratio of their emissions to the basic unit of 

production in their industry declines. Critics argue the policy will not result in emissions cuts because, for 

example, a power generator’s ratio is based on kilowatt-hours and an oil producer’s ratio is based on 

barrels of oil, leading some to believe that the ratios support political interests, instead of aiding the 

environment. The proposed policy is based on the thinking that cutting emissions to percentages below 

the Kyoto mandated 1990 levels would devastate the Canadian economy. In addition, this past 

September, Canada agreed to the Sydney Declaration, vowing to reduce energy intensity, or the amount 

of energy needed to produce a dollar of gross domestic product, by 25 percent by 2030. While no 

deductions in overall emissions totals are mandated, large industrial companies are required to reduce 

their emission ratios by 18 percent below 2006 levels in 2010 and by two percent each following year 

through 2020. The government’s hope is that once this policy is meshed with energy efficiency measures 

and renewable fuel drives, Canada’s greenhouse-gas emissions will fall one fifth by 2020. The options 

for those failing to reduce their emission-ratio targets include pursuing renewable energy projects, trading 

CO2 credits on the international or Canadian market after it launches later this year, or paying a $15.35 

($15 Canadian) fine per metric ton of CO2 above their target ratio into a technology development fund. 

For many, the most intriguing technology is carbon sequestration, because Alberta possesses many oil 

and gas wells capable of storing CO2. 

November 12, 2007, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119463318508988186.html. (Subscription required.) 

“The energy-climate challenge: Recent trends in CO2 emissions from fuel combustion.” Fossil fuel 

combustion is the single largest human influence on climate, accounting for 80 [percent] of 

anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. This paper presents trends in world carbon dioxide (CO2) 

emissions from fossil fuel combustion worldwide, based on the estimates of the International Energy 

Agency (IEA) [IEA, 2006a. CO2 Emissions from Fuel Combustion 1971–2004. International Energy 
33

Agency, Paris, France]. Analyzing the drivers of CO2 emissions, the paper considers regions, types of 

fuel, sectors, and socio-economic indicators. The paper then examines the growing body of climate 

change mitigation policies and measures, both multinational and federal. Policies discussed include the 

Kyoto Protocol, the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme, and the potential measures to be 

implemented in 2012 and beyond. CO2 emissions of recent years have grown at the highest rates ever 

recorded, an observed trend incompatible with stabilizing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse 

gases and avoiding long-term climate change. Within this aggregate upward trend, a comparison of 

emissions sources proves dynamic: while industrialized countries have so far dominated historical 

emissions, rapid growth in energy demand of developing economies, led by China, may soon spur their 

absolute emissions beyond those of industrialized countries. Roberta Quadrelli and Sierra Peterson, 

Energy Policy, Available online: September 4, 2007, doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2007.07.001,

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V2W-4PK8G4S1/2/c4379d67d5511f07a27cfc91d4cdb9bd. (Subscription may be required.) 

January 2008

Reuters, “Australia’s New Government Ratifies Kyoto Pact.” Almost immediately after taking his 

oath of office on December 3, Australia’s newly elected Prime Minister Kevin Rudd signed the Kyoto 

Protocol, ending nearly a decade of Australian opposition to the global pact and isolating the US as the 

only developed nation not to ratify the agreement. In the past, Australia contended that ratifying Kyoto 

would harm its heavily coal dependant energy sector and export driven economy, because developing 

neighbors China and India are not bound by such targets. However, a new report from the Climate 

Institute found that Australian economic growth would fall by only 0.1 percent of gross domestic product 

(GDP) annually if Australia cut emissions levels by 20 percent by 2020 and strived to be carbon neutral 

by 2050, which the study’s authors believe Australia could cope with. Australia will not be a full member 

of Kyoto for 90 days, when full ratification will take place following the UN’s acceptance of Australia’s 

formal Instrument of Ratification. Despite their reluctance to sign to global treaty, previous Australian 

officials allege that Australia would have met 2012 Kyoto targets, despite information suggesting their 

target of curbing greenhouse emissions growth to 108 percent of 1990 levels would not be met. Although 

Rudd has yet to determine an interim target for emissions cuts by 2020, Rudd set a long-term goal of 

cutting carbon emissions by 60 percent of 2000 levels by 2050. December 3, 2007, 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071203/wl_nm/australia_politics_dc_2. 

Reuters, “U.N. Climate Talks Under Pressure to Drop 2020 Goals,” and Associated Press, “China 

Says West Should Deal With Warming.” As of December 10, US representatives stood steadfast on 

their insistence U.N. officials and other nations’ representatives opt to remove a 2020 emissions 

reduction target from a draft text developed at the Bali talks, stating rich nations must cut greenhouse 

gases 25 to 40 percent below 1990 levels. The draft’s purpose is to lay out the guidelines for future 

negotiations, but also mentions ranges for long term emissions cuts, which the US refuses to adhere to, 

and scientific evidence stating the world must reduce emissions 50 percent below 2000 levels by 2050 to 

avert serious global warming troubles. While the US insists developing nations such as China and India 

be held to similar standards, China rejected mandatory emission cuts for developing nations, because 

their officials believe the US and other wealthy nations are responsible for global warming and should 

amend their environmental practices accordingly. Furthermore, some now think China is the world’s top 

emitter of CO2, but a top Chinese climate expert argued that America’s emissions per person are six 

times higher than China’s despite having a significantly lower population. U.N. officials hope the 

December 3-14 talks in Bali lead to negotiations on a new global climate treaty that can be adopted at 

the 2009 UN conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. December 10, 2007, 

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSL1064001320071210, and December 8, 2007, 

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gBTCrOwOrOXV9BkLBDRmtO3XWbHQD8TCPUE80.

February 2008 
34

Reuters, “Bali Breakthrough Launches Climate Talks,” and Reuters, “U.S. Drops Opposition to 

U.N. Climate Deal.” Following pleas from other nations, the United States dropped its opposition to a 

global warming plan and will participate in future talks regarding a new United Nations climate treaty that 

would replace the Kyoto Protocol, which is set to expire in 2012. The agreement signals a shift in the 

United States’ climate policy stance after six years of disagreement with major allies caused by President 

George W. Bush withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol. The Bali meeting creates a "roadmap" for two 

years of talks, which will ideally lead to the adoption of a new treaty at a global meeting in Copenhagen 

in late 2009. The deal came when the United States dropped opposition to a proposal presented by the 

Group of 77 (G77) – the United Nations’ main developing nation bloc – that called for rich nations to do 

more to help the developing world fight rising greenhouse emissions. As the world’s leading greenhouse 

gas emitter, the United States maintained its uncertainty over future talks despite dropping their 

opposition. If a global climate agreement can be reached by 2009, governments would have sufficient 

time to ratify the pact and assure confidence in markets and investors wanting to switch to cleaner 

energies. Under the Kyoto Protocol, all industrial nations besides the United States are required to cut 

emissions between 2008 and 2012. A new climate deal would seek to include developing nations that 

are currently exempt from emissions standards.

December 15, 2007, http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSL1412327320071215 and 

December 15, 2007, http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSL1513238120071215. 

“Analysis of the impacts of combining carbon taxation and emission trading on different industry 

sectors.” Application of price mechanisms has been the important instrument for carbon reduction, 

among which the carbon tax has been frequently advocated as a cost-effective economic tool. However, 

blanket taxes applied to all industries in a country might not always be fair or successful. It should 

therefore be implemented together with other economic tools, such as emission trading, for CO2

reduction. This study aims to analyze the impacts of combining a carbon tax and emission trading on 

different industry sectors. Results indicate that the “grandfathering rule (RCE2000)” is the more feasible 

approach in allocating the emission permit to each industry sector. Results also find that the accumulated 

GDP loss of the petrochemical industry by the carbon tax during the period 2011–2020 is 5.7 [percent]. 

However, the accumulated value of GDP will drop by only 4.7 [percent] if carbon taxation is implemented 

together with emission trading. Besides, among petrochemical-related industry sectors, up-stream 

sectors earn profit from emission trading, while down-stream sectors have to purchase additional 

emission permits due to failure to achieve their emission targets. Cheng F. Lee, Sue J. Lin and Charles 

Lewis, Energy Policy, Available online December 3, 2007, doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2007.10.025,

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V2W-4R8M9HG2/2/5b143cec4352e8d62001ac30dd65c5bb. (Subscription may be required.) 

March 2008 

Reuters, “EU Agrees Goal for Climate Deal by April 2009,” and Reuters, “Factbox-The EU's 

Energy and Climate Plan.” On January 24, European Union (EU) chair, Slovenia, reached an 

agreement with the three countries that will succeed its rule to strive toward enacting extensive climate 

change and energy laws by April 2009. Slovenian Environment Minister Janez Podobnik said that the 

EU’s 27 member states have agreed to quickly reach an accord on the proposal’s first reading, so that 

Europe is able to take a primary role in the global climate change negotiations set for December 2009 in 

Copenhagen. The European Commission proposed several goals: to cut GHG emissions by 20 percent 

from 1990 levels, including a stipulation to increase the reduction figure to 30 percent if an international 

climate change deal is in place; increase renewable energy such as solar, wind, wave, hydro, and 

biomass by 20 percent by 2020; and use 10 percent of biofuels for transport by 2020. These initiatives 

will cost an estimated 0.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), or $86.53 billion (60 billion euros) 

per year, and raise electricity prices 10 percent to 15 percent per year. However, the changes will reduce 

energy imports totaling $74 billion (50 billion euros) per year and save $16.3 billion (11 billion euros) a 

year by 2020 on air pollution control. For information about proposed changes to the European Union 
35

Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), see the “Trading” section below. January 24, 2008, 

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSL242321720080124 and January 23, 2008, 

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSL2347327520080123.

Reuters, “Alberta Targets Emission Cuts with Carbon Capture.” Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach 

revealed on January 24 that a new climate change strategy will reduce CO2 emissions 14 percent below 

2005 levels by 2050 through the implementation of CCS programs. As Canada’s top oil producing 

province, Alberta plans to let GHG emissions rise until around 2020, due to more than $100 billion worth 

of planned oil sands projects that will triple current oil output. Stelmach said that he will allow GHGs to 

rise for the next decade because the province is a large oil provider to the United States and he did not 

want to risk harming Alberta’s $73 billion in annual exports to the United States. Under Stelmach’s 

climate change initiative, 12 percent of the emissions reductions will result from energy efficiency and 

conservation efforts, while some 70 percent of the targeted 200 megatonne emissions cut over the next 

42 years will come from CO2 capture and storage. In addition, Stelmach has been fining industrial 

emitters $15 per tonne of CO2 emissions above a designated limit and contributing the money into a 

$503 million CCS R&D fund. Part of this fund would finance a study to explore the costs of developing a 

pipeline to transport CO2 emissions to old oilfields for use in enhanced oil recovery. January 24, 2008, 

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN24260627. 

April 2008 

Reuters, “EU Wants Developing Nations to do More on Climate.” Despite being the leading 

purchaser of carbon offsets from developing nations, the European Union (EU) wants developing nations 

to stop relying on carbon offset schemes and instead begin taking a proactive role in cutting their GHG 

emissions. European Commission officials believe that the current process, which allows rich countries to 

meet binding targets on GHG emissions by funding cuts in developing nations, will not lead to targeted 

emissions levels. United Nations officials do not support the EU’s stance, as they conversely desire to 

expand the carbon offset process under the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). In 

addition, this stance poses a significant threat to the multibillion dollar carbon market. Ideally, the EU 

would prefer a cap-and-trade scheme to set a limit on GHG emissions and allow counties to trade carbon 

credits below the cap; however, developing nations refuse to be restricted by such limits, saying their 

primary focus is ending poverty and rich nations should resolve climate issues. The EU statement comes 

on the heels of their January proposal to freeze the use of carbon offsets by the energy-intensive 

industry from 2013 to 2020 – a move currently worrying carbon market investors. The CDM market 

tripled to a value of $18.57 billion (12 billion euros) in 2007 and may find new life if developing nations 

agreed to sell offsets for clean energy technologies. March 11, 2008, 

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSL1119071820080311?sp=true. 

 

“CO2 Embodied in International Trade with Implications for Global Climate Policy.” The flow of 

pollution through international trade flows has the ability to undermine environmental policies, particularly 

for global pollutants. In this article [the authors] determine the CO2 emissions embodied in international 

trade among 87 countries for the year 2001. [The authors] find that globally there are over 5.3 [gigatons] 

of CO2 embodied in trade and that Annex B countries are net importers of CO2 emissions. Depending on 

country characteristics—such as size variables and geographic location—there are considerable 

variations in the embodied emissions. [The authors] argue that emissions embodied in trade may have a 

significant impact on participation in and effectiveness of global climate policies such as the Kyoto 

Protocol. [The authors] discuss several policy options to reduce the impact of trade in global climate 

policy. If countries take binding commitments as a part of a coalition, instead of as individual countries, 

then the impacts of trade can be substantially reduced. Adjusting emission inventories for trade gives a 

more consistent description of a country’s environmental pressures and circumvents many trade related 

issues. It also gives opportunities to exploit trade as a means of mitigating emissions. Not least, a better 

understanding of the role that trade plays in a country’s economic and environmental development will 
36

help design more effective and participatory climate policy post-Kyoto. Glen P. Peters and Edgar G. 

Hertwich, Environmental Science & Technology, Available online January 30, 2008, doi: 

10.1021/es072023k, http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/esthag/2008/42/i05/abs/es072023k.html. 

(Subscription required.)

May 2008 

Reuters, “U.N. Approves Thousandth Kyoto Clean Energy Project,” and UNFCCC Press Release, 

“Kyoto Protocol Clean Development Mechanism Passes 1000th Registered Project Milestone.” 

On April 14, the United Nations (UN) approved the 1,000th project initiated under the Kyoto Protocol’s 

Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The project is an energy efficiency program in Andhra Pradesh, 

India that is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by some 34,000 tonnes; as a whole, the 1,000 CDMregistered projects will likely result in an annual reduction of 200 million tonnes in 49 countries. 

Thus far, CDM projects have produced over 135 million certified emission reductions (CERs) – a figure 

that is expected to increase to 2.7 billion CERs in the Kyoto Protocol’s first commitment period. The 

CDM, which is supervised by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), allows rich 

nations to meet their GHG targets under the Kyoto Protocol by purchasing carbon offsets issued to clean 

energy projects in developing nations. Nearly half of all CDM projects take place in India and China. For 

CDM-related project activity, click: http://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/index.html. April 14, 2008, 

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSL1426496820080414, and April 14, 2008, 

http://unfccc.int/files/press/news_room/press_releases_and_advisories/application/pdf/pressrel_080414_

1000.pdf. 

“Implications of carbon cap-and-trade for US voluntary renewable energy markets.” Many 

consumers today are purchasing renewable energy in large part for the greenhouse gas (GHG) 

emissions benefits that they provide. Emerging carbon regulation in the US has the potential to affect 

existing markets for renewable energy. Carbon cap-and-trade programs are now under development in 

the Northeast under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and in early stages of development 

in the West and Midwest. There is increasing discussion about carbon regulation at the national level as 

well. While renewable energy will likely benefit from carbon cap-and-trade programs because compliance 

with the cap will increase the costs of fossil fuel generation, cap-and-trade programs can also impact the 

ability of renewable energy generation to affect overall CO2 emissions levels and obtain value for those 

emissions benefits. This paper summarizes key issues for renewable energy markets that are emerging 

with carbon regulation, such as the implications for emissions benefits claims and voluntary market 

demand and the use of renewable energy certificates (RECs) in multiple markets. It also explores policy

options under consideration for designing carbon policies to enable carbon markets and renewable 

energy markets to work together. Lori A. Bird, Edward Holt and Ghita Levenstein Carroll, Energy 

Policy, Available online April 8, 2008, 

doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2008.02.009, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V2W-4S7HSFM1/2/3037809ff849d75329630e58723267e8. (Subscription may be required.) 

June 2008 

British Columbia Ministry of Finance Media Release, “Carbon Tax Guarantees Tax Cuts for British 

Columbians.” British Columbia’s Minister of Finance announced that British Columbia is the first 

Canadian province to implement a revenue-neutral carbon tax to reduce personal, corporate, and 

business income tax rates. The carbon tax, based on a $10 per tonne of CO2 price that will increase $5 

each year until reaching $30 in 2012, is expected to generate $1,849 million in revenue over its first three 

years. Among its several tax cuts, the revenue will reduce the bottom two personal income tax rates by 

two percent in 2008, with plans to increase the rate by five percent in 2009 on the first $70,000 in 

earnings ($784 million in tax cuts). It will also reduce the general corporate tax rate from 12 percent to 11 

percent, with plans to lower the rate to 10 percent by 2011 ($415 million in tax cuts) and reduce the small 
37

business tax rate to 3.5 percent from 4.5 percent, with plans to lower the rate to 2.5 percent by 2011 

($255 million in tax cuts). Finally, the revenue will finance a new Climate Action Credit fund that will 

provide lower income British Columbians with a payment of $100 per adult and $30 per child per year, 

with plans to increase these amounts by five percent in 2009 ($395 million). The carbon tax will go into 

effect on July 1, 2008, and apply to all fossil fuels, including gasoline, diesel, natural gas, coal, propane, 

and home heating fuel. A breakdown of the budget is available at: 

http://www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2008/backgrounders/backgrounder_tax_impacts.htm. For more 

information about British Columbia’s “Climate Smart Programs,” click: 

http://www.smartchoicesbc.ca/EN/bc's_climate_smart_programs/. April 28, 2008, 

http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2005-2009/2008FIN0009-000645.htm. 

“An indicator framework for assessing US state carbon emissions reduction efforts (with 

baseline trends from 1990 to 2001).” States are at the forefront of climate-related energy policy in the 

US, developing innovative policy and regional institutions for reducing carbon dioxide and other 

greenhouse gases. States matter because the larger ones use more energy and produce more carbon 

emissions than most nations and because their policies, though heterogeneous and until recently quite 

limited in scope, are shaping the context for national climate action. Despite this significance, little is 

known about trends in state carbon emissions or the effectiveness of state policies in reducing 

emissions. This paper describes a framework for analyzing and comparing state carbon emissions 

performance using sectoral indicators of emissions, energy consumption and carbon intensity linked to 

key policy domains. The paper also describes the range of state experience across indicators during the 

period 1990–2001, establishing a baseline of leading, lagging and average experience against which 

future state and regional change can be assessed. The conceptual framework and the empirical analysis 

of emission trends are intended to provide a better understanding of, and means for monitoring, state 

contributions toward achieving energy system sustainability. Scott Jiusto, Energy Policy, Available 

online April 21, 2008, doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2008.02.034, 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V2W-4SB9F1H-1/1/5ecc1650feff93f2fb3835e3eb961809. 

(Subscription may be required.) 

July 2008 

Reuters, “IEA Urges $45 Trln ‘Energy Revolution’ To Halve CO2,” and Energy Current, “G8 Aims 

for 20 Carbon Capture Projects by 2010.” In a new report, titled, “Energy Technology Perspectives 

2008,” IEA recommended a $45 trillion “energy technology revolution” to raise the cost of producing CO2. 

According to the IEA report commissioned three years ago by the Group of Eight (G-8), failure to do so 

by 2050 could result in a surge in GHG emissions. IEA claims that without a multilateral government 

policy, emissions would rise by 130 percent and oil demand would increase by 70 percent. The report 

calls for a 15-year research and development (R&D) plan that would cost anywhere from $10 billion to 

$100 billion per year. Under this scenario, the power sector would need to build 32 new nuclear power 

plants and install CCS technology at 35 coal-fired and 25 gas-fired power plants per year from 2010 to 

2050. In addition, nations not participating in the IEA program would need to conserve energy to achieve 

the target. At a meeting held June 6-7 in Aomori, Japan, G-8 members agreed to launch 20 large CCS 

demonstration projects by 2010. DOE pledged to provide funding for the addition of CCS technology at 

several commercial-scale Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) plants. To read a fact sheet 

highlighting the two future sustainable energy scenarios, click: 

http://www.iea.org/Textbase/techno/etp/fact_sheet_ETP2008.pdf. June 6, 2008, 

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSSP11179420080606?pageNumber=1&virtualBran

dChannel=0, and June 9, 2008, http://www.energycurrent.com/index.php?id=3&storyid=11052.

“Effective EU and Member State policies for stimulating CCS.” Although CO2 capture and storage 

(CCS) is widely recognized as an option to mitigate climate change, consistent and effective EU policies 

to advance CCS are still absent. This paper discusses policy instruments for advancing large-scale 
38

deployment of CCS in the European Union, and evaluates them in a multi-criteria analysis. The EU 

Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) is a cost-effective instrument for limiting greenhouse gas 

emissions, but it is questionable whether its currently limited time horizon and short-trading periods will 

lead to substantial CCS [operations] Complementary policies at the EU and the Member State level may 

repair this and provide sufficient incentives for CCS. Potential policies include financial instruments such 

as investment subsidies, a feed-in scheme, or a CO2 price guarantee, as well as a CCS mandate or a 

low-carbon portfolio. These policy options differ with respect to their environmental effectiveness, 

possible interaction with the EU-ETS, costs and financial risk involved, and their competition with other 

mitigation options. Interactions between Member State policies and the EU-ETS are smaller in scope 

than those of EU-wide policies, but they are more likely to lead to displacement of financial resources 

from other low-carbon technologies. In addition, national policies may pose a significant part of the 

financial risk of CCS operations with Member States, reducing the operator's incentive to innovate. 

Overall, structural policies at the EU level, such as a mandate or a low-carbon portfolio standard would 

be more conducive for realizing large-scale deployment of CCS across the EU as well as more 

acceptable to environmental organizations. Heleen Groenenberg and Heleen de Coninck, International 

Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Available online June 2, 2008, doi:10.1016/j.ijggc.2008.04.003, 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B83WP-4SN92PX1/1/af4f908886178f3a6b03573c04afbdce. (Subscription may be required.) 

August 2008 

EPA News Release, “EPA Lays Groundwork for Promising Technologies to Help Mitigate Climate 

Change,” and Oil and Gas Journal, “EPA Proposes Rules for Carbon Dioxide Storage.” The US 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed regulations for the long-term, underground 

storage of CO2. The proposed regulations would establish a new class of injection wells under EPA’s 

existing Underground Injection Control (UIC) program and would update the Safe Drinking Water Act 

(SDWA). Under the proposed rules, a new category of injection well, Class VI, would be established to 

monitor the long-term, geologic storage of CO2. The proposed regulation will build on the existing UIC 

program by including requirements to ensure wells are properly located, constructed, tested, monitored, 

and closed with proper funding. EPA is requesting public comments on the proposed rule for 120 days 

following its release, and a final rule is anticipated in late 2010 or early 2011. EPA is working with DOE 

on carbon sequestration research and development and monitors the progress of sequestration projects 

throughout the United States, including those initiated by DOE’s RCSPs. The proposed rule results from 

EPA’s coordination with DOE to monitor the progress of pilot-scale geologic storage projects and seven 

workshops held since 2005 to discuss various technical issues associated with geologic storage. To view 

the proposed rule, go to: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/uic/pdfs/prefr_uic_co2rule.pdf. To listen to a 

sound bite from EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson, click: 

http://www.epa.gov/adminweb/multimedia/newscontent/2008-07-15-oa/audio/071508.mp3. July 15, 

2008, 

http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/bd4379a92ceceeac8525735900400c27/d35b72dfe481043b85

257487005e47cd!OpenDocument, and July 15, 2008,

http://www.ogj.com/display_article/334413/7/ONART/none/GenIn/1/EPA-proposes-rules-for-carbondioxide-storage/.

“Environmental bonds and the challenge of long-term carbon sequestration.” The potential to 

capture carbon from industrial sources and dispose of it for the long-term, known as carbon capture and 

storage (CCS), is widely recognized as an important option to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide 

emissions. Specifically, CCS has the potential to provide emissions cuts sufficient to stabilize 

greenhouse gas levels, while still allowing for the continued use of fossil fuels. In addition, CCS is both 

technologically feasible and commercially viable compared to alternatives with the same emissions 

profile. Although the concept appears to be solid from a technical perspective, initial public perceptions of 

the technology are uncertain. Moreover, little attention has been paid to developing an understanding of 
39

the social and political institutional infrastructure necessary to implement CCS projects. In this paper [the 

authors] explore a particularly dicey issue—how to ensure adequate long-term monitoring and 

maintenance of the carbon sequestration sites. Bonding mechanisms have been suggested as a 

potential mechanism to reduce these problems (where bonding refers to financial instruments used to 

ensure regulatory or contractual commitments). Such mechanisms have been successfully applied in a 

number of settings (e.g., to ensure court appearances, completion of construction projects, and payment 

of taxes). The paper examines the use of bonding to address environmental problems and looks at its 

possible application to nascent CCS projects. [The authors] also present evidence on the use of bonding 

for other projects involving deep underground injection of materials for the purpose of long-term storage 

or disposal. David Gerard and Elizabeth J. Wilson, Journal of Environmental Management, Available 

online July 10, 2008, doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2008.04.005, 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6WJ7-4SYDB0K1/1/6a8552ff2a455bb734c35f53553dbef0. (Subscription may be required.) 

Geology 

September 2007 

“Time-lapse crosswell seismic and VSP monitoring of injected CO2 in a brine aquifer.” Seismic 

surveys successfully imaged a small scale CO2 injection (1,600 ton) conducted in a brine aquifer of the 

Frio Formation near Houston, Texas. These time-lapse borehole seismic surveys, crosswell and vertical 

seismic profile (VSP), were acquired to monitor the CO2 distribution using two boreholes (the new 

injection well and a pre-existing well used for monitoring) which are 30 m [meters] apart at a depth of 

1,500 m. The crosswell survey provided a high-resolution image of the CO2 distribution between the 

wells via tomographic imaging of the P-wave velocity decrease (up to 500 m/s [meters per second]). The 

simultaneously acquired S-wave tomography showed little change in S-wave velocity, as expected for 

fluid substitution. A rock physics model was used to estimate CO2 saturations of 10–20 [percent] from the 

P-wave velocity change. The VSP survey resolved a large (~70 [percent]) change in reflection amplitude 

for the Frio horizon. This CO2 induced reflection amplitude change allowed estimation of the CO2 extent 

beyond the monitor well and on three azimuths. The VSP result is compared with numerical modeling of 

CO2 saturations and is seismically modeled using the velocity change estimated in the crosswell survey. 

Thomas M. Daley, Larry R. Myer, J. E. Peterson, E. L. Majer, and G. M. Hoversten, Environmental 

Geology, Published online July 25, 2007, DOI: 10.1007/s00254-007-0943-z, 

http://www.springerlink.com/content/x80826132064h837/?p=5748bcb387064315a157aad1b539584c&pi

=0. (Subscription required.) 

“Geologic factors controlling CO2 storage capacity and permanence: case studies based on 

experience with heterogeneity in oil and gas reservoirs applied to CO2 storage.” A variety of 

structural and stratigraphic factors control geological heterogeneity, inferred to influence both 

sequestration capacity and effectiveness, as well as seal capacity. Structural heterogeneity factors 

include faults, folds, and fracture intensity. Stratigraphic heterogeneity is primarily controlled by the 

geometry of depositional facies and sandbody continuity, which controls permeability structure. The 

permeability structure, in turn, has implications for CO2 injectivity and near-term migration pathways, 

whereas the long-term sequestration capacity can be inferred from the production history. Examples of 

Gulf Coast oil and gas reservoirs with differing styles of stratigraphic heterogeneity demonstrate the 

impact of facies variability on fluid flow and CO2 sequestration potential. Beach and barrier-island 

deposits in West Ranch field in southeast Texas are homogeneous and continuous. In contrast, 

Seeligson and Stratton fields in south Texas, examples of major heterogeneity in fluvial systems, are 

composed of discontinuous, channel-fill sandstones confined to narrow, sinuous belts. These 

heterogeneous deposits contain limited compartments for potential CO2 storage, although CO2

sequestration effectiveness may be enhanced by the high number of intraformational shale beds. These 
40

field examples demonstrate that areas for CO2 storage can be optimized by assessing sites for enhanced 

oil and gas recovery in mature hydrocarbon provinces. W. A. Ambrose, S. Lakshminarasimhan, M. 

Holtz, V. Núñez-López, S. Hovorka, I. Duncan, Environmental Geology, Published online July 27, 

2007, DOI: 10.1007/s00254-007-0940-2, 

http://www.springerlink.com/content/n502k12606481724/?p=9028d37ebb904e5fb5635008c6be1c4d&pi=

0. (Subscription required.) 

October 2007 

“Effects of in-situ conditions on relative permeability characteristics of CO2-brine systems.” 

Carbon dioxide capture and geological storage (CCGS) is an emerging technology that is increasingly 

being considered for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere. Deep saline aquifers 

provide a very large capacity for CO2 storage and, unlike hydrocarbon reservoirs and coal beds, are 

immediately accessible and are found in all sedimentary basins. Proper understanding of the 

displacement character of CO2-brine systems at in-situ conditions is essential in ascertaining CO2

injectivity, migration and trapping in the pore space as a residual gas or supercritical fluid, and in 

assessing the suitability and safety of prospective CO2 storage sites. Because of lack of published data, 

the authors conducted a program of measuring the relative permeability and other displacement 

characteristics of CO2-brine systems for sandstone, carbonate and shale formations in central Alberta in 

western Canada. The tested formations are representative of the in-situ characteristics of deep saline 

aquifers in compacted on-shore North American sedimentary basins. The results show that the capillary 

pressure, interfacial tension, relative permeability and other displacements characteristics of CO2-brine 

systems depend on the in-situ conditions of pressure, temperature and water salinity, and on the pore 

size distribution of the sedimentary rock. This paper presents a synthesis and interpretation of the 

results. Stefan Bachu and Brant Bennion, Environmental Geology, Published online July 24, 2007, 

DOI: 10.1007/s00254-007-0946-9, 

http://springerlink.metapress.com/content/k05245331h864771/?p=70070aac2be64638acdb2f7b3cce2f51

&pi=0. (Subscription required.) 

“Site characterization of a basin-scale CO2 geological storage system: Gippsland Basin, 

southeast Australia.” Geological storage of CO2 in the offshore Gippsland Basin, Australia, is being 

investigated by the Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies (CO2CRC) as a 

possible method for storing the very large volumes of CO2 emissions from the nearby Latrobe Valley 

area. A storage capacity of about 50 million tonnes of CO2 per annum for a 40-year injection period is 

required, which will necessitate several individual storage sites to be used both sequentially and 

simultaneously, but timed such that existing hydrocarbon assets will not be compromised. Detailed 

characterization focused on the Kingfish Field area as the first site to be potentially used, in the 

anticipation that this oil field will be depleted within the period 2015–2025. The potential injection targets 

are the interbedded sandstones of the Paleocene-Eocene upper Latrobe Group, regionally sealed by the 

Lakes Entrance Formation. The research identified several features to the offshore Gippsland Basin that 

make it particularly favorable for CO2 storage. These include: a complex stratigraphic architecture that 

provides baffles which slow vertical migration and increase residual gas trapping and dissolution; nonreactive reservoir units that have high injectivity; a thin, suitably reactive, lower permeability marginal 

reservoir just below the regional seal providing mineral trapping; several depleted oil fields that provide 

storage capacity coupled with a transient production-induced flow regime that enhances containment; 

and long migration pathways beneath a competent regional seal. This study has shown that the 

Gippsland Basin has sufficient capacity to store very large volumes of CO2. It may provide a solution to 

the problem of substantially reducing greenhouse gas emissions from future coal developments in the 

Latrobe Valley. C. M. Gibson-Poole, L. Svendsen, J. Underschultz, M. N. Watson, J. Ennis-King, 

P. J. van Ruth, E. J. Nelson, R. F. Daniel and Y. Cinar, Environmental Geology, Published online 

August 3, 2007, DOI: 10.1007/s00254-007-0941-1, 

http://www.springerlink.com/content/0r4v8l4j846t5308. (Subscription required.) 
41

November 2007 

“Coalbed methane reservoir data and simulator parameter uncertainty modelling for CO2 storage 

performance assessment.” Laboratory studies and a number of field pilots have demonstrated that 

CO2 injection into coal seams has the potential to enhance coalbed methane (CBM) recovery with the 

added advantage that most of the injected CO2 can be stored permanently in coal. The concept of 

storing CO2 in geologic formations as a safe and effective greenhouse gas mitigation option requires 

public and regulatory acceptance. In this context it is important to develop a good understanding of the 

reservoir performance, uncertainties and the risks that are associated with geological storage. The paper 

presented refers to the sources of uncertainty involved in CO2 storage performance assessment in 

coalbed methane reservoirs and demonstrates their significance using extensive digital well log data 

representing the Manville coals in Alberta, Canada. The spatial variability of the reservoir properties was 

captured through geostatistical analysis, and sequential Gaussian simulations of these provided multiple 

realizations for the reservoir simulator inputs. A number of CO2 injection scenarios with variable matrix 

swelling coefficients were evaluated using a 2D reservoir model and spatially distributed realizations of 

total net thickness and permeability. Anna Korre, Ji Quan Shi, Claire Imrie, Carlos Grattoni and 

Sevket Durucan, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Volume 1, Issue 4, October 2007, 

Pages 492-501, Available online August 28, 2007, doi:10.1016/S1750-5836(07)00093-X, 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B83WP-4PHSFSB1/2/f17f8ebfcb3f1335d5535c46dc4f14ee. (Subscription may be required.) 

“Effects of matrix shrinkage and swelling on the economics of enhanced-coalbed-methane 

production and CO2 sequestration in coal.” Increases in carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the 

atmosphere and their contributions to global climate change are a major concern. [Carbon] sequestration 

in unmineable coals may be a very attractive option, for economic as well as environmental reasons, if a 

combination of enhanced-coalbed-methane (ECBM) production and tax incentives becomes sufficiently 

favorable compared to the costs of capture, transport, and injection of CO2. Darcy flow through cleats is 

an important transport mechanism in coal. Cleat compression and permeability changes caused by gas 

sorption/desorption, changes of effective stress, and matrix swelling and shrinkage introduce a high level 

of complexity into the feasibility of a coal sequestration project. The economic effects of CO2-induced 

swelling on permeabilities and injectivities has received little (if any) detailed attention. [Carbon dioxide] 

and methane (CH4) have different swelling effects on coal. In this work, the Palmer-Mansoori model for 

coal shrinkage and permeability increases during primary methane production was rewritten to also 

account for coal swelling caused by CO2 sorption. The generalized model was added to a compositional, 

dual-porosity coalbed-methane reservoir simulator for primary (CBM) and ECBM production. A standard 

five-spot of vertical wells and representative coal properties for Appalachian coals was used (Rogers 

1994). Simulations and sensitivity analyses were performed with the modified simulator for nine different 

parameters, including coal seam and operational parameters and economic criteria. The coal properties 

and operating parameters that were varied included Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio, cleat porosity, 

and injection pressure. The economic variables included CH4 price, CO2 cost, CO2 credit, water disposal 

cost, and interest rate. Net-present-value (NPV) analyses of the simulation results included profits 

resulting from CH4 production and potential incentives for sequestered CO2. This work shows that for 

some coal seams, the combination of compressibility, cleat porosity, and shrinkage/swelling of the coal 

may have a significant impact on project economics. 

F. Burcu Gorucu, Sinisha A. Jikich, Grant S. Bromhal, W. Neal Sams, Turgay Ertekin and Duane 

H. Smith, SPE Reservoir Evaluation & Engineering, Volume 10, Issue 4, August 2007, Pages 382-392. 

DOI: 10.2118/97963PA. (Link Unavailable.) 

December 2007 

“The Atmospheric Background of Perfluorocarbon Compounds Used as Tracers.” There are 

seven cyclic perfluoroalkane compounds, which can be detected in extremely low concentrations, that 
42

are used to track mass movement and transfer in a variety of research and practical applications. They 

are used in leak detection in underground storage and pipelines and in atmospheric transport and 

diffusion research on local, regional, and continental scales. They are likely to be a used globally for 

monitoring carbon sequestration in geological formations. The atmospheric background levels of these 

compounds must be accurately known, and trends in their concentrations determined for these 

compounds to be effective in monitoring CO2 reservoirs and because there are environmental concerns 

about their release. Results of measurements of perfluorocarbon background concentrations from two 

recent field programs are presented, and trends in these values examined using data collected over the 

last 25 years. The current atmospheric concentrations of these compounds are in the low parts per 

quadrillion levels, and their annual atmospheric growth rate is less than 1 part per quadrillion per year. 

The environmental effects of these compounds are examined and found to be negligible at current 

release rates. Thomas B. Watson, Richard Wilke, Russell N. Dietz, John Heiser, and Paul Kalb, 

Environmental Science Technology, Available online: September 15, 2007, DOI: 10.1021/es070940k,

http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/esthag/2007/41/i20/abs/es070940k.html. (Subscription required.)

January 2008

“CO2 storage in geological media: Role, means, status and barriers to deployment.” Carbon 

dioxide capture and geological storage is an enabling technology that will allow the continued use well 

into this century of fossil fuels, mainly coal, for power generation and combustion in industrial processes 

because they are relatively abundant, cheap, available and globally distributed, thus enhancing the 

security and stability of energy systems. Geological media suitable for CO2 storage through various 

physical and chemical trapping mechanisms must have the necessary capacity and injectivity, and must 

confine the CO2 and impede its lateral migration and/or vertical leakage to other strata, shallow potable 

groundwater, soils and/or atmosphere. Such geological media are mainly oil and gas reservoirs and 

deep saline aquifers that are found in sedimentary basins. Storage of gases, including CO2, in these 

media has been demonstrated on a commercial scale by enhanced oil recovery operations, natural gas 

storage and acid gas disposal. Some of the risks associated with CO2 capture and geological storage are 

similar to, and comparable with, any other industrial activity for which extensive safety and regulatory 

frameworks are in place. Specific risks associated with CO2 storage relate to the operational (injection) 

phase and to the post-operational phase, of which the risks of most concern are those posed by the 

potential for acute or chronic CO2 leakage from the storage site. Notwithstanding the global climate effect 

of CO2 returning to the atmosphere, the local risks to health and safety, environment and equity need to 

be properly assessed and managed. Currently there are very few operations in the world where CO2 is 

injected and stored in the ground, mostly if not exclusively as a by-product of an operation driven by 

other considerations than climate change, such as oil production or regulatory requirements regarding 

H2S. These operations show that there are no major technological barriers to CO2 geological storage, 

and that challenges and barriers lie elsewhere. A major challenge in the implementation of CO2

geological storage is the high cost of CO2 capture, particularly for dilute streams like those from power 

plants and industrial combustion processes. There are concerns that public opinion and public's 

acceptance or rejection of this technology will likely affect the large-scale implementation of CO2

geological storage. The current paucity of policy, legislation and a proper regulatory framework in most 

jurisdictions is presently the most significant barrier. The resolution of these challenges will affect the 

economics and financial risk of CO2 geological storage and will accelerate or delay the deployment of 

this technology for reducing anthropogenic CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. Stefan Bachu, Progress 

in Energy and Combustion Science, Available online: November 7, 2007,

doi:10.1016/j.pecs.2007.10.001, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V3W-4R2Y44R1/2/3f50590576a52cfdd97d1d82454b2967.

February 2008 
43

“Heat optimization of a staged gas–solid mineral carbonation process for long-term CO2

storage.” Carbonation of magnesium silicates offers an interesting option for CO2 emission mitigation in 

Finland, a country with large resources of serpentine-type minerals. Wet processes using aqueous 

solutions show reasonable chemical kinetics combined with poor energy economy. A dry, gas–solid 

process with slower chemical kinetics (demonstrated previously), but better energy economy could be an 

alternative. This paper addresses the energy economy of a two- or three-stage gas–solid process for 

magnesium silicate carbonation. It involves production of reactive magnesium as magnesium oxide or 

hydroxide in an atmospheric pressure step, followed by carbonation at elevated pressures that allow for 

reasonable carbonation reaction kinetics under conditions where magnesium carbonate is 

thermodynamically stable. For a feasible large-scale process the kinetics in the individual reactors must 

be fast enough, while the heat produced in the carbonation step must be sufficient to compensate for 

energy inputs to the preceding step(s). Results give reactor temperature combinations that allow for 

operation at a negative or zero energy input, for given carbonation reactor pressure and degree of 

carbonation conversion, and other process energy requirements. Softwares used were HSC and Aspen 

Plus. Also, some results from gas–solid kinetics studies with magnesium oxide-based materials at the 

pressures considered are included. Ron Zevenhoven, Sebastian Teir and Sanni Eloneva, Energy, 

Available online December 21, 2007, doi:10.1016/j.energy.2007.11.005, 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V2S-4RDB8T4-

1/2/bc2dec6bca60068666fb0839b0f2abf8. (Subscription may be required.) 

“Experimental evaluation of interactions in supercritical CO2/water/rock minerals system under 

geologic CO2.” The hydrothermal autoclave experiments were conducted to simulate the interactions in 

the [Supercritical] CO2/water/rock minerals (quartz, biotite and granite) reaction systems using a 

Hastelloy [carbon] reaction cell at 100 [degrees Celsius]. The dissolution characteristics of rock minerals 

and their surface texture alternation after hydrothermal treatment were examined by ICP-AES and 

SEM/EDX investigation, respectively. The results suggested that the hydrolysis of plagioclase phase 

should be mainly responsible for the elements dissolved from the Iidate granite samples. The dissolution 

was encouraged by the introduction of CO2 in the water/granite system, and generated an unknown 

aluminosilicate. No distinct chemical alternations occurred in the water-free scCO2/granite system, which 

indicated that rock minerals should be chemically stable in the water-free scCO2 fluids under the current 

mild experimental conditions. Both the highest concentration of Ca existing in the scCO2/vapor/granite 

system and the SEM observation results of calcite deposit, suggested that a meaningful CO2 minerals 

trapping process should be potential in the CO2-rich field during a short physicochemical interaction 

period. Hongfei Lin, Takashi Fujii, Reisuke Takisawa, Toru Takahashi and Toshiyuki Hashida,

Journal of Materials Science, Available online December 22, 2007, DOI: 10.1007/s10853-007-2029-4, 

http://www.springerlink.com/content/116857412745p8l3/?p=bc1e6c1e9a1f478a80629085f14f242d&pi=1. 

(Subscription required.)

March 2008 

“Effect of coal properties on CO2 sorption capacity under supercritical conditions.” Relationships 

between coal properties and CO2 sorption capacity have been investigated for 30 coals from various 

sources in Australia and elsewhere, selected to cover a wide range of rank and maceral composition. 

Samples were characterized by their CO2 sorption capacity, porosity, density and chemical and 

petrographic composition. Carbon dioxide adsorption isotherms were measured on dry coal at 

53 [degrees Celsius] and at pressures up 16 MPa using a gravimetric apparatus. Isotherms were fitted to 

a modified Dubinin–Radushkevich (DR) model using gas density rather than pressure to enable the 

model to be applied to supercritical conditions. A term related to Henry's Law to account for gas 

absorbed by the coal is also included in the model. This model provided excellent fits to the experimental 

data; in most cases the difference between the predicted and measured value was less than 1 [percent] 

of the sorption capacity over the entire pressure range. Sorption capacities of the coals investigated were 

found to vary by over a factor of 2, even when comparing on a dry-ash-free basis. Carbon dioxide 

sorption capacity tended to reduce with rank to reach a minimum that corresponded to a vitrinite 
44

reflectance of about 1.2 [percent] after which it began to increase. Increasing hydrogen content tended to 

result in a decrease in sorption capacity. Two of the coals showed significantly higher sorption capacity 

than any of the other samples examined. In both of these cases, the coals had been naturally weathered 

and exhibited high porosity relative to the other samples. In general, however, the correlations observed 

were quite weak with considerable scatter in the data. This implies that CO2 sorption capacity, required 

for assessing sequestration potential, cannot be reliably inferred from the coal properties investigated 

here. Stuart Day, Greg Duffy, Richard Sakurovs and Steve Weir, International Journal of Greenhouse 

Gas Control, Available online December 4, 2007, doi:10.1016/S1750-5836(07)00120-X,

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B83WP-4R8PNX1-

1/2/fed79a15dc708c2775daf2337d18f734. (Subscription may be required.)

April 2008

“Competitive adsorption equilibria of CO2 and CH4 on a dry coal.” Gases like CO2 and [methane 

(CH4)] are able to adsorb on the coal surface, but also to dissolve into its structure causing the coal to 

swell. In this work, the binary adsorption of CO2 and CH4 on a dry coal (Sulcis Coal Province, Italy) and 

its swelling behavior are investigated. The competitive adsorption measurements are performed at 45 Â 

[degrees Celsius] and up to 190 bar for pure CO2, CH4 and four mixtures of molar feed compositions of 

20.0, 40.0, 60.0 and 80.0 [percent] CO2 using a gravimetric-chromatographic technique. The results 

show that [CO2] adsorbs more favorably than methane leading to an enrichment of the fluid phase in 

CH4. Coal swelling is determined using a high-pressure view cell, by exposing a coal disc to CO2, CH4

and He at 45 and 60 Â [degrees Celsius] and up to 140 bar. For CO2 and CH4 a maximum swelling of 

about 4 and 2 [percent] is found, whereas He shows negligible swelling. The presented adsorption and 

swelling data are then discussed in terms of fundamental, thermodynamic aspects of adsorption and 

properties which are crucial for an ECBM operation, i.e. the CO2 storage capacity and the dynamics of 

the replacement of CH4 by CO2. Stefan Ottiger, Ronny Pini, Giuseppe Storti, and Marco Mazzotti,

Adsorption, Available online March 5, 2008, DOI: 10.1007/s10450-008-9114-0,

http://www.springerlink.com/content/1676n04035452u21/?p=0a38ca0344ec4e27bccf38189bd5f7c1&pi.

May 2008 

“A method for quick assessment of CO2 storage capacity in closed and semi-closed saline 

formations.” Saline aquifers of high permeability bounded by overlying/underlying seals may be 

surrounded laterally by low-permeability zones, possibly caused by natural heterogeneity and/or faulting. 

Carbon dioxide (CO2) injection into and storage in such “closed” systems with impervious seals, or “semiclosed” systems with non-ideal (low permeability) seals, is different from that in “open” systems, from 

which the displaced brine can easily escape laterally. In closed or semi-closed systems, the pressure 

buildup caused by continuous industrial-scale CO2 injection may have a limiting effect on CO2 storage 

capacity, because geomechanical damage caused by overpressure needs to be avoided. In this 

research, a simple analytical method was developed for the quick assessment of the CO2 storage 

capacity in such closed and semi-closed systems. This quick-assessment method is based on the fact 

that native brine (of an equivalent volume) displaced by the cumulative injected CO2 occupies additional 

pore volume within the storage formation and the seals, provided by pore and brine compressibility in 

response to pressure buildup. With non-ideal seals, brine may also leak through the seals into 

overlying/underlying formations. The quick-assessment method calculates these brine displacement 

contributions in response to an estimated average pressure buildup in the storage reservoir. The CO2

storage capacity and the transient domain-averaged pressure buildup estimated through the quickassessment method were compared with the “true” values obtained using detailed numerical simulations 

of CO2 and brine transport in a two-dimensional radial system. The good agreement indicates that the 

proposed method can produce reasonable approximations for storage–formation–seal systems of 

various geometric and hydrogeological properties. Quanlin Zhou, Jens T. Birkholzer, Chin-Fu Tsang 

and Jonny Rutqvist, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Available online March 21, 2008,
45

doi:10.1016/j.ijggc.2008.02.004, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B83WP-4S3P8H1-

1/2/fc763c66646cd0191604c6ca29933710. (Subscription may be required.)

June 2008 

“Carbon dioxide storage potential of shales.” Options for the geologic storage of carbon dioxide vary 

from saline aquifers and depleted oil and gas reservoirs to unminable coal seams and abandoned coal 

mines. Important aspects include the sealing integrity of the cap rock and potential changes in this 

integrity, owing to the interaction with CO2. In this study, diffusive transport and gas sorption experiments 

on one well characterized shale sample (Muderong Shale, Australia) and on different clay minerals were 

performed to obtain information on the sealing integrity and the CO2 storage potential of these materials. 

All measurements were performed under reservoir conditions relevant for CO2 storage (T = 45–

50 [degrees Celsius]; p < 20 MPa). Repeat diffusion experiments on one shale plug yielded increased 

effective diffusion coefficients and a decrease in the concentration of the bulk CO2 volume in the sample. 

The latter is believed to be dissolved in formation water, sorbed to mineral surfaces or involved with 

geochemical reactions. For the Muderong Shale, bulk volume CO2 concentrations are greater within the 

experimental time frame (222–389 mol/m3

), when compared to coal and cemented sandstone (3–4 and 

8–10 mol/ m3

), respectively. This high CO2 storage potential could not fully be explained by CO2

dissolution in water alone. Thus, gas sorption experiments were performed on crushed shale and various 

clay minerals. High CO2 sorption capacities (e.g. up to 1 mmol/g for the Muderong Shale) show that the 

high CO2 concentration is related to a combination of CO2 dissolution in water and gas sorption on clay 

minerals. Additionally, changes in specific surface areas before and after the sorption experiments and 

variations in the CO2 sorption and diffusion behavior due to repetitive experiments on the identical 

sample were observed, possibly related to geochemical alteration of the Muderong Shale and the clay 

minerals. These could not be quantified however and seemed to occur only at high pressures. Results 

obtained in this study provide a more positive view on the sealing integrity of intact cap rock formations. 

Carbon dioxide that migrates from a storage reservoir into the cap rock through the pore network will be 

immobilized to a certain extent, hence minimizing (slow, diffusion-driven) leakage and providing 

additional CO2 storage potential. Andreas Busch, Sascha Alles, Yves Gensterblum, Dirk Prinz, 

David N. Dewhurst, Mark D. Raven, Helge Stanjek and Bernhard M. Krooss, International Journal of 

Greenhouse Gas Control, Available online April 24, 2008, doi:10.1016/j.ijggc.2008.03.003, 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B83WP-4SBYYNJ1/1/b13d83473d16bd1d994795f097bb3f56. (Subscription may be required.) 

“Sequestration of Dissolved CO2 in the Oriskany Formation.” Experiments were conducted to 

determine the solubility of CO2 in a natural brine solution of the Oriskany formation under elevated 

temperature and pressure conditions. These data were collected at temperatures of 22 and 75 [degrees 

Celsius] and pressures between 100 and 450 bar. Experimentally determined data were compared with 

CO2 solubility predictions using a model developed by Duan and Sun (Chem. Geol. 2003, 193, 

257−271). Model results compare well with Oriskany brine CO2 solubility data collected experimentally, 

suggesting that the Duan and Sun model is a reliable tool for estimating solution CO2 capacity in high 

salinity aquifers in the temperature and pressure range evaluated. The capacity for the Oriskany 

formation to sequester dissolved CO2 was calculated using results of the solubility models, estimation of 

the density of CO2 saturated brine, and available geographic information system (GIS) information on the 

formation depth and thickness. Results indicate that the Oriskany formation can hold approximately 0.36 

gigatonnes of dissolved CO2 if the full basin is considered. When only the region where supercritical CO2

can exist (temperatures greater than 31 [degrees Celsius] and pressures greater than 74 bar) is 

considered, the capacity of the Oriskany formation to sequester dissolved CO2 is 0.31 gigatonnes. The 

capacity estimate considering the potential to sequester free-phase supercritical CO2 if brine were 

displaced from formation pore space is 8.8 gigatonnes in the Oriskany formation. Robert M. Dilmore,

Douglas E. Allen, J. Richard McCarthy Jones, Sheila W. Hedges, and Yee Soong, Environmental 

Science & Technology, Available online February 9, 2008, doi:10.1021/es702229f, 

http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/esthag/2008/42/i08/abs/es702229f.html. (Subscription required.) 
46

July 2008

“Intermediate storage of carbon dioxide in geological formations: A technical perspective.” The 

following is the abstract of this article: “Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) through CO2 flooding has been 

practiced on a commercial basis for the last 35 years and continues today at several sites, currently 

injecting in total over 30 million tons of CO2 annually. This practice is currently exclusively for economic 

gain, but can potentially contribute to the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases provided it is 

implemented on a large scale. Optimal operations in distributing CO2 to CO2-EOR or enhanced gas 

recovery (EGR) projects (referred to here collectively as CO2-EHR) on a large scale and long time span 

imply that intermediate storage of CO2 in geological formations may be a key component. Intermediate 

storage is defined as the storage of CO2 in geological media for a limited time span such that the CO2

can be sufficiently reproduced for later use in CO2-EHR. This paper investigates the technical aspects, 

key individual parameters and possibilities of intermediate storage of CO2 in geological formations aiming 

at large scale implementation of carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) for deep emission reduction. 

The main parameters are thus the depth of injection and density, CO2 flow and transport processes, 

storage mechanisms, reservoir heterogeneity, the presence of impurities, the type of the reservoirs and 

the duration of intermediate storage. Structural traps with no flow of formation water combined with 

proper injection planning such as gas-phase injection favor intermediate storage in deep saline aquifers. 

In depleted oil and gas fields, high permeability, homogeneous reservoirs with structural traps (e.g. 

anticlinal structures) are good candidates for intermediate CO2 storage. Intuitively, depleted natural gas 

reservoirs can be potential candidates for intermediate storage of carbon dioxide due to similarity in 

storage characteristics.” Semere Solomon, Michael Carpenter and Todd Allyn Flach, International 

Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Available online May 20, 2008, doi:10.1016/j.ijggc.2008.04.004, 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B83WP-4SJGWYJ2/1/5fbe2f7b28fe54d48c43ec6825849e03. (Subscription may be required.) 

August 2008 

“The role of optimality in characterizing CO2 seepage from geologic carbon sequestration sites.” 

Storage of large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) in deep geologic formations for greenhouse-gas 

mitigation is gaining momentum and moving from its conceptual and testing stages toward widespread 

application. In this work [the authors] explore various optimization strategies for characterizing surface 

leakage (seepage) using near-surface measurement approaches such as accumulation chambers and 

eddy covariance towers. Seepage characterization objectives and limitations need to be defined carefully 

from the outset especially in light of large natural background variations that can mask seepage. The 

cost and sensitivity of seepage detection are related to four critical length scales pertaining to the size of 

the: (1) region that needs to be monitored; (2) footprint of the measurement approach, (3) main seepage 

zone; [and] (4) region in which concentrations or fluxes are influenced by seepage. Seepage 

characterization objectives may include one or all of the tasks of detecting, locating, and quantifying 

seepage. Each of these tasks has its own optimal strategy. Detecting and locating seepage in a region in 

which there is no expected or preferred location for seepage nor existing evidence for seepage requires 

monitoring on a fixed grid, e.g., using eddy covariance towers. The fixed-grid approaches needed to 

detect seepage are expected to require large numbers of eddy covariance towers for large-scale 

geologic CO2 storage. Once seepage has been detected and roughly located, seepage zones and 

features can be optimally pinpointed through a dynamic search strategy, e.g., employing accumulation 

chambers and/or soil-gas monitoring. Quantification of seepage rates can be done through 

measurements on a localized fixed grid once the seepage is pinpointed. Background measurements are 

essential for seepage detection in natural ecosystems. Artificial neural networks are considered as 

regression models useful for distinguishing natural system behavior from anomalous behavior suggestive 

of CO2 seepage without need for detailed understanding of natural system processes. Because of the 

local extrema in CO2 fluxes and concentrations in natural systems, simple steepest-descent algorithms 

are not effective and evolutionary computation algorithms are proposed as a paradigm for dynamic 

monitoring networks to pinpoint CO2 seepage areas. Andrea Cortis, Curtis M. Oldenburg and Sally M. 
47

Benson, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Available online June 9, 2008, 

doi:10.1016/j.ijggc.2008.04.008, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B83WP-4SPSPRR1/1/7bb902e2fa88083c81e3249fe1d63517. (Subscription may be required.)

“Assessing geochemical carbon management.” The challenge of reversing rising atmospheric CO2

concentrations is growing with the continued expansion of CO2-emitting energy infrastructure throughout 

the world and with the lack of coordinated, effective measures to manage and reduce emissions. Given 

this situation, it is prudent for society to explore all potential carbon management options, including those 

with seemingly low probability for success. Recent initiatives for advancing and enhancing carbon 

storage options have focused primarily on the physical trapping of CO2 in underground geologic 

formations and on the biological uptake of CO2; less attention has been given to approaches that rely 

primarily on geochemical reactions that enhance transformation of CO2 gas into dissolved or solid phase 

carbon by liberating cations to neutralize carbonic acid. This paper provides a structured review of the 

technical status of these geochemical approaches, and also presents a simple framework for assessing 

the potential and limitations of various proposed geochemical approaches to assist prioritizing future 

research in this area. Despite major limitations, geochemical approaches have unique potential to 

contribute to CO2 reductions in ways that neither physical nor biological carbon storage can by allowing 

for the direct removal of CO2 from the atmosphere with minimal requirements for integrating with existing 

infrastructure. Recognizing the severity and urgency of the need for carbon management options, [the 

authors] argue for an increase in research activity related to geochemical approaches to carbon 

management. Jennie C. Stephens and David W. Keith, Climatic Change, Available online June 24, 

2008, DOI:10.1007/s10584-008-9440-y, 

http://www.springerlink.com/content/85838m000280xl77/?p=79160e5a36774749841cb0ee51c24be1&pi

=5. (Subscription required.) 

Technology 

September 2007 

“CO2 capture by adsorption with nitrogen enriched carbons.” The success of CO2 capture with solid 

sorbents is dependent on the development of a low cost sorbent with high CO2 selectivity and adsorption 

capacity. Immobilized amines are expected to offer the benefits of liquid amines in the typical absorption 

process, with the added advantages that solids are easy to handle and that they do not give rise to 

corrosion problems. In this work, different alkylamines were evaluated as a potential source of basic sites 

for CO2 capture, and a commercial activated carbon was used as a preliminary support in order to study 

the effect of the impregnation. The amine coating increased the basicity and nitrogen content of the 

carbon. However, it drastically reduced the microporous volume of the activated carbon, which is chiefly 

responsible for CO2 physisorption, thus decreasing the capacity of raw carbon at room temperature. 

M.G. Plaza, C. Pevida, A. Arenillas, F. Rubiera and J.J. Pis, Fuel, Published online July 2, 2007, 

doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2007.06.001, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V3B-4P3KYKW1/2/8ae9e8eecebc889199c179357f27b505. (Subscription may be required.) 

October 2007 

“Performance of immobilized tertiary amine solid sorbents for the capture of carbon dioxide.” 

The capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) from a simulated flue gas stream was achieved by utilizing 

immobilized tertiary amine solid sorbents. The tertiary amine immobilized in these solid substrates was 1, 

8 Diazabicyclo-[5.4.0]-undec-7-ene (DBU) and it has the stoichiometric capability of capturing carbon 

dioxide at a 1:1 R-NH2:CO2 molar ratio. This is a unique feature compared to other primary and 

secondary amines which capture CO2 at a 2:1 molar ratio, thus making the immobilized DBU solid 

sorbents competitive with existing commercially available sorbents and liquid amine-based capture 
48

systems. The immobilized DBU solid sorbents prepared in this study exhibit acceptable CO2 capture 

capacities of 3.0 mol CO2/kg sorbent at 25 [degrees Celsius]; however, at the critical operational 

temperature of 65 [degrees Celsius], the capacity was reduced to 2.3 mol/kg sorbent. The DBU sorbents 

did exhibit acceptable stability over the adsorption/desorption temperature range of 25–90 [degrees 

Celsius] based on XPS [X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy] and TGA [Thermogravimetric analysis]

analyses. M.L. Gray, K.J. Champagne, D. Fauth, J.P. Baltrus and Henry Pennline, International 

Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Available online August 22, 2007, doi:10.1016/S1750-

5836(07)00088-6, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B83WP-4PGH839-

1/2/fcbae8bbe7648c2ef8f54b433dd903ec. (Subscription may be required.) 

“A model for the CO2 capture potential.” Global warming is a result of increasing anthropogenic CO2

emissions, and the consequences will be dramatic climate changes if no action is taken. One of the main 

global challenges in the years to come is therefore to reduce the CO2 emissions. Increasing energy 

efficiency and a transition to renewable energy as the major energy source can reduce CO2 emissions, 

but such measures can only lead to significant emission reductions in the long-term. Carbon capture and 

storage (CCS) is a promising technological option for reducing CO2 emissions on a shorter time scale. A 

model to calculate the CO2 capture potential has been developed, and it is estimated that 25 billion 

tonnes CO2 can be captured and stored within the EU by 2050. Globally, 236 billion tonnes CO2 can be 

captured and stored by 2050. The calculations indicate that wide implementation of CCS can reduce CO2

emissions by 54 [percent] in the EU and 33 [percent] globally in 2050 compared to emission levels today. 

Such a reduction in emissions is not sufficient to stabilize the climate. Therefore, the strategy to achieve 

the necessary CO2 emissions reductions must be a combination of (1) increasing energy efficiency, (2) 

switching from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources, and (3) wide implementation of CCS. Aage 

Stangeland, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Available online August 9, 2007, 

doi:10.1016/S1750-5836(07)00087-4 , http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B83WP-4PCR1YB1/2/d9089a5c4fce446272a34780a6426660#sec8. (Subscription may be required.) 

November 2007 

“Advances in CO2 capture technology—The U.S. Department of Energy's Carbon Sequestration 

Program.” There is growing concern that anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are contributing 

to global climate change. Therefore, it is critical to develop technologies to mitigate this problem. One 

very promising approach to reducing CO2 emissions is CO2 capture at a power plant, transport to an 

injection site, and sequestration for long-term storage in any of a variety of suitable geologic formations. 

However, if the promise of this approach is to come to fruition, capture costs will have to be reduced. The 

Department of Energy's Carbon Sequestration Program is actively pursuing this goal. CO2 capture from 

coal-derived power generation can be achieved by various approaches: post-combustion capture, precombustion capture, and oxy-combustion. All three of these pathways are under investigation, some at 

an early stage of development. A wide variety of separation techniques is being pursued, including gas 

phase separation, absorption into a liquid, and adsorption on a solid, as well as hybrid processes, such 

as adsorption/membrane systems. Current efforts cover not only improvements to state-of-the-art 

technologies but also development of several innovative concepts, such as metal organic frameworks, 

ionic liquids, and enzyme-based systems. This paper discusses the current status of the development of 

CO2 capture technology. José D. Figueroa, Timothy Fout, Sean Plasynski, Howard McIlvried and 

Rameshwar D. Srivastava, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Available online 

September 17, 2007, doi:10.1016/S1750-5836(07)00094-1, 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B83WP-4PP201T1/2/ea6e3a43ec03a55cc371a4d1a9ece690. (Subscription may be required.)

December 2007
49

“Should a Coal-Fired Power Plant be Replaced or Retrofitted?” In a cap-and-trade system, a power 

plant operator can choose to operate while paying for the necessary emissions allowances, retrofit 

emissions controls to the plant, or replace the unit with a new plant. Allowance prices are uncertain, as 

are the timing and stringency of requirements for control of mercury and carbon emissions. [The authors] 

model the evolution of allowance prices for SO2, NOx, Hg, and CO2 using geometric Brownian motion 

with drift, volatility, and jumps, and use an options-based analysis to find the value of the alternatives. In 

the absence of a carbon price, only if the owners have a planning horizon longer than 30 years would 

they replace a conventional coal-fired plant with a high-performance unit such as a supercritical plant; 

otherwise, they would install SO2 and NOx controls on the existing unit. An expectation that the CO2 price 

will reach $50/t in 2020 makes the installation of an IGCC with carbon capture and sequestration 

attractive today, even for planning horizons as short as 20 years. A carbon price below $40/t is unlikely to 

produce investments in carbon capture for electric power. Dalia Patiño-Echeverri, Benoit Morel, Jay 

Apt, and Chao Chen, Environmental Science Technology, Available online: October 17, 2007, DOI: 

10.1021/es0711009, http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/esthag/asap/abs/es0711009.html. 

(Subscription required.)

January 2008

“Electric Swing Adsorption for CO2 removal from flue gases.” One of the most important sources of 

CO2 emissions are the fossil-fuel fired plants for production of electricity. Removal of CO2 from flue gas 

streams for further sequestration has been proposed by the International Panel on Climate Change 

experts as one of the most reliable solutions to mitigate anthropogenic greenhouse emissions. When 

natural gas is employed as fuel, the molar fraction of CO2 in the flue gas is lower than 5 [percent] causing 

serious problems for capture. The purpose of this work is to present experimental validation of an Electric 

Swing Adsorption (ESA) technology that may be employed for carbon capture for low molar fractions of 

CO2 in the flue gas streams. To improve energy utilization, an activated carbon honeycomb monolith with 

low electrical resistivity was employed as selective adsorbent. A mathematical model for this honeycomb 

is proposed as well as different ESA cycles for CO2 capture. Carlos A. Grande and Alírio E. 

Rodrigues, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Available online: November 5, 2007, 

doi:10.1016/S1750-5836(07)00116-8, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B83WP-4R2H23Y1/2/ba3405c358651be811400f5ecd01b877. 

“An engineering-economic model of pipeline transport of CO2 with application to carbon capture 

and storage.” Carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) involves the capture of CO2 at a large 

industrial facility, such as a power plant, and its transport to a geological (or other) storage site where 

CO2 is sequestered. Previous work has identified pipeline transport of liquid CO2 as the most economical 

method of transport for large volumes of CO2. However, there is little published work on the economics of 

CO2 pipeline transport. The objective of this paper is to estimate total cost and the cost per tonne of 

transporting varying amounts of CO2 over a range of distances for different regions of the continental 

United States. An engineering-economic model of pipeline CO2 transport is developed for this purpose. 

The model incorporates a probabilistic analysis capability that can be used to quantify the sensitivity of 

transport cost to variability and uncertainty in the model input parameters. The results of a case study 

show a pipeline cost of US$ 1.16 per tonne of CO2 transported for a 100 km pipeline constructed in the 

Midwest handling 5 million tonnes of CO2 per year (the approximate output of an 800 MW coal-fired 

power plant with carbon capture). For the same set of assumptions, the cost of transport is US$ 0.39 per 

tonne lower in the Central US and US$ 0.20 per tonne higher in the Northeast US. Costs are sensitive to 

the design capacity of the pipeline and the pipeline length. For example, decreasing the design capacity 

of the Midwest US pipeline to 2 million tonnes per year increases the cost to US$ 2.23 per tonne of CO2

for a 100 km pipeline, and US$ 4.06 per tonne CO2 for a 200 km pipeline. An illustrative probabilistic 

analysis assigns uncertainty distributions to the pipeline capacity factor, pipeline inlet pressure, capital 

recovery factor, annual O&M cost, and escalation factors for capital cost components. The result 

indicates a 90 [percent] probability that the cost per tonne of CO2 is between US$ 1.03 and US$ 2.63 per 

tonne of CO2 transported in the Midwest US. In this case, the transport cost is shown to be most 
50

sensitive to the pipeline capacity factor and the capital recovery factor. The analytical model elaborated 

in this paper can be used to estimate pipeline costs for a broad range of potential CCS projects. It can 

also be used in conjunction with models producing more detailed estimates for specific projects, which 

requires substantially more information on site-specific factors affecting pipeline routing. Sean T. McCoy 

and Edward S. Rubin, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Available online: November 

19, 2007, doi:10.1016/S1750-5836(07)00119-3, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B83WP4R5G8M6-4/2/9979191aebc06d41927bf47ee5ff743e.

February 2008 

“Fast CO2 sequestration by aerogel composites.” The increasingly evident impact of anthropogenic 

CO2 emissions on climate change and associated environmental effects is stimulating the search for 

viable methods to remove this gas. One of the most promising strategies is the long-term storage of CO2

in inert, insoluble and thermodynamically-stable materials. This strategy mimics the natural reactions that 

transform silicates into carbonates regulating the cycle of CO2 on the surface of the Earth, operating on a 

geological time-scale. Consequently, the aim is to accelerate these reactions to be applicable on the 

timescale of human lives. [The authors] present the various technologies developed or proposed to date, 

based on this particular approach. The principal limiting factor is that high pressures and temperatures 

are required to produce appropriate materials capable of CO2 sequestration and storage. Nevertheless, 

the synthetic materials known as aerogels can be modified in shape, size and chemical functionality so 

as to catalyze the process of CO2 elimination through silicates (of Ca or Mg), considerably reducing the 

reaction time and working at atmospheric pressure and temperature. Alberto Santos, 

Mohamed Ajbary, Abdelhak Kherbeche, Manuel Piñero, N. De la Rosa-Fox and Luis Esquivias, 

Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology, Available online December 25, 2007, DOI:10.1007/s10971-

007-1672-1,

http://www.springerlink.com/content/w23315054r0422v6/?p=fdce916b125f45e1b45bdaf04e1882ae&pi=1

. (Subscription required.) 

“Cycle Development and Design for CO2 Capture from Flue Gas by Vacuum Swing Adsorption.” 

CO2 capture and storage is an important component in the development of clean power generation 

processes. One CO2 capture technology is gas-phase adsorption, specifically pressure (or vacuum) 

swing adsorption. The complexity of these processes makes evaluation and assessment of new 

adsorbents difficult and time-consuming. In this study, [the authors] have developed a simple model 

specifically targeted at CO2 capture by pressure swing adsorption and validated our model by 

comparison with data from a fully instrumented pilot-scale pressure swing adsorption process. The model 

captures non-isothermal effects as well as nonlinear adsorption and nitrogen coadsorption. Using the 

model and our apparatus, [the authors] have designed and studied a large number of cycles for CO2

capture. [The authors] demonstrate that by careful management of adsorption fronts and assembly of 

cycles based on understanding of the roles of individual steps, [the authors] are able to quickly assess 

the effect of adsorbents and process parameters on capture performance and identify optimal operating 

regimes and cycles. [The authors] recommend this approach in contrast to exhaustive parametric studies 

which tend to depend on specifics of the chosen cycle and adsorbent. [The authors] show that 

appropriate combinations of process steps can yield excellent process performance and demonstrate 

how the pressure drop, and heat loss, etc. affect process performance through their effect on adsorption 

fronts and profiles. Finally, cyclic temperature profiles along the adsorption column can be readily used to 

infer concentration profiles − this has proved to be a very useful tool in cyclic function definition. [The 

authors’] research reveals excellent promise for the application of pressure/vacuum swing adsorption 

technology in the arena of CO2 capture from flue gases. Jun Zhang and Paul A. Webley, Environmental 

Science & Technology, Available online December 7, 2007, DOI:10.1021/es0706854, 

http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/esthag/2008/42/i02/abs/es0706854.html. (Subscription required.) 

March 2008 
51

“Capture of CO2 from high humidity flue gas by vacuum swing adsorption with zeolite 13X.”

Capture of CO2 from flue gas streams using adsorption processes must deal with the prospect of high 

humidity streams containing bulk CO2 as well as other impurities such as SOx, NOx, etc. Most studies to 

date have ignored this aspect of CO2 capture. In this study, we have experimentally examined the 

capture of CO2 from a 12 [percent] synthetic flue gas stream at a relative humidity of 95 [percent]

at 30[degrees Celsius]. A 13X adsorbent was used and the migration of the water and its subsequent 

impact on capture performance was evaluated. Binary breakthrough of CO2/water vapor was performed 

and indicated a significant effect of water on CO2 adsorption capacity, as expected. Cyclic experiments 

indicate that the water zone migrates a quarter of the way into the column and stabilizes its position so 

that CO2 capture is still possible although decreased. The formation of a water zone creates a “cold spot” 

which has implications for the system performance. The recovery of CO2 dropped from 78.5 [percent] to 

60 [percent] when moving from dry to wet flue gas while the productivity dropped by 22 [percent]. 

Although the concentration of water leaving the bed under vacuum was 27 [percent] (vol), the low 

vacuum pressure prevented condensation of water in this stream. However, the vacuum pump acted as 

a condenser and separator to remove bulk water. An important consequence of the presence of a water 

zone was to elevate the vacuum level thereby reducing CO2 working capacity. Thus although there is a 

detrimental effect of water on CO2 capture, long term recovery of CO2 is still possible in a single VSA 

process. Pre-drying of the flue gas steam is not required. However, careful consideration of the impact of 

water and accommodation thereof must be made particularly when the feed stream temperature 

increases resulting in higher feed water concentration. Gang Li, Penny Xiao, Paul Webley, Jun Zhang, 

Ranjeet Singh and Marc Marshall, Adsorption, Available online January 16, 2008, DOI: 

10.1007/s10450-007-9100-y, 

http://www.springerlink.com/content/343150385122754x/?p=07dbd91f560f4dd597c93aa7542cc9b1&pi=

2. (Subscription required.) 

“Infrared monitoring of underground CO2 storage using chalcogenide glass fibers.” An opticalfiber-based system suitable for monitoring the presence of carbon dioxide, so-called “greenhouse gas”, is 

investigated. Since each pollutant gas shows a characteristic optical absorption spectrum in the midinfrared (mid-IR), it is possible to detect selectively and quantitatively the presence of gases in a given 

environment by analyzing mid-IR spectra. The main infrared signature of carbon dioxide gas is a double 

absorption peak located at 4.2 μm. Chalcogenide optical fibers, which can transmit light in the 1–6 μm 

range, are well-adapted for CO2 analysis. In this wavelength range, they show attenuation losses that 

compare favorably with other types of fiber such as silver halide fibers. In this paper, the detection limit of 

CO2 is established as a function of optical path length. The dynamic parameters of the sensors, such as 

reversibility, response time and recovery time, are also studied. It is concluded that optical fibers based 

on chalcogenide glasses could be used to transport infrared light from a black body source to a remote 

CO2 geological storage zone in order to monitor, in real time, CO2 gas leakage. Frédéric Charpentier, 

Bruno Bureau, Johann Troles, Catherine Boussard-Plédel, Karine Michel-Le Pierrès, Frédéric 

Smektala and Jean-Luc Adam, Optical Materials, Available online January 30, 2008,

doi:10.1016/j.optmat.2007.10.014, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6TXP-4RPVJ1T3/2/dd503718e8de6c01fbc829496d947048. (Subscription may be required.)

April 2008

“Atmospheric monitoring and verification technologies for CO2 geosequestration.” The paper 

describes various techniques for measuring emissions to the atmosphere from geologically stored 

carbon dioxide, from point, line and area sources at scales of meters to several kilometers. Flux 

chambers are suitable for measuring small leakage rates from sources at known locations but many 

samples are required because of large spatial heterogeneity in the fluxes. Micrometeorological eddy 

covariance, relaxed eddy accumulation and flux-gradient techniques are suitable for measuring leakage 

from large area sources, while integrated horizontal mass balance, tracer methods and plume dispersion 
52

approaches are applicable for line and point sources. Distinguishing between leakage signals and 

natural fluctuations in CO2 concentrations due to biogenic sources pose significant challenges and the 

use of naturally occurring tracers such as CO2 isotopologues or introduced tracers such as SF6 added to 

the sequestered CO2 will assist with this problem. Forward Lagrangian dispersion calculations showed 

that CO2 concentrations 0–80 m downwind of a point source would be readily detectable above all 

natural variations for point sources >0.3 g CO2 s−1

 (about 10 tonnes of CO2 per year). The inverse 

problem involves solving for the unknown emission rate from measured wind fields and down wind 

concentration perturbations. An optimum monitoring strategy for inverse analysis will require continuous 

measurements of CO2 and tracer compounds upwind and downwind of the possible leak location, 

coupled with transport modeling to determine leakage fluxes, and to differentiate them from other 

sources. Computations using The air pollution model (TAPM) showed that expected perturbations in CO2

concentrations at distances of several hundred meters from a leak of 32 g CO2 s−1 (about 1000 tonnes 

CO2 per year, or about 0.01 [percent] per year of a typical amount to be stored) will be detectable, but 

this anomaly will be very small compared to natural variations, thereby complicating the inverse analysis. 

While the techniques canvassed here have proven successful for measuring fluxes in other applications, 

none has yet been demonstrated for geosequestration. The next step is to test [these techniques] in the 

field. Ray Leuning, David Etheridge, Ashok Luhar and Bronwyn Dunse, International Journal of 

Greenhouse Gas Control, Available online March 6, 2008, doi:10.1016/j.ijggc.2008.01.002, 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B83WP-4S0HC8N1/2/8df18b802f791960685c42a32311f29b. (Subscription may be required.) 

“Sorbents for CO2 capture from high carbon fly ashes.” Fly ashes with high-unburned-carbon 

content, referred to as fly ash carbons, are an increasing problem for the utility industry, since they 

cannot be marketed as a cement extender and, therefore, have to be disposed. Previous work has 

explored the potential development of amine-enriched fly ash carbons for CO2 capture. However, their 

performance was lower than that of commercially available sorbents, probably because the samples 

investigated were not activated prior to impregnation and, therefore, had a very low surface area. 

Accordingly, the work described here focuses on the development of activated fly ash derived sorbents 

for CO2 capture. The samples were steam activated at 850 [degrees Celsius], resulting in a significant 

increase of the surface area (1075 m2

/g). The activated samples were impregnated with different amine 

compounds, and the resultant samples were tested for CO2 capture at different temperatures. The CO2

adsorption of the parent and activated samples is typical of a physical adsorption process. The 

impregnation process results in a decrease of the surface areas, indicating a blocking of the porosity. 

The highest adsorption capacity at 30 and 70 [degrees Celsius] for the amine impregnated activated 

carbons was probably due to a combination of physical adsorption inherent from the parent sample and 

chemical adsorption of the loaded amine groups. The CO2 adsorption capacities for the activated amine 

impregnated samples are higher than those previously published for fly ash carbons without activation 

(68.6 vs. 45 mg CO2/g sorbent). M. Mercedes Maroto-Valer, Zhe Lu, Yinzhi Zhang, and Zhong Tang, 

Waste Management, Available online February 21, 2008, doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2007.10.012, 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6VFR-4RWHX8W2/2/8f4752c4d3950d952e354f7afc31ff00. (Subscription may be required.) 

May 2008 

“Pipeline design for a least-cost router application for CO2 transport in the CO2 sequestration 

cycle.” CO2 capture and geological storage (CCS) is considered as a viable option to mitigate 

greenhouse gas emissions during the transition phase towards the use of clean and renewable energy. 

This paper concentrates on the transport of CO2 between source (CO2 capture at plants) and sink 

(geological storage reservoirs). In the cost estimation of CO2 transport, the pipeline diameter plays an 

important role. In this respect, the paper reviews equations that were used in several reports on CO2

pipeline transport. As some parameters are not taken into account in these equations, alternative 

formulas are proposed which calculate the proper inner diameter size based on flow rate, pressure drop 
53

per unit length, CO2 density, CO2 viscosity, pipeline material roughness and topographic height 

differences (the Darcy–Weisbach solution) and, in addition, on the amount and type of bends (the 

Manning solution). Comparison between calculated diameters using the reviewed and the proposed 

equations demonstrate the important influence of elevation difference (which is not considered in the 

reviewed equations) and pipeline material roughness-related factor on the calculated diameter. 

Concerning the latter, it is suggested that a Darcy–Weisbach roughness height of 0.045 mm better 

corresponds to a Manning factor of 0.009 than higher Manning values previously proposed in literature. 

Comparison with the actual diameter of the Weyburn pipeline confirms the accuracy of the proposed 

equations. Comparison with other existing CO2 pipelines (without pressure information) indicate that the 

pipelines are designed for lower pressure gradients than 25 Pa/m or for (future) higher flow rates. The 

proposed Manning equation is implemented in an economic least-cost route planner in order to obtain 

the best economic solution for pipeline trajectory and corresponding diameter. V. Vandeginste and K. 

Piessens, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Available online March 17, 2008,

doi:10.1016/j.ijggc.2008.02.001, 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B83WP-4S2VG6V1/2/d001a8db2783a44c86b12251d19be3ad. (Subscription may be required.) 

“Implications of generator siting for CO2 pipeline infrastructure.” The location of a new electric 

power generation system with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) affects the profitability of the 

facility and determines the amount of infrastructure required to connect the plant to the larger world. 

Using a probabilistic analysis, [the authors] examine where a profit-maximizing power producer would 

locate a new generator with carbon capture in relation to a fuel source, electric load, and CO2

sequestration site. Based on models of costs for transmission lines, CO2 pipelines, and fuel 

transportation, [the authors] find that it is always preferable to locate a CCS power facility nearest the 

electric load, reducing the losses and costs of bulk electricity transmission. This result suggests that a 

power system with significant amounts of CCS requires a very large CO2 pipeline infrastructure. Adam 

Newcomer and Jay Apt, Energy Policy, Available online March 14, 2008, 

doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2008.01.038, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V2W-4S26K5P 

5/2/2168a29dc95f0e05ceb33b20ee3479fe. (Subscription may be required.)

June 2008 

“Monitoring of CO2 plumes during storage in geological formations using temperature signals: 

Numerical investigation.” Carbon dioxide (CO2) injection into a storage formation is accompanied by 

non-isothermal effects. These are caused by a CO2 injection temperature that does not correspond to the 

formation temperature, cooling of the carbon dioxide due to expansion (Joule–Thomson cooling) and 

heat of dissolution of CO2 in brine. During flow in the subsurface, the carbon dioxide transports energy 

(advective heat transport) and undergoes an equilibrating process between temperature differences 

(heat conduction). These non-isothermal processes can be used for the purpose of monitoring the CO2

plume propagation in the subsurface. Temperature sensors at monitoring wells at a certain distance from 

the injection well can detect temperature changes and give information about the CO2 flow in the storage 

site. In this study, a numerical multi-phase simulation program is used to investigate the non-isothermal 

effects during CO2 injection into a storage formation. The feasibility of using temperature measurements 

for the observation of the carbon dioxide plume in the reservoir is addressed. Various thermal processes 

and their dependency on the geological characterization of the reservoir are discussed in detail. Andreas 

Bielinski, Andreas Kopp, Hartmut Schütt and Holger Class, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas 

Control, Available online April 18, 2008, doi:10.1016/j.ijggc.2008.02.008, 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B83WP-4S9R231-

1/1/370898aa9af83be639fb8b86661bdd64. (Subscription may be required.) 

July 2008
54

“Modeling of carbon sequestration in coal-beds: A variable saturated simulation.” Storage of 

carbon dioxide in deep coal seams is a profitable method to reduce the concentration of green house 

gases in the atmosphere while the methane as a byproduct can be extracted during carbon dioxide 

injection into the coal seam. In this procedure, the key element is to keep carbon dioxide in the coal 

seam without escaping for a long term. It is depended on many factors such as properties of coal basin, 

fracture state, phase equilibrium, etc., especially the porosity, permeability and saturation of the coal 

seam. In this paper, a variable saturation model was developed to predict the capacity of carbon dioxide 

sequestration and coal-bed methane recovery. This variable saturation model can be used to track the 

saturation variability with the partial pressures change caused by carbon dioxide injection. Saturation 

variability is a key factor to predict the capacity of carbon dioxide storage and methane recovery. Based 

on this variable saturation model, a set of related variables including capillary pressure, relative 

permeability, porosity, coupled adsorption model, concentration and temperature equations were solved. 

From results of the simulation, historical data agree with the variable saturation model as well as the 

adsorption model constructed by Langmuir equations. The Appalachian basin, as an example, modeled 

the carbon dioxide sequestration in this paper. The results of the study and the developed models can 

provide the projections for the CO2 sequestration and methane recovery in coal-beds within different 

regional specifics. Guoxiang Liu and Andrei V. Smirnov, Energy Conversion and Management,

Available online April 28, 2008, doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2008.03.007,

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V2P-4SCTVNW4/1/f1e78915263fa188483ea4b3963fe4a6. (Subscription may be required.) 

“Techno-economic study of CO2 capture and storage in coal fired oxygen fed entrained flow IGCC 

power plants.” The attractiveness of fossil fuel as a feedstock for power generation depends on the 

development of energy conversion systems that are efficient, clean and economical. Coal fired power 

plants are generally considered to be “dirty” since they have high CO2 emissions, with the exception of 

those coal fired power plants that employ CO2 capture technology. Among the coal fired options, 

Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) systems have the best environmental performance and 

are potentially suitable candidates. The objective of this work is to provide an assessment and analysis 

of the potential for reduction of the output of greenhouse gas from the oxygen fed entrained flow gasifier 

systems, including the cost and cost-effectiveness of each likely conceptual scheme. The ECLIPSE 

process simulator was used successfully to perform technical, environmental and economic assessment 

studies for a wide range of IGCC power generation systems. Two IGCC power generation designs were 

selected, the Shell dry feed and GE (previously called Texaco) wet feed entrained flow gasifiers. As a 

reference fuel input, the American Federal coal was also used in IGCC systems. The performance of two 

IGCC systems was optimized within the constraint of being based on one particular advanced gas 

turbine and using a subcritical steam system. In this work, several IGCC plant attributes such as the fuel 

consumption, utility usages, plant performance as well as the specific CO2 generation and capture rates 

were simulated and weighed against each other. Factors affecting the IGCC plant performance, 

specifically net power output, process efficiency, power consumption coming from the Air Separation Unit 

(ASU) and CO2 removal and overall emissions were also evaluated and discussed. Finally, an economic 

evaluation of the system was conducted and the costs of CO2 capture plus transport are illustrated. This 

case study shows that the option of using IGCC for capturing CO2 could be technically feasible and costeffective. Y. Huanga, S. Rezvania, D. McIlveen-Wrighta, A. Minchenerb and N. Hewitta, Fuel 

Processing Technology, Available online May 2, 2008, doi:10.1016/j.fuproc.2008.03.002, 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6TG3-4SDNK8G1/1/26d5579ee4cd205d95a127776530de08. (Subscription may be required.) 

August 2008 

“Impurity impacts on the purification process in oxy-fuel combustion based CO2 capture and 

storage system.” Based on the requirements of CO2 transportation and storage, non-condensable 

gases, such as [oxygen (O2)], [nitrogen dioxide (N2)] and [Argon (Ar)] should be removed from the CO2-

stream captured from an oxy-fuel combustion process. For a purification process, impurities have great 
55

impacts on the design, operation and optimization through their impacts on the thermodynamic 

properties of CO2-streams. [Study results show that the increments of impurities will increase the energy 

consumption of purification; and decrease the CO2 purity of the separation product and CO2 recovery 

rate.] In addition, under the same operating conditions, energy consumptions have different sensitivities 

to the variation of the impurity mole fraction of feed fluids. The isothermal compression is more sensitive 

to the variation of [sulfur dioxide (SO2)]; while the isentropic compression is more sensitive to the 

variation of [Argon]. In the flash system, the energy consumption of condensation is more sensitive to the 

variation of [Argon]; but in the distillation system, the energy consumption of condensation is more 

sensitive to the variation of SO2, and CO2 purity of separation is more sensitive to the variation of SO2. H. 

Li, J. Yan, J. Yan and M. Anheden, Applied Energy, Available online July 7, 2008, 

doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2008.05.006, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V1T-4SXRYH3-

1/1/ad9be262beb4584b3310675be6eae250. (Subscription may be required.) 

“Geochemical effects of CO2 sequestration in sandstones under simulated in-situ conditions of 

deep saline aquifers.” The geochemical effects of brine and supercritical CO2 (SCCO2) on reservoir 

rocks from deep (1500 to 2000 [meters]) saline aquifers were examined via experimental simulation at insitu conditions. Dry sandstone samples were mounted in a triaxial cell and autoclave system, evacuated, 

and saturated with 1 M [sodium chloride (NaCl)] solution. The brine-rock system was allowed to react at 

30 [millipascals (MPa)] confining pressure, 15 MPa pore fluid pressure, and 60 [degrees Celsius] while 

SCCO2 was injected at a pressure gradient of 1-2 MPa. The experiment was conducted for a period of 

1496 [hours], during which fluids were periodically sampled and analyzed. The pH measured in partially 

degassed fluid sample at 25 [degrees Celsius] decreased from a starting value of 7.0 to 4.3 (9 days) and 

finally 5.1 after saturation with SCCO2. Fluid analyses indicate that most of the major [(e.g. calcium (Ca), 

magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn)] and trace elements [(e.g. strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), lead 

(Pb)] of the sandstone increase in concentration during the reaction with brine and SCCO2. These results 

are supported by scanning electron microscopy which indicated dissolution of dolomite cement, 

[potassium] feldspar, and albite. In addition to dissolution reactions the formation of montmorillonite was 

observed. By adjusting surface area and reaction rates of dissolution and precipitation, geochemical 

modeling of the experiments could reproduce long-term trends in solution chemistry and indicated limited 

rates of dissolution as the system remained strongly undersaturated with most minerals, including 

carbonates. The geochemical models could not account for decreases in concentration of some 

elements, changes in solution composition resulting from changes in imposed pressure gradient, and the 

observed Ca/Mg and [silicon/aluminum (Si/Al)] ratios in solution. M. Wigand, J.W. Carey, H. Schütt, E. 

Spangenberg and J. Erzinger, Applied Geochemistry, Available online June 25, 2008, 

doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2008.06.006, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6VDG-4SV5V50-

1/1/a245ece039ba1a57db9662ffbe1a1dd4. (Subscription may be required.)

Terrestrial/Ocean 

September 2007 

“Evaluation of carbon stock variation in Northern Italian soils over the last 70 years.” Carbon (C) 

sequestration in soils is gaining increasing acceptance as a means of reducing net carbon dioxide (CO2) 

emissions to the atmosphere. Numerous studies on the global carbon budget suggest that terrestrial 

ecosystems in the mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere act as a large carbon sink of atmospheric 

CO2. However, most of the soils of North America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Eastern 

Europe lost a great part of their organic carbon pool on conversion from natural to agricultural 

ecosystems during the explosion of pioneer agriculture, and in Western Europe the adoption of modern 

agriculture after the Second World War led to a drastic reduction in soil organic carbon content. The 

depletion of organic matter is often indicated as one of the main effects on soil, and the storage of 

organic carbon in the soil is a means of improving the quality of soils and mitigating the effects of 
56

greenhouse gas emission. The soil organic carbon in an area of Northern Italy over the last 70 years has 

been assessed in this study. The variation of top soil organic carbon (SOC) ranged from −60.3 to +6.7 

[percent]; the average reduction of SOC, caused by agriculture intensification, was 39.3 [percent]. This 

process was not uniform, but related to trends in land use and agriculture change. For the area studied 

(1,394 [square kilometers]) there was an estimated release of 5 [Teragrams] CO2-C to the atmosphere 

from the upper 30 [centimeters] of soil in the period 1935–1990. Ciro Gardi and Francesca 

Sconosciuto, Sustainability Science, Published online July 27, 2007, DOI: 10.1007/s11625-007-0034-9, 

http://www.springerlink.com/content/r283173208j10uw4/?p=cbf5cfb9fd2846a3ad78969edb73d498&pi=0. 

(Subscription required.) 

“Promotion of ecosystem carbon sequestration by invasive predators.” Despite recent interest in 

understanding the effects of human-induced global change on carbon (C) storage in terrestrial 

ecosystems, most studies have overlooked the influence of a major element of global change, namely 

biological invasions. [The authors] quantified ecosystem C storage, both above- and below-ground, on 

each of 18 islands off the coast of New Zealand. Some islands support high densities of nesting 

seabirds, while others have been invaded by predatory rats and host few seabirds. Our results show that, 

by preying upon seabirds, rats have indirectly enhanced C sequestration in live plant biomass by 104 

[percent], reduced C sequestration in non-living pools by 26 [percent] and increased total ecosystem C 

storage by 37 [percent]. Given the current worldwide distribution of rats and other invasive predatory 

mammals, and the consequent disappearance of seabird colonies, these predators may be important 

determinants of ecosystem C sequestration. David A. Wardle, Peter J. Bellingham, Tadashi Fukami 

and Christa P.H. Mulder, Biology Letters, Published online July 24, 2007, DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2007.0163, 

http://www.journals.royalsoc.ac.uk/content/?k=%e2%80%9cPromotion+of+ecosystem+carbon+sequestr

ation+by+invasive+predators.%e2%80%9d++. (Subscription required.) 

October 2007 

“Projected increase in continental runoff due to plant responses to increasing carbon dioxide.” In 

addition to influencing climatic conditions directly through radiative forcing, increasing carbon dioxide 

concentration influences the climate system through its effects on plant physiology. Plant stomata 

generally open less widely under increased [CO2] concentration, which reduces transpiration and thus 

leaves more water at the land surface. This driver of change in the climate system, which [the authors] 

term 'physiological forcing', has been detected in observational records of increasing average continental 

runoff over the twentieth century. Here [the authors] use an ensemble of experiments with a global 

climate model that includes a vegetation component to assess the contribution of physiological forcing to 

future changes in continental runoff, in the context of uncertainties in future precipitation. [The authors] 

find that the physiological effect of doubled [CO2]concentrations on plant transpiration increases 

simulated global mean runoff by 6 percent relative to pre-industrial levels; an increase that is comparable 

to that simulated in response to radiatively forced climate change (11 ± 6 percent). Assessments of the 

effect of increasing [CO2] concentrations on the hydrological cycle that only consider radiative forcing will 

therefore tend to underestimate future increases in runoff and overestimate decreases. This suggests 

that freshwater resources may be less limited than previously assumed under scenarios of future global 

warming, although there is still an increased risk of drought. Moreover, [the authors’] results highlight that 

the practice of assessing the climate-forcing potential of all greenhouse gases in terms of their radiative 

forcing potential relative to [CO2] does not accurately reflect the relative effects of different greenhouse 

gases on freshwater resources. Richard A. Betts, Olivier Boucher, Matthew Collins, Peter M. Cox, 

Peter D. Falloon, Nicola Gedney, Deborah L. Hemming, Chris Huntingford, Chris D. Jones, David 

M. H. Sexton & Mark J. Webb. Nature, Volume 448, Pages 1037-1041, DOI: 10.1038/nature06045, 

Published online August 30, 2007, 

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v448/n7157/abs/nature06045.html. (Subscription required.) 

November 2007 
57

“Strengthening the soil organic carbon pool by increasing contributions from recalcitrant 

aliphatic bio(macro)molecules.” Photosynthetically fixed CO2 is converted into terrestrial 

bio(macro)molecules and sequestered as soil organic matter (SOM) by (bio)chemical and physical 

stabilization processes. SOM is generally divided in arbitrary pools for modeling SOM dynamics. 

Biochemically recalcitrant SOM fractions are enriched with alkyl carbon (C) structures and resist 

decomposition due to intrinsic molecular properties. The proportion of alkyl C and the mean age of SOM 

increase with increase in soil depth. Precursors of these recalcitrant bio(macro)molecules such as 

glycerides, waxes, and terpenoids occur in plants, microorganisms and animals. The intrinsic 

biochemical stability of naturally occurring recalcitrant aliphatic biomacromolecules may enhance the 

terrestrial storage of atmospheric CO2. Also, aliphatic macromolecules may be formed in soils upon nonenzymatic polymerization of low-molecular-weight lipids. In this review [the authors] propose that 

increasing the soil organic carbon (SOC) pool by land-use and management practices should also 

include strategies to increase the proportion of aliphatic compounds in the belowground biomass. Thus, 

collaborative research is needed to study the fate of plant-, microbial- and animal-derived aliphatic C as 

precursors for stabilized aliphatic SOC fractions, in particular in deeper soil horizons. Klaus Lorenz, 

Rattan Lal, Caroline M. Preston and Klaas G.J. Nierop. Geoderma, Available online September 5, 

2007, doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2007.07.013, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V67-

4PKG610-2/2/49cab6c07fef7e4e82bf795e804cf15f#secx12. (Subscription may be required.)

December 2007

“Induced effects of hedgerow networks on soil organic carbon storage within an agricultural 

landscape.” Hedgerow network landscapes or “bocages” are present throughout a large part of Western 

Europe [Baudry, J., Bunce, R.G.H. et al., 2000. Hedgerows: an international perspective on their origin, 

function and management. Journal of Environmental Management 60 (1), 7–22.]. These manmade 

landscapes are typically comprised of fields separated by boundaries, often marked by perennial 

vegetation (hedges or shelterbelts), yet little is known about the effect of these field margins on soil 

organic carbon (SOC) stocks and their dynamics, which offer large carbon sequestration potential 

[Walter, C., Mérot, P., Layer, B., Dutin, G., 2003. The effect of hedgerows on soil organic carbon storage 

in hill slopes. Soil Use and Management 19, 201–207.; Falloon, P., Powlson, D., Smith, P., 2004. 

Managing field margins for biodiversity and carbon sequestration: a Great Britain case study. Soil Use 

and Management 20, 240–247.]. In hedged landscapes, hedges induce a modification to the soil Ahorizon geometry at the slope scale, as attributed to an anti-erosive effect, along with a local modification 

of the associated SOC stocks. Most studies undertaken within this context have been performed in two 

dimensions and under favorable conditions for soil accumulation with the hedges lying perpendicular to 

the steepest slope direction. Consequently, an extrapolation of these findings to the entire landscape can 

lead to overestimating SOC stocks at the landscape scale. The aims of this paper were to: quantify SOC 

stocks, describe their spatial variability in three dimensions, and identify the main determinants behind 

this variability within an agricultural hedgerow network landscape. To achieve these aims, [the authors] 

conducted a detailed field survey that took into account all three dimensions of the soil cover and 

anthropogenic structures. [The authors] then analyzed the spatial distribution of SOC contents and 

stocks with respect to pedological and landscape parameters. Stéphane Follain, Christian Walter, 

Arnaud Legout, Blandine Lemercier and Gilles Dutin, Geoderma, Available online: September 4, 

2007, doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2007.08.002, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V67-

4PK8MRG-1/2/00b73c4c173020ba6108a0c487f64a88. (Subscription may be required.)

January 2008

“Land-use conversion effects on CO2 emissions: from agricultural to hybrid poplar plantation.” 

Land-use changes such as deforestation have been considered one of the main contributors to 
58

increased greenhouse gas emissions, while verifiable [carbon] sequestration through afforestation 

projects is eligible to receive [carbon] credits under the Kyoto Protocol. [The authors] studied the shortterm effects on CO2 emissions of converting agricultural land-use (planted to barley) to a hybrid poplar 

(Populus deltoids Ã—Populus Ã— petrowskyana var. Walker) plantation in the Parkland region in 

northern Alberta, where large areas are being planted to hybrid poplars. CO2 emissions were measured 

using a static gas chamber method. No differences were found in soil temperature, volumetric moisture 

content, or soil respiration rates between the barley and Walker plots. The mean soil respiration rate in 

2005 was 1.83 Â± 0.19 (mean Â± 1 SE) and 1.89 Â± 0.13 μmol CO2 m−2

 s−1 in the barley and Walker 

plots, respectively. However, biomass production was higher in the barley plots, indicating that the 

agricultural land-use system had a greater ability to fix atmospheric CO2. The [carbon] balance in the 

land-use systems were estimated to be a small net gain (before considering straw and grain removal 

through harvesting) of 0.03 Â± 0.187 Mg [carbon] ha−1 year−1 in the barley plots and a net loss of 

3.35 Â± 0.080 Mg [carbon] ha−1

 year−1 from the Walker poplar plots. Over the long-term, [the authors] 

expect the hybrid poplar plantation to become a net [carbon] sink as the trees grow bigger and net 

primary productivity increases. D. D. Saurette, S. X. Chang and B. R. Thomas, Ecological Research,

Available online: September 21, 2007, DOI: 10.1007/s11284-007-0420-x,

http://www.springerlink.com/content/bm6015n8161k65p4.

February 2008 

“Microbial activity and soil C sequestration for reduced and conventional tillage cotton.” Crop 

management practices, such as tillage and diversified crop rotations, impact microbial activity, organic 

matter turnover, and ultimately soil [carbon] and [nitrogen] sequestration. The objectives of this study 

were to determine the impacts of tillage on soil microbial biomass, mineralized C and N, and soil organic 

C (SOC) and N (SON) contents for different cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cropping systems in a southcentral Texas silt loam soil. Tillage influenced SOC and SON, but most effects were observed at 0–5 cm 

rather than 5–15 cm. Reduced tillage (RT) in a continuous cotton monoculture increased SOC by 24 

[percent] and SON by 27 [percent] compared to conventional tillage (CT) at 0–5 cm, but tillage had no 

effect at 5–15 cm. Crop rotation increased soil C and N contents compared to continuous cotton, as a 

cotton-corn (Zea mays L.) rotation under CT increased SOC by 28 [percent] and SON by 26 [percent] at 

0–5 cm compared to CT continuous cotton. Soil organic C and SON were both 18 [percent] greater for 

cotton-corn than continuous cotton at 5–15 cm. For the 0–15 cm depth interval, the CT cotton-corn 

rotation increased SOC by an average of 518 kg C [per hectare per year] and SON by 57 kg N [per 

hectare per year] compared to CT continuous cotton. Cotton under RT sequestered 254 kg C [per 

hectare per year] and 33 kg N [per hectare per year] more than cotton under CT. Reduced tillage 

increased soil microbial biomass C (MBC) by an average of 11 and 18 [percent] compared to CT 

continuous cotton and the cotton-corn rotation, respectively, while microbial biomass N (MBN) for RT 

was 62 [percent] greater than for CT. Tillage decreased mineralized C and N at both depth intervals, 

while cotton-corn showed higher mineralized C than continuous cotton. Soils for cropping systems that 

sequestered the most C and N also had the highest microbial biomass and mineralized C and N, 

indicating close relationships between microbial activity and soil C and N sequestration. Beneficial effects 

of RT and intensive cropping were enhanced soil C and N sequestration rates and potentially lower N 

fertilizer requirements for crops. Alan L. Wright, Frank M. Hons, Robert G. Lemon, Mark L. 

McFarland and Robert L. Nichols. Applied Soil Ecology, Available online December 3, 2007,

doi:10.1016/j.apsoil.2007.10.006, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6T4B-4R8KT1N1/2/0b2f0233272db32ed47626f66e88b50c. (Subscription may be required.) 

March 2008 

“The effect of the tillage system on soil organic carbon content under moist, cold-temperate 

conditions.” Soil tillage and its interaction with climate change are widely discussed as a measure 

fostering carbon sequestration. To determine possible carbon sinks in agriculture, it is necessary to study 
59

carbon sequestration potentials in relation to agricultural management. The aim of this paper is to 

evaluate the soil carbon sequestration potential of a site in northeastern Switzerland under different 

tillage systems. The study was performed as a long-term (19-year) trial on an Orthic Luvisol (sandy loam) 

with a mean annual air temperature of 8.4 [degrees Celsius] and a long-term precipitation mean of 

1183 mm. The soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration was determined five times during the study 

period, with the paper focusing mainly on the year 2006. The main objective was to quantify the influence 

of moldboard plowing (PL), shallow tillage (ST), no-tillage (NT) practices, and grassland (GL) on soil 

organic carbon content, the latter's different fractions (labile, intermediate, and stable), and its distribution 

by depth. In calculating the SOC content of the whole soil profile, we included a correction factor 

accounting for variations in bulk density (equivalent soil mass). The total SOC stock at a depth of 0–

40 cm was 65 Mg [carbon] [per hectare], and although higher under GL, did not differ significantly 

between PL, ST, and NT. SOC concentrations per soil layer were significantly greater for NT and ST (0–

10 cm) than for PL, which had greater SOC concentrations than NT and ST at 20–30 cm depth. Both 

SOC concentrations and stocks (0–20 cm) were largest under GL. In all treatments, most of the carbon 

was found in the intermediate carbon fraction. There was no significant difference in any of the three 

SOC fractions between NT and ST, although there was between ST and PL. A sharp decrease in 

[carbon]-concentrations was observed in the first 7 years after the transition from grassland to arable 

land, with a new equilibrium of the carbon concentration in the 0–40 cm layer being reached 12 years 

later, with no significant difference between the tillage treatments. Overall, the results indicate that effects 

of tillage on soil carbon are small in moist, cold-temperate soils, challenging conversion into no-till as a 

measure for sequestering [carbon]. Sandra Hermle, Thomas Anken, Jens Leifeld and Peter 

Weisskopf, Soil and Tillage Research, Available online January 16, 2008,

doi:10.1016/j.still.2007.10.010, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6TC6-4RKVHJ9-

1/2/f14d7b5e1f8f9906b17ef6f1f91d4d71. (Subscription may be required.) 

April 2008

“Carbon Sequestration in Native Prairie, Perennial Grass, No-Till, and Cultivated Palouse Silt 

Loam.” Comparative assessments for evaluating soil organic C (SOC) and its characteristics were made 

at different soil (Palouse silt loam) depths (0–5, 5–10, 10–20, and 0–20 cm) among sites with seven 

contrasting management histories: conventional inversion tillage (CT) followed by no-till (NT) for 4 (NT4) 

and 28 (NT28) yr; bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) seed production for 9 yr followed by NT for 4 yr (BGNT4); 

a sequence of 10 yr NT, 3 yr CT, and 1 yr NT (NTR); CT followed by 11 yr perennial grass under the 

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP); long-term >100 yr CT; and native prairie (NP). Overall ranking of 

SOC, particulate organic C (POC), and microbial biomass C (MBC) at 0 to 20 cm was NP > NTR > NT4 = 

NT28 > CRP > BGNT4 = CT. Greater SOC, POC, and MBC in NTR than NT28 indicated that tillage 

rotation could result in more soil C sequestration, primarily by increasing C stocks in 5- to 20-cm depths. 

The POC was labile in nature as it highly correlated with Cmin (r = 0.69, P < 0.01) and MBC (r = 0.86, P <

0.01) as well as SOC (r = 0.89, P < 0.01). [The authors] concluded that: (i) neither NT nor conversion to 

perennial vegetation would attain the SOC found in NP over 10 to 30 yr; and (ii) medium duration of NT 

(10 yr) combined with short intervals of CT (3 yr) followed by NT might increase SOC compared with 

continuous long-term NT under annual cropping. T. J. Purakayastha, D. R. Huggins and J. L. Smith, 

Soil Science Society of America Journal, Available online February 28, 2008, DOI: 

10.2136/sssaj2005.0369, http://soil.scijournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/soilsci;72/2/534. (Subscription 

required.) 

May 2008 

New Scientist, “Greenhouse Double Whammy for Some Crops...While Others Lock Carbon Away 

for Years.” A report in New Scientist suggests that one method for cutting GHG levels may be to grow 

grasses like wheat and sorghum, which are capable of capturing large amounts of CO2 in their phytoliths, 

or “plantstones.” Phytoliths are microscopic balls of silica that form around a plant’s cells as they absorb 
60

minerals from the soil and trap scraps of plant material. As a result, scientists believe that the practically 

indestructible phytoliths have the potential to sequester CO2 for thousands of years. Two scientists from 

Southern Cross University found that soil buried longer contained a higher proportion of CO2 than the 

rest of the soil and that sugar cane is the best carbon capturer at 0.66 tonnes of CO2 equivalents per 

hectare per year. Scientists now plan to examine how such CO2 capturing plants fare in terms of crop 

yield and quality. January 7, 2008, http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/mg19726374.800-

plantstones-could-help-lock-away-carbon.html. (Subscription required.) 

“Tillage and wind effects on soil CO2 concentrations in muck soils.” Rising atmospheric carbon 

dioxide (CO2) concentrations from agricultural activities prompted the need to quantify greenhouse gas 

emissions to better understand carbon (C) cycling and its role in environmental quality. The specific 

objective of this work was to determine the effect of no-tillage, deep plowing and wind speeds on the soil 

CO2 concentration in muck (organic) soils of the Florida Everglades. Miniature infrared gas analyzers 

were installed at 30 cm and recorded every 15 min in muck soil plowed with the Harrell Switch Plow 

(HSP) to 41 cm and in soil Not Tilled (NT), i.e., not plowed in last 9 months. The soil CO2 concentration 

exhibited temporal dynamics independent of barometric pressure fluctuations. Loosening the soil 

resulted in a very rapid decline in CO2 concentration as a result of “wind-induced” gas exchange from the 

soil surface. Higher wind speeds during mid-day resulted in a more rapid loss of CO2 from the HSP than 

from the NT plots. The subtle trend in the NT plots was similar, but lower in magnitude. Tillage-induced 

change in soil air porosity enabled wind speed to affect the gas exchange and soil CO2 concentration at 

30 cm, literally drawing the CO2 out of the soil resulting in a rapid decline in the CO2 concentration, 

indicating more rapid soil carbon loss with tillage. At the end of the study, CO2 concentrations in the NT 

plots averaged about 3.3 [percent] while that in the plowed plots was about 1.4 [percent]. Wind and 

associated aerodynamic pressure fluctuations affect gas exchange from soils, especially tilled muck soils 

with low bulk densities and high soil air porosity following tillage. D.C. Reicosky, R.W. Gesch, S.W. 

Wagner, R.A. Gilbert, C.D. Wente and D.R. Morris, Soil and Tillage Research, Available online March 

26, 2008, doi:10.1016/j.still.2008.02.006, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6TC6-4S4S5GT1/2/93d474e24ccdff36edf8a448b86bcc22. (Subscription may be required.) 

June 2008 

“No-Tillage and Soil-Profile Carbon Sequestration: An On-Farm Assessment.” No-tillage (NT) 

farming is superior to intensive tillage for conserving soil and water, yet its potential for sequestering soil 

organic carbon (SOC) in all environments as well as its impacts on soil profile SOC distribution are not 

well understood. Thus, [the authors] assessed the impacts of long-term NT-based cropping systems on 

SOC sequestration for the whole soil profile (0–60-cm soil depth) across 11 Major Land Resource Areas 

(MLRAs: 121, 122, and 125 in Kentucky; 99, 124, 139A in Ohio; and 139B, 139C, 140, 147, and 148 in 

Pennsylvania) in the eastern United States. Soil was sampled in paired NT and plow tillage (PT) based 

cropping systems and an adjacent woodlot (WL). No-tillage farming impacts on SOC and [nitrogen (N)] 

were soil specific. The SOC and N concentrations in NT soils were greater than those in PT soils in 5 out 

of 11 MLRAs (121, 122, 124, 139A, and 148), but only within the 0- to 10-cm depth. Below 10 cm, NT 

soils had lower SOC than PT soils in MLRA 124. The total SOC with NT for the whole soil profile (0–60 

cm) did not differ from that with PT (P > 0.10) in accord with several previous studies. In fact, total soil 

profile SOC in PT soils was 50 [percent] higher in MLRA 125, 21 [percent] in MLRA 99, and 41 [percent] 

in MLRA 124 compared with that in NT soils. Overall, this study shows that NT farming increases SOC

concentrations in the upper layers of some soils, but it does not store SOC more than PT soils for the 

whole soil profile. Humberto Blanco-Canqui and R. Lal, Soil Science Society of America Journal,

Available online April 8, 2008, DOI: 10.2136/sssaj2007.0233,

http://soil.scijournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/72/3/693. (Subscription may be required.) 

July 2008
61

“Combining remote sensing data with process modeling to monitor boreal conifer forest carbon 

balances.” Approaches combining satellite-based remote sensing data with ecosystem modeling offer 

potential for the accurate assessment of changes in forest carbon balances, for example, in support of 

emission credits under the Kyoto Protocol. [The authors] investigate the feasibility of two alternative 

methods of using satellite-derived data to constrain the behavior of a dynamic ecosystem model, in order 

to improve the model's predictions of the net primary production (NPP) of conifer forests in northern 

Europe (4–30 [degrees] E, 55–70 [degrees] N). The ecosystem model incorporates a detailed description 

of forest stand structure and biogeochemical processes. The satellite product comprises multi-spectral 

reflectance data from the VEGETATION sensor. The first method combines satellite-based estimates of 

FPAR, the fraction of incoming photosynthetically active radiation absorbed by vegetation, with the 

model's predictions of the efficiency with which trees use the incoming radiation to fix carbon. Results 

obtained using this method averaged 0.22 kg [carbon] m−2

 yr−1 for the NPP of conifer and mixed forests 

across the study area, and compared well with forest-inventory-based estimates for Sweden. The second 

method uses forest stand descriptions derived by application of an inverse radiation transfer scheme to 

VEGETATION data to prescribe stand structure in the ecosystem model simulations. Predictions 

obtained by this method averaged 0.31 kg [carbon] m−2

 yr−1, somewhat high compared to forest inventory 

data for central and northern Sweden. Simulations by the ecosystem model when driven only by climate, 

CO2 and soils data, but unconstrained by satellite information, yielded an average NPP of 

0.41 kg [carbon] m−2

 yr−1, which is likely to be an overestimate. Summed over the study area, the NPP 

estimates amounted to 0.16–0.23 Gt [carbon] yr−1

, around 6–9 [percent] of the NPP of all boreal forest 

globally or 0.3–0.4 [percent] of terrestrial NPP globally. The investigated methods of combining process 

modeling and products derived from remote sensing data offer promise as a step towards the 

development of operational tools for monitoring forest carbon balances at large scales. Benjamin Smith, 

Wolfgang Knorr, Jean-Luc Widlowski, Bernard Pinty and Nadine Gobron, Forest Ecology and 

Management, Available online May 21, 2008, 

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2008.03.056, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6T6X-4SJR2DV4/1/e4b1cab97c473d9e9fc4a4b828805f1c. (Subscription may be required.) 

August 2008 

“Impacts of long-term and recently imposed tillage practices on the vertical distribution of soil 

organic carbon.” Although many studies suggest that no-tillage (NT) increases soil organic carbon 

(SOC) within the soil profile relative to mouldboard ploughing, other studies indicate that no net change 

occurs. The latter studies suggest that NT only stratifies the SOC, where a near-surface increase in SOC 

is offset by a concomitant decrease in the subsurface. [The authors] examined the SOC distribution and 

stocks in a cool, humid Brookston clay (Typic Argiaquoll) soil under four soil management systems with a 

corn–soybean rotation. The objectives of this study were to compare the profile distribution and total 

amount of SOC under long-term (21 years) NT and mouldboard plough (MP) tillage with the changes that 

occur over 8 years when 13-years continuous NT is converted to MP, and when 13-years continuous MP 

is converted to NT. In the top 5 cm of soil, the long-term NT management accumulated greater SOC 

compared with the long-term MP treatment. However, this near-surface increase was offset by lower 

SOC concentrations in the 10–20 cm depth, resulting in similar total amounts of SOC stored in 0–20 cm 

for both long-term NT and MP. The SOC stratification that existed after 13 years of NT management was 

eliminated with one mouldboard ploughing operation, however the total SOC content in the plough layer 

of the new-MP treatment remained relatively constant over the subsequent 8 years. Soil organic carbon 

stratification was evident in the new no-tillage treatment 3 years after the cessation of tillage. The 

continuous build-up of SOC in the surface of new-NT soils was associated with no change in the total 

amount of SOC in the plough layer relative to long-term NT. This implies that the diminution of SOC in 

the 10–20 cm depth was at the same rate as the accumulation of SOC in the 0–5 cm depth. Although 

there was no net effect of tillage on total carbon stocks in this fine-textured soil, SOC stratification 

required several years to build-up after adoption of NT, but only a single year to destroy under MP. X.M. 

Yang, C.F. Drury, W.D. Reynolds and C.S. Tan, Soil and Tillage Research, Available online July 1, 
62

2008, doi:10.1016/j.still.2008.05.003, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6TC6-4SWG0BG1/1/1d80d2e3bb077aaa96ec5a66b6ccf7ff. (Subscription may be required.) 

Trading 

 

September 2007 

Greenwire, “Forest Service to Sell Carbon Credits to Fund Reforestation.” The US Forest Service 

and National Forest Foundation are teaming up to start a voluntary carbon offset program aimed to fund 

reforestation projects in US forests. The plan will allow consumers to make donations to fund tree 

planting and other work in national forests by calculating their carbon footprint and then donating money 

to the program, known as the Carbon Capital Fund. For $6 an individual can offset one metric ton of CO2

and the money will go to forests damaged by wildfires, tornadoes, and other catastrophic events. It is 

estimated that US forests offset about 10 percent of CO2 emissions in the US and that terrestrial 

sequestration could greatly increase that percentage. Other benefits include clean watershed and 

improved species habitat. The Forest Service has identified two projects to kick off the new program, 

including a 500-acre reforestation project in Custer National Forest in Montana and 1400 acres in 

Payette National Forest in Idaho. The Forest Service has been under scrutiny for allowing an estimated 

backlog of one million acres of land requiring reforestation. To learn more about the Carbon Capital Fund 

and to calculate your own carbon footprint, go to: http://www.carboncapitalfund.org/. July 26, 2007, 

http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2007/07/26/11. (Subscription may be required.) 

Bank of America Press Release, “Bank of America Joins Chicago Climate Exchange, Makes 

Strategic Investment in Climate Exchange PLC.” Bank of America, one of the world’s largest financial 

institutions, announced that it will become a member of the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX). The 

company will also join the Chicago Climate Futures Exchange (CCFE), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the 

CCX, and the European Climate Exchange (ECX), the largest exchange for allowances traded under the 

European Union’s mandatory cap-and-trade scheme for CO2 emissions. As part of a joint venture, Bank 

of America will acquire .5 percent of the current issued share capital of CLE. Bank of America recently 

announced a climate exchange initiative, a ten-year effort aimed at developing environmentally 

sustainable business practices through lending, investing, philanthropy, and the creation of new products 

and services. July 25, 2007, 

http://newsroom.bankofamerica.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=7841. 

October 2007 

Chicago Climate Exchange Press Release, “Chicago Climate Futures Exchange to Launch 

Certified Emission Reduction (CER) Futures Contracts on August 24.” On August 23, the Chicago 

Climate Futures Exchange (CCFE) announced that it will begin the CCFE Certified Emission Reduction 

(CERs) futures contracts on August 24, 2007. CERs, which are considered the global currency in carbon 

trading, are issued under the United Nations Clean Development Mechanism, an arrangement under the 

Kyoto Protocol that allows national and corporate GHG reduction goals to be met through the use of 

CERs. The arrangement allows industrialized countries to invest in projects that reduce emissions in 

developing countries as an alternative to more expensive emission reductions in their own countries. 

This CCFE CER futures contracts will be the first time that hedging tools for CERs are offered on a North 

American exchange. The CCFE is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Chicago Climate Exchange. To learn 

more about the CCFE, visit: www.ccfe.com. August 23, 2007, 

http://www.chicagoclimateexchange.com/news/press/release_20070823_CER.pdf. 

Reuters, “U.S., Canadian West Set Joint Carbon-Cutting Target,” and All American Patriots, 

“Western Climate Initiative Members Set Regional Target to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions.” 
63

On August 22, the six western states and two Canadian provinces that make up the Western Climate 

Initiative (WCI) announced a regional goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 15 percent 

below 2005 levels by 2020. As part of the agreement, state officials have until August 2008 to design a 

multi-sector market-based policy to meet emissions targets, which will most likely be a load-based capand-trade program. Each participating state and Canadian province will also participate in a multi-state 

GHG emissions registry. The WCI pact, along with the eastern US equivalent, the Regional Greenhouse 

Gas Initiative pact, may add pressure on Congress to pass legislation that will regulate GHG emissions 

at the federal level. The WCI was formed in February 2007 by the governors of Arizona, New Mexico, 

Oregon, Washington, and California. The state of Utah and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia 

and Manitoba subsequently joined the group, which is led by California Governor Arnold 

Schwarzenegger. Other states and provinces are participating as observers to the WCI. Details about the 

recently announced regional goal can be found at: www.westernclimateinitiative.org. August 22, 2007, 

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN2244930020070822?sp=true, and August 23, 

2007, 

http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/48729669_new_mexico_western_climate_initiative_members_set_re

gional_target_reduce_greenhouse_gas_emi. 

 

November 2007 

Chicago Climate Exchange, “Chicago Climate Exchange Announces Landmark Growth in Binding 

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Commitments, Membership and New International Activities at 

Clinton Global Initiative.” On October 1, the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) announced that 

emission reduction commitments by its members have reached over a million metric tons of CO2. These 

reductions represent the only reductions being achieved in North America by a legally binding 

compliance regime. Additional announcements regarding the CCX’s recent growth were made at the 

Third Clinton Global Initiative meeting in New York City, a conference for global leaders to devise and 

implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges, including energy and 

climate change. The Governor of the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil announced the country’s 

membership to the CCX, making it the first state outside of the United States to join the exchange. Also 

announced were commitments from various companies in India that will join the US-based exchange as 

offset aggregators and verifiers for CCX offset projects. October 1, 2007, 

http://www.chicagoclimateexchange.com/news.jsf?story=1881. 

December 2007

Reuters, “World Carbon Market Seen Doubling this Year: IETA,” and Reuters, “U.S. Exchanges 

Explore Carbon Trading Market.” After growing from $11 billion in 2005 to $30 billion in 2006, 

International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) representatives believe the carbon emissions trading 

market will double to at least $60 billion this year as investors and businesses seek to profit from 

reducing greenhouse gases. They added that the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme (EU 

ETS) is still the main source of market value, but emissions trading markets across the globe are 

evolving quickly. In the United States, several carbon trading market developments are beginning to take 

shape as exchanges monitor the global market’s growth and domestic government policy: New York 

Stock Exchange operator NYSE Euronext announced a partnership with French bank Caisse des Depots 

to initiate a carbon trading market in 2008; CME Group Incorporated recently hinted at plans to develop 

carbon trading products after its 10 percent acquisition of the Brazilian Mercantile and Futures Exchange 

(BM&F); and Nymex Holdings Incorporated’s, owner of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), 

statement that it will begin offering carbon trading contracts in the first quarter of 2008. Unlike the 

European Union, the US has not established a nationwide cap on greenhouse gases, but several large 

corporations voluntarily trade carbon allowances. November 5, 2007,

http://www.reuters.com/articlePrint?articleId=USSP20658520071105 and November 6, 2007, 

http://www.reuters.com/articlePrint?articleId=USN0640911720071106.
64

January 2008

Reuters, “EU Eyes CO2 Capture in Trade Scheme-Draft.” A European Commission draft document 

proposes that companies electing to capture and store CO2 will receive credit under the European Union 

(EU) trading scheme for not releasing emissions. In addition to requiring permits for exploring storage 

sites and the storage process itself, the proposal lays forth a foundation for governing CO2 capture, 

transportation, and injection underground; rules mandating proper inspections and monitoring 

requirements; and penalties for those failing to comply with the designated standards. The document 

also permits EU governments the right to take over CO2 geological storage projects under certain 

circumstances. Also, power companies would not be forced to engage in CCS practices. However, large 

combustion plants would be required to possess adequate space for renovations to equip the facility with 

carbon capture and storage technology. With the EU trading scheme serving as the 27-member 

coalition’s strongest tool for fighting climate change, officials believe the integration of carbon capture 

into the market will provide companies with another means for reaching emissions targets and possibly 

escalate the deployment of CCS in a more cost effective manner. This draft document is part of a larger 

climate change legislation package that the European Commission plans to release in January 2008.

November 28, 2007, http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL2888608820071128. 

February 2008 

Reuters, “Tokyo Seen Eyeing China’s Carbon Credits.” According to the Japanese newspaper 

Yomiuri Shimbun, Japanese and Chinese officials have agreed to a deal where Japan would purchase 

carbon credits yielded by its investments in emissions-cutting projects in China. The agreement will be 

formally signed when Chinese President Hu Jintao visits Japan in late March and selects specific 

emissions-cutting projects. Although the price of the credits was not revealed, government sources 

project that six projects could generate emissions reductions equivalent to 10 million tons to 15 million 

tons of CO2 over the next five years. Japan is the only Asian country obligated under the Kyoto Protocol 

to cut its greenhouse gas levels and has been lagging behind its commitment to a 6 percent cut from 

1990 levels during the 2008 to 2012 period. Late last year, Japanese officials finalized a list of measures 

to cut roughly 35 to 36 million tons of CO2 through voluntary industrial agreements and energy 

conservation programs. In addition to purchasing credits from China under Kyoto’s Clean Development 

Mechanism, which allows rich polluters to buy developing nations’ emissions reductions to put toward 

their domestic quotas, Japan agreed to buy credits from Hungary in December and is also engaged in 

talks with Poland, the Czech Republic, and Ukraine about similar deals. January 3, 2008, 

http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKT22551420080103. 

Times Online, “Tighter European Limits Set to Push Up Price of Carbon Emissions,” and Times 

Online, “EU Cracks Down on Carbon Emissions Trading.” According to Andrei Marcu, president of 

the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA), the value of the global carbon trading emissions 

market could reach $100 billion this year, which would exceed the estimated $60 billion to $70 billion 

figure in 2007. The bulk of the estimated total would come from the European Union Emissions Trading 

Scheme (EU ETS), whose second phase went into effect on January 2, 2008 and lasts until 2012. The 

second phase is expected to prosper much more than the first phase, because there will be a 5 percent 

to 10 percent reduction in the number of emissions permits granted. Launched in 2005, the first phase 

was widely dismissed as a failure, because too many permits were granted by member states to 

individual polluters, causing market prices to plunge as low as $1.46 (€1) per tonne. Deutsche Bank and 

UBS expect forward prices to rise from the present level of about $33.77 (€23) a tonne to $51.39 (€35) 

and $44.05 (€30) a tonne, respectively. Critics believe EU ETS needs to auction off a much larger portion 

of the permits, so that big polluters are not tempted to sell any excess permits that they originally 

received for free. January 3, 2007, 
65

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/markets/europe/article3123564.ece and January 2, 2007, 

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/utilities/article3121968.ece. 

March 2008 

Greenwire, “Northeast States Prep for Inaugural Carbon Auction.” Following a 2005 agreement to 

reduce GHGs 10 percent by 2020, several participants in the 10-member Regional Greenhouse Gas 

Initiative (RGGI) are preparing for a June 2, 2008 auction of emissions credits in advance of the 

scheme’s January 2009 start date. Under the agreement, members elected to cap GHG emissions at 

188 million short tons per year from 2009 through 2014, followed by a cap reduction of 2.5 percent a year 

through 2018 to achieve the overall 10 percent emission reduction goal. Not all RGGI members plan to 

participate in the auction, which will provide the first U.S. opportunity to gauge GHG prices, but individual 

utilities and power generators can participate even if their home states do not. While the states still must 

determine exactly how many emissions credits to put up for auction and how many free credits should be 

distributed to offset RGGI compliance costs, the 2007 RGGI Model Rule regulates the number of credits 

allocated per state, permitted offsets for power generators, and how the auction proceeds will be 

invested. Participants have agreed that auction proceeds will be spent on renewable energy programs 

and at least 25 percent of the permits will be auctioned. To view the RGGI Model Rule, click: 

http://www.rggi.org/docs/model_rule_corrected_1_5_07.pdf. January 22, 2008, 

http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2008/01/22/1/. 

Carbon Positive, “Europe Reveals Tight ETS Phase III Plan,” and Reuters UK, “Factbox-EU Plans 

Carbon Trading Overhaul.” A plan released by the European Commission reveals that the European 

Union Emissions Trading Scheme’s (EU ETS) Third Phase will cut emission allowances by 21 percent. 

From 2013 through 2020, industries covered under the EU ETS will have their emission allowances 

annually reduced, so that emissions drop 21 percent below 2005 levels by 2020; this would result in 

emissions dropping to 1.72 billion tonnes of CO2, compared to the current 2 billion tonnes of CO2. Under 

the proposal, the proportion of total EU emissions covered in the ETS will increase from about 40 percent 

to 50 percent and the emissions reduction target would be raised from 20 percent to 30 percent by 2020 

if foreign emitters agree to emission caps. In addition, national allocations plans, which regulate the 

emissions cap for each country, sector, and individual installation until 2012, would be eliminated and 

replaced by a single EU emissions allocation; owners of unused allowances issued in 2008 to 2012 

would be allowed to use these credits until 2020; and around 60 percent of allowances would be 

auctioned off in 2013, up from 10 percent currently. The European Commission plan, which would 

include a 10 percent to 15 percent increase in electricity prices, must be approved by the 27-member 

states and the EU Parliament before becoming a law. January 24, 2008, 

http://www.carbonpositive.net/viewarticle.aspx?articleID=968 and January 23, 2008, 

http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKL2359672920080123?sp=true. 

April 2008

Reuters UK, “Japan Considers Emissions Cap-and-Trade System,” and Reuters India, “Japan 

Wants Cap-and-Trade Plan Soon.” As the world’s fifth largest emitter of GHG, Japan is considering 

mandating a cap on GHG emissions and implementing a domestic trading scheme in order to meet its 

post-Kyoto Protocol commitments. Currently, Japanese companies are free to set their own emissions 

targets and individually monitor their compliance practices, although this policy may change in light of an 

informal study requested by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) that will investigate 

initiatives that would further cut emissions. Following the study’s expected completion in June, METI 

officials will meet with industry officials to lay the groundwork for a climate action plan that would take 

effect in 2013; in addition, Japan will host a Group of Eight (G-8) meeting in July, where 2020 emission 

targets will be discussed. Japanese industry officials believe voluntary emission cuts and household 

energy conservation initiatives would satisfy Japan’s Kyoto obligations. The METI actions arise from 
66

Japan falling behind on its Kyoto commitment to cut GHG emissions by six percent a year on average 

from 1990 levels over the 2008 to 2012 timeframe and the tougher emissions cuts expected to follow 

Kyoto’s expiration in 2013, fueled by the EU’s plan to cut emissions by 20 percent in 2020 from 1990 

levels. February 20, 2008, http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKT36546720080220, and March 11, 

2008, http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-32416820080311. 

May 2008 

Boston Globe, “States' Inaugural CO2 Allowance Auction Set for Sept. 10,” and Carbon Control 

News, “RGGI Announces Rules, Date for First CO2 Allowance Auction.” The 10 states participating 

in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) – Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, 

Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont –announced plans 

to hold their CO2 allowance auction on September 10, 2008, less than four months before the cap-andtrade program officially takes effect on January 1, 2009. Although some states’ pending legislation has 

prevented the finalization of several design elements, the participants have agreed that all market 

participants will be eligible to participate in the initial auction; participants will be limited to purchasing 25 

percent of the allowances offered in any single auction; an initial price of $1.86 per allowance (equivalent 

to one ton of CO2) will be set for the first auction; any unsold allowances will be available for sale in 

future auctions; and a decision will be made regarding the retirement of any unsold allowances in 2012. 

Under the RGGI program, states have established an initial emissions cap of about 188 millions tons – 

the expected amount of CO2 power plants will emit in 2009 – and plan to annually reduce the cap 2.5 

percent starting in 2015. The cap-and-trade program will ultimately result in a 16 percent decrease in 

emissions and allow for excess allowances to be sold on the secondary market. For more details about 

RGGI’s design elements, go to: http://www.rggi.org/docs/20080317auction_design.pdf. March 17, 2008, 

http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2008/03/17/states_inaugural_co2_allowance_auction

_set_for_sept_10/, and March 17, 2008, 

http://carboncontrolnews.com/index.php/ccn/show/rggi_announces_rules_date_for_first_co2_allowance_

auction/. (Subscription required.) 

June 2008 

ClimateWire, “First U.S. Carbon Futures Contract Born.” The New York Mercantile Exchange 

(NYMEX) announced that it plans to introduce carbon allowance futures contracts under the upcoming 

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) through its Green Exchange. These contracts are expected 

to be the United States’ first tradable exchange contract needed for compliance with a government capand-trade program, although the launch date for the new contracts has yet to be determined and 

regulatory review remains pending. The Green Exchange previously only offered CO2 allowances from 

the European Union’s Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS), certified emissions reductions (CERs) from 

the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and some seasonal and annual sulfur 

dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) allowances regulated by the United States Environmental 

Protection Agency (EPA). The Green Exchange, which hosted 1.59 million metric tons in carbon credit 

trades following its launch on March 17, 2008, is also waiting for responses from the Commodities 

Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) regarding a move into the voluntary carbon market, increasing the 

trading platform’s market share in Europe, and a plan to become independent of NYMEX systems.

To visit the Green Exchange website, click: http://www.greenfutures.com/, or click: http://www.rggi.org/

for information related to RGGI. May 8, 2008, http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2008/05/08/6/.

July 2008

The Montreal Gazette, “Montreal Climate Exchange is Launched,” and CTV, “Montreal Exchange 

for Emission Trading Opens.” The Montreal Exchange (MX), in collaboration with the Chicago Climate 

Exchange, launched the Montreal Climate Exchange (MCeX) to initiate trading in future contracts based 
67

on GHG emissions. Experts predict that MCeX is the first of what could soon be many environmental 

markets throughout Canada as more legislation is passed for regulating CO2 emissions. The exchange 

allows industries that lack the technology needed to cut GHG emissions to comply with governmentmandated standards by buying CO2 credits from other industries that are able to meet emissions targets. 

The MCeX will initiate with three market makers posting prices and participants joining as prices begin to 

set. Beginning in 2010, Canadian industry will have to start reducing their GHG emissions by 20 percent 

over the following decade. To visit the MX website, go to: http://www.m-x.ca/accueil_en.php. May 31, 

2008, http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/business/story.html?id=8b776d55-a2b2-4679-85ce5d43af3d6f33, and May 30, 2008, 

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080530/carbon_trading_080530/20080530?hub

=TopStories. 

August 2008

“Impacts of long-term and recently imposed tillage practices on the vertical distribution of soil 

organic carbon.” Although many studies suggest that no-tillage (NT) increases soil organic carbon 

(SOC) within the soil profile relative to mouldboard ploughing, other studies indicate that no net change 

occurs. The latter studies suggest that NT only stratifies the SOC, where a near-surface increase in SOC 

is offset by a concomitant decrease in the subsurface. [The authors] examined the SOC distribution and 

stocks in a cool, humid Brookston clay (Typic Argiaquoll) soil under four soil management systems with a 

corn–soybean rotation. The objectives of this study were to compare the profile distribution and total 

amount of SOC under long-term (21 years) NT and mouldboard plough (MP) tillage with the changes that 

occur over 8 years when 13-years continuous NT is converted to MP, and when 13-years continuous MP 

is converted to NT. In the top 5 cm of soil, the long-term NT management accumulated greater SOC 

compared with the long-term MP treatment. However, this near-surface increase was offset by lower 

SOC concentrations in the 10–20 cm depth, resulting in similar total amounts of SOC stored in 0–20 cm 

for both long-term NT and MP. The SOC stratification that existed after 13 years of NT management was 

eliminated with one mouldboard ploughing operation, however the total SOC content in the plough layer 

of the new-MP treatment remained relatively constant over the subsequent 8 years. Soil organic carbon 

stratification was evident in the new no-tillage treatment 3 years after the cessation of tillage. The 

continuous build-up of SOC in the surface of new-NT soils was associated with no change in the total 

amount of SOC in the plough layer relative to long-term NT. This implies that the diminution of SOC in 

the 10–20 cm depth was at the same rate as the accumulation of SOC in the 0–5 cm depth. Although 

there was no net effect of tillage on total carbon stocks in this fine-textured soil, SOC stratification 

required several years to build-up after adoption of NT, but only a single year to destroy under MP. X.M. 

Yang, C.F. Drury, W.D. Reynolds and C.S. Tan, Soil and Tillage Research, Available online July 1, 

2008, doi:10.1016/j.still.2008.05.003, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6TC6-4SWG0BG1/1/1d80d2e3bb077aaa96ec5a66b6ccf7ff. (Subscription may be required.) 

Recent Publications 

September 2007 

Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF) Strategic Plan Implementation Report (SPIR). 

This quarterly report provides an overview of recent activities of CSLF task forces, stakeholders and the 

CSLF Secretariat. An improved element of this SPIR includes short status reports from CSLF projects, 

including the two new projects that were recognized by the CSLF at the Paris meeting: the Otway Basin 

Pilot Project (nominated by Australia and the United States), and the Zama Acid Gas EOR, CO2 

Sequestration, and Monitoring Project (nominated by Canada and the United States). To read an 

introductory letter to the report written by Thomas D. Shope, Acting Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy 
68

and CSLF Policy Group Chair, see: 

http://www.cslforum.org/documents/ShopeSPIRChairmansLetter0707.pdf. To read the full July 2007 

CSLF Strategic Plan Implementation Report, go to: http://www.cslforum.org/documents/SPIR0707.pdf. 

“Energy Market and Economic Impacts of S. 280, the Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act of 

2007.” This report responds to a request from Senators Joseph Lieberman and John McCain for an 

estimate of the economic impacts of S. 280, the Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act of 2007. S. 280 

would establish a series of caps on greenhouse gas emissions starting in 2012 followed by increasingly 

stringent caps beginning in 2020, 2030 and 2050. It provides estimates of the effects of S. 280 on energy 

markets and the economy through 2030, the current time horizon of projections in the Energy Information 

Administration’s (EIA) Annual Energy Outlook (AEO2007). The gases regulated under S. 280 are carbon 

dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and three classes of fluorinated gases—hydrofluorocarbons, 

perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride. Covered entities include those in the commercial, industrial, 

and electric power sectors with annual emissions at any single facility in excess of 10,000 metric tons 

carbon dioxide equivalent; refiners and importers of petroleum products sold for transportation; and 

producers and importers of fluorinated gases. EIA estimates that about 78 percent of the total 

greenhouse gas emissions in 2005 would be covered under the allowance program. The specific S. 280 

allowance caps for each time period are: 2012 to 2019 – 2004 emissions level; 2020 to 2029 – 1990 

emissions level; 2030 to 2049 – 22 percent below 1990 emissions level; 2050 and beyond – 60 percent 

below 1990 emissions level. Under S. 280, covered entities would be required to report their greenhouse 

gas emissions annually and submit a matching number of government-issued allowances. Some 

tradable allowances would be distributed for free and the remainder would be auctioned to raise funds for 

supporting programs. These include programs to encourage innovative emissions reduction technologies 

and to mitigate adverse economic impacts on consumers and communities. Allowances in excess of 

compliance needs can be banked for future use. Entities would also be able to meet up to 30 percent of 

their allowance obligation with offsets for emissions reductions from non-covered entities and foreign 

sources. To read the entire Energy Information Administration report, go to: 

http://www.eenews.net/features/documents/2007/08/06/document_pm_02.pdf. 

October 2007 

“The Power to Reduce CO2 Emissions, The Full Portfolio.” The large-scale CO2 reductions 

envisioned to stabilize, and ultimately reverse, global atmospheric CO2 concentrations present major 

technical, economic, regulatory and policy challenges. Reconciling these challenges with the continued 

growth in energy demand highlights the need for a diverse, economy-wide approach. This Discussion 

Paper provides stakeholders with a framework for developing a research, development, and 

demonstration (RD&D) Action Plan that will enable sustainable and substantial electricity sector CO2

emissions reductions over the coming decades. The technology development pathways and specific 

research activities discussed in this paper provide a basis for a detailed Action Plan to be published later 

this year incorporating input from participants in the 2007 EPRI [Electric Power Research Institute] 

Summer Seminar. The analyses summarized in this paper address the technical feasibility for the sector 

to achieve large-scale CO2 emissions reductions, the technology development pathways and associated 

RD&D funding needed to achieve this potential, and the economic impact of realizing emissions 

reduction targets. Given the 20- to 30-year lead-time needed to fully research, develop, and 

commercially deploy technologies, it is critical for the industry to define priorities and initiate RD&D 

activities. The assessment involves three related EPRI studies: [1] The PRISM analysis, which 

determined the US electricity sector’s potential for reducing CO2 emissions from a purely technical 

perspective, based on deployment of a portfolio of advanced technologies; [2] A technology development 

pathways analysis, which identified the sequence of research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) 

steps needed to achieve the necessary technology performance and deployment levels, and developed 

preliminary estimates of the RD&D investment required; [3] The MERGE analysis, which assessed the 

economic value of deploying the full technology portfolio analyzed in the PRISM analysis, and projected 

the least-cost combination of technologies needed to meet a specified CO2 emission reduction 
69

requirement. To download the complete EPRI discussion paper prepared for the EPRI 2007 Summer 

Seminar, go to: http://epri-reports.org/DiscussionPaper2007.pdf. 

“State of the Voluntary Carbon Markets 2007: Picking Up Steam.” In the course of 2006 and 2007, 

interest in climate change, carbon offsets and the voluntary carbon markets accelerated dramatically. 

And yet despite this interest, and the fact that voluntary carbon markets have effectively been operating 

since 1989, quantitative data surrounding this market has been sorely lacking. Because of this situation, 

Ecosystem Marketplace and New Carbon Finance teamed up to undertake the most comprehensive 

analysis to date of the voluntary carbon market. The research has involved a wide ranging survey with 

responses from over 70 organizations and involved all stages of the supply chain including developers, 

aggregators, brokers and retailers, covering five continents. The results show that, like the early stages 

of the regulated carbon markets of the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) and the 

Kyoto Protocol, the voluntary markets are evolving rapidly. They also show that 2006 was a year of 

significant growth with many new retailers, brokers, and other actors entering the market. Since 2002 the 

number of organizations supplying carbon credits into the market has grown by 200 [percent], with online 

retailers being the fastest growing sector of the marketplace. Between 2005 and 2006, the Over the 

Counter (OTC) voluntary offset market also grew 200 [percent]. In 2006, 23.7 million tonnes of carbon 

dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) were transacted in the voluntary carbon markets. Of this, 10.3 MtCO2e were 

transacted on the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), and [the authors’] survey revealed that some 

13.4MtCO2e were transacted in the OTC market. Because it is impossible to capture all OTC 

transactions in a survey such as this, the actual volume traded may be considerably larger than this 

amount. While these numbers are small relative to volumes of transacted in the regulated carbon 

markets like the EU ETS, the combined voluntary markets (CCX+OTC) are larger in volume than both 

the Kyoto Protocol’s Joint Implementation mechanism and the New South Wales Greenhouse Gas 

Abatement Scheme. Just as importantly, the voluntary markets are significant in that they represent an 

active demand by businesses and individuals for some form of action on climate change in the absence 

of direct regulation. To read this comprehensive report on the state of the voluntary carbon markets in its 

entirety, go to: 

http://ecosystemmarketplace.com/documents/acrobat/StateoftheVoluntaryCarbonMarket18July_Final.pdf. 

“Stepping Up: Accelerating the Deployment of Low Emission Technology in Australia.” 

Addressing the serious consequences of climate change is arguably the biggest challenge facing current 

and future generations globally. Effective management of climate change requires an integrated, national 

response to both mitigation and adaptation challenges. The Australian Business & Climate Group 

strongly supports the adoption of an integrated National Climate Change Response. It will be essential to 

integrate the component elements of the response as they are intrinsically interlinked. It is also critical 

that [Australians] seek solutions on a national basis, rather than state by state. A National Climate 

Change Response will also benefit by linking with international efforts to maximize learning, share costs 

and expertise while minimizing unnecessary duplication of effort. Transforming the way Australia 

produces and uses energy must be a cornerstone of a national response aimed at significantly reducing 

greenhouse gas emissions. While bipartisan acceptance for the establishment of an emissions trading 

scheme is now established, Australia must also explore complementary policies to accelerate the uptake 

of breakthrough low emission technologies. The rate of technology improvement and subsequent 

adoption must be faster than the usual commercial timeframes if these technologies are to be available 

at scale, performance and at an acceptable cost when required to meet challenging emission 

trajectories. The Australian Business & Climate Group believes that a National Low Emission Technology 

Strategy is an essential element of a National Climate Change Response. The challenge is complex and 

the response must be comprehensive. Business is ready to play its part in delivering the solutions and 

has prepared this paper as a catalyst for discussion between all stakeholders. To read the complete 

report, which includes consideration of carbon capture and storage, go to: 

http://www.businessandclimate.com/downloads/ABCG_Report_2007.pdf. 
70

November 2007 

“Climate Change Legislation Design White Paper, Scope of a Cap-and-Trade Program.” The 

Committee on Energy and Commerce and its Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality are issuing a 

series of Climate Change Legislation Design White Papers as the next step in the legislative process 

leading to enactment of a mandatory, economy-wide climate change program. While the hearings earlier 

in the year were designed to give the Committee an understanding of the status and projected path of 

climate change and potential ways to address it, these White Papers and the hearings on them will focus 

the Committee’s attention on crafting mandatory, economy-wide climate change legislation. The White 

Papers will lay out the basic design and key principles of a program, and also identify issues about which 

further information and discussion is needed. This White Paper addresses the scope and coverage of the 

climate change program. It discusses what sectors and activities are directly emitting greenhouse gases, 

and how those emissions could be included in a cap-and-trade program. Other White Papers will 

address a number of other cap-and-trade design elements and additional topics, including: cap levels 

and timetables, measures for containing costs in a cap-and-trade program, carbon sequestration, offsets 

and credits, developing countries, distribution of allowances, and additional measures to complement the 

cap-and-trade program. To read the complete White Paper prepared by the US House of 

Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce staff, go to: 

http://energycommerce.house.gov/Climate_Change/White_Paper.100307.pdf. 

“The Future of Coal Under a Carbon Cap and Trade Regime.” Global climate change is the greatest 

environmental challenge we face. We have at most a few decades to make the necessary investments to 

prevent the most serious impacts of climate change. Future generations will judge us based on the 

investments we are considering now. In its February 2007 report, the Intergovernmental Panel on 

Climate Change (IPCC) warns that global emissions must peak no later than 2015 if we are to hold 

average global temperature increases to 2.4 degrees Celsius (4.3 [degrees Fahrenheit]) or less. Moving 

to an emissions pathway that will hold temperature increases and other impacts to a minimum will 

require a colossal effort. There is no time to lose given the long lag in research and development cycles, 

and energy-intensive infrastructure and product turnover. Fundamentally altering the world’s energy 

system is unlikely to occur within this timeframe. It is thus imperative to find means to reduce the footprint 

of the existing system – most particularly, of coal, which is the most greenhouse gas intensive of the 

fossil fuels driving climate change. It is in this context that carbon dioxide capture and sequestration 

(CCS) becomes one of the most critical technologies in the menu of choices we have to cut greenhouse 

gas emissions. It is the only option that provides a potentially near-term solution to rapidly expanding 

coal use here, in China and around the world. CCS must play the critical role of curbing growth in 

emissions from coal until other alternatives are ready. To download the complete paper prepared for the 

US House of Representatives Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, go to: 

http://pdf.wri.org/20070914_submission_houseeigw.pdf. 

December 2007

“Final Environmental Impact Statement of FutureGen Project.” This Environmental Impact 

Statement (EIS) provides an analysis of the potential environmental impacts of the proposed FutureGen 

Project. The project would include the planning, design, construction, and operation of the proposed 

FutureGen facility, a prototype electric power and hydrogen (H2) generating plant that would employ coal 

gasification technology integrated with combined-cycle electricity generation and sequester carbon 

dioxide (CO2) emissions. The project would also include an ongoing research program, which would be 

the principal feature of the prototype plant. The FutureGen Initiative, announced by President George W. 

Bush on February 27, 2003, is based on recommendations in the National Energy Policy (NEP), issued 

in May 2001 (NEP, 2001). The NEP cites, in broad terms, the need to promote diverse and secure 

sources of energy and the expected need for coal to play a significant role in providing that energy. The 

NEP specifically states, “In the long term, the goal of the [clean coal technology] program is to develop 
71

low cost, zero-emission power plants with efficiencies close to double that of today’s fleet.” Action is 

needed to support the President’s announcement emphasizing the need for the FutureGen Initiative and 

to support other federal initiatives including the National Climate Change Technology Initiative (June 11, 

2001) and the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative (January 28, 2003). These initiatives aim to reduce the Nation’s 

output of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from coal-fueled energy production, to improve the global 

environment, and to provide advanced technologies to meet the world’s energy needs. (See article in 

this month’s Highlights section, “DOE Releases Environmental Impact Statement for FutureGen 

Project,” which references the release of the document.) To download the complete FutureGen Final 

EIS, click on: http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/coalpower/futuregen/EIS/FG%20Summary%20-

%20FINAL.pdf. 

 “A Program to Accelerate the Deployment of CO2 Capture and Storage (CCS): Rationale, 

Objectives, and Cost.” This White Paper analyzes one strategy for accelerating the deployment of 

carbon capture and storage (CCS) by the coal-fueled electricity-generation industry. This strategy 

involves providing reimbursement for the incremental costs of installing and operating CCS systems, with 

reimbursement provided for: (1.) Retrofitting some existing commercial-scale (500+ MW net capacity, 

before installation of CCS) coal-fueled electric generation plants with CCS and operating these for five 

years; (2.) Incorporating CCS into some new, commercial-scale (400+ MW net capacity, after installation 

of CCS) coal-fueled electric generation plants and operating these for five years; and (3.) Launching 

large-scale (1 to 3 million metric tons per year) demonstrations of geologic storage of carbon dioxide 

(CO2) primarily in saline formations and operating these for five years, using CO2 from non-utility 

industrial sources. The paper sets forth two alternative sets of objectives and outcomes for such a cost 

reimbursement program, based on program size. The objectives of the Smaller-Scale Program (10 

commercial-scale demonstrations of CCS at coal-fueled electric power plants, plus five CCS 

demonstrations using CO2 from other industrial sources) would be to establish reliable CCS cost and 

performance data, and to build experience with CCS. The objectives of the Larger-Scale Program (30 

commercial-scale demonstrations of CCS at coal-fueled power plants plus 10 demonstrations of CCS 

using CO2 from other industries sources) would be much more ambitious. Here the objectives are to 

achieve significant reductions in CO2 capture costs and energy penalties, build broad public acceptance 

of CO2 storage, and promote the timely development of CCS regulatory systems, in addition to 

establishing reliable cost and performance data and experience with CCS. To download the first of six 

white papers prepared for the Pew Center on Global Climate Change as part of the Coal Initiative Series, 

go to: http://www.pewclimate.org/docUploads/CCS%20Deployment.pdf. 

“Coal Meeting the Climate Challenge: Technology to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions.” A 

sustainable energy future is one where society’s energy needs are met using resources available to us 

over the short, medium and long term. At the same time, it means producing and utilizing all these 

energy sources in a way that minimizes adverse impacts on the environment and maximizes economic 

and social benefits. This is a significant challenge – particularly because of surging energy demand, 

concerns about energy security, and the environmental impacts of energy production and consumption. 

[Humankind has] to take steps to reconcile economic and social objectives with environmental 

imperatives – specifically those posed by climate change. Over the last ten years, world primary energy 

demand has risen by over 20 [percent] and this upward trend is set to continue. Fossil fuels will continue 

to dominate energy consumption; still meeting around 80 [percent] of energy needs in 2030. Coal will 

meet over 25 [percent] of global energy demand. Coal is abundantly available, affordable, reliable, 

geographically well-distributed and easy and safe to transport. Coal markets are well-functioning and 

responsive to changes in supply and demand. The major challenges facing coal are concerned with its 

environmental impacts. Viable, highly effective technologies have been developed to tackle the release 

of pollutants – such as oxides of sulfur (SOx) and nitrogen (NOx) – and particulate and trace elements, 

such as mercury. More recently, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including carbon dioxide (CO2) and 

methane (CH4) have become a concern because of their link to climate change. To read the entire report 

from the World Coal Institute, go to: 

http://www.worldcoal.org/assets_cm/files/PDF/coal_meeting_the_climate_challenge.pdf. 
72

“Storage of Carbon Dioxide in Geologic Structures: A Legal and Regulatory Guide for States and 

Provinces.” This report is the product of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) Task 

Force on Carbon Capture and Geologic Storage. It is the culmination of a two-phase, five-year effort. 

This Phase II report takes the form of a Guidance Document for U.S. states and Canadian provinces. Its 

purpose is to provide to a state or province contemplating adoption of a legal and regulatory framework 

for the storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) in geologic media the resources needed to draft a framework that 

meets the unique requirements of that particular state or province. It is anticipated that a state adopting a 

regulatory framework for CO2 storage will make changes to the model framework as necessary to 

conform to state law. The Task Force therefore envisions that what will result will be a substantially 

consistent system for the geologic storage of CO2 regulated at the state and provincial level in 

conformance with national and international law and protocol. To read the complete regulatory guide, go 

to: http://www.iogcc.state.ok.us/docs/MeetingDocs/Master-Document-September-252007-FINAL-(2).pdf. 

January 2008

“Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2007.” 

This Synthesis Report is based on the assessment carried out by the three Working Groups of the 

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It provides an integrated view of climate change as 

the final part of the IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report (AR4). Topic 1 summarizes observed changes in 

climate and their effects on natural and human systems, regardless of their causes, while topic 2 

assesses the causes of the observed changes. Topic 3 presents projections of future climate change and 

related impacts under different scenarios. Topic 4 discusses adaptation and mitigation options over the 

next few decades and their interactions with sustainable development. Topic 5 assesses the relationship 

between adaptation and mitigation on a more conceptual basis and takes a longer-term perspective. 

Topic 6 summarizes the major robust findings and remaining key uncertainties in this assessment. A 

schematic framework representing anthropogenic drivers, impacts of, and responses to climate change 

and their linkages, is shown in Figure I.1. At the time of the Third Assessment Report (TAR) in 2001, 

information was mainly available to describe the linkages clockwise, i.e. to derive climatic changes and 

impacts from socio-economic information and emissions. With increased understanding of these 

linkages, it is now possible to assess the linkages also counterclockwise, i.e. to evaluate possible 

development pathways and global emissions constraints that would reduce the risk of future impacts that 

society may wish to avoid. To read the IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report, go to: 

http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/ar4-syr.htm or click: http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessmentreport/ar4/syr/ar4_syr_spm.pdf to view the Summary for Policymakers. To watch a webcast of the press 

conference, go to: http://ipcc.cac.es/.

“Carbon Capture and Storage in the CDM.” Carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) in geological 

formations is a potentially important climate change mitigation measure in the coming decades, as 

geological formations can store large amounts of CO2 (as well as other gases or liquids) for thousands of 

years. However, CCS has not been widely used to date. The largest CO2 storage project to date (at the 

Sleipner field in the North Sea) has been injecting approximately 1 million tonnes of CO2 per year since 

1996 into a saline formation. The possible inclusion of CCS projects under the Clean Development 

Mechanism (CDM) raises a number of issues, including how to deal with potential leaks of CO2 and 

associated permanence and liability issues, what an appropriate project boundary is, how to deal with 

CDM “leakage” (i.e. emissions resulting from the project activity beyond its boundaries) and what the 

possible impact of including CCS would be on the broad CDM portfolio. The paper assesses these 

issues. While the bulk of long-term potential CO2 emission reductions from CCS is associated with the 

capture and storage of CO2 from combustion of fossil fuels, the short-term CCS potential is in different 

areas. These include enhanced oil recovery (EOR) projects and capture-ready streams of CO2 from 

natural gas processing and industrial processes such as refineries, ammonia and hydrogen plants. The 

maximum short-term (i.e. in 2012) theoretical potential of CCS CDM projects is estimated at 584 Mt 

CO2/year - larger than under the current CDM portfolio. However, this potential is unlikely to be reached 
73

given the long lead-time of projects. Hence, the risk that CCS technology could “crowd out” other 

technologies in the CDM portfolio seems unfounded. To read the entire International Energy Agency 

paper, go to: http://www.iea.org/textbase/papers/2007/CCS_in_CDM.pdf. 

“Building Public Acceptability for Carbon Capture and Sequestration.” Carbon dioxide capture and 

sequestration (CCS) could prove an essential component of the effort to address the climate change 

challenge. While demonstration projects across the globe can show that CCS risks are low, public 

perception of such risks will be critical in influencing how policy and regulatory frameworks develop 

around the technology. This brief outlines the risks associated with CCS, describes how the public views 

the technology, and explains what can be done to develop long-term public support. [The 

authors] conclude that the best way to build public acceptance for CCS is by developing large, wellmanaged demonstration projects; promoting robust regulations and industry standards; and creating 

more interactive public outreach and education programs. To read the complete brief from the World 

Resources Institute, click: http://pdf.wri.org/building-public-acceptability-for-ccs.pdf. 

“Key Elements of a Post-2012 Agreement on Climate Change.” Affordable, secure and reliable 

energy supply enables economic development which is absolutely essential to the achievement of the 

global objectives of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Fossil fuels currently 

dominate primary energy supply – they meet 80 [percent] of global energy needs and will likely supply 81 

[percent] of energy in 2030. Coal is the most abundant, affordable and geographically dispersed fossil 

fuel. Against a background of global rising demand for energy, coal provides a level of energy security 

not matched by any other fuel. Coal will continue to play an important role in underpinning global 

economic development, improving standards of living, and alleviating poverty for the foreseeable future. 

Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will require a transformation in the way we produce and use 

energy. A portfolio of new and existing near-zero and low emission energy technologies, including 

carbon capture and storage (CCS) is required to deliver that transformation. To read the second in a 

series of several World Coal Institute policy papers, go to: 

http://www.worldcoal.org/assets_cm/files/PDF/wci_post_2012_report.pdf. 

February 2008 

“Near-Term Opportunities for Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage.” Today, fossil fuels provide 

about 80 [percent] of global energy demand and the outlook is that they will remain the dominant source 

of energy for decades to come. Consequently global energy-related CO2 emissions increase 55 [percent] 

between 2004 and 2030 in a business-as-usual outlook. It is increasingly clear that this development 

path is not sustainable. Carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) is a critical technology to significantly 

reduce CO2 emissions. In a global CO2 emissions stabilization scenario, CCS in power generation, 

industry and fuel transformation could account for 20 [percent] of CO2 savings (6.5 Gt of CO2 captured 

and stored annually in 2050). Accelerating investment in R&D and demonstration projects will be needed 

if CCS is to make a significant contribution. CCS along with other mitigation measures could significantly 

reduce the costs of stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations and increase the flexibility to achieve that 

goal. To read the complete International Energy Agency (IEA) summary report on near-term carbon 

dioxide capture and storage (CCS) opportunities, click:

http://www.iea.org/textbase/work/2007/oslo/summary_report.pdf. 

“Liability and Financial Responsibility Frameworks for Carbon Capture and Sequestration.” This 

issue brief examines existing federal and state liability and financial responsibility frameworks that may 

be applicable for carbon dioxide capture and geological sequestration (CCS). Many of the potential risks 

involved with CCS have been successfully managed under existing state and federal regimes. However, 

the long time scales associated with CCS projects present unique risks that must be addressed before 

CCS technology can be widely deployed. Establishment of reliable risk profiles will help to create the 

appropriate financial responsibility framework to minimize and manage such risks. Significant 
74

jurisdictional differences in the existing state liability frameworks will likely influence the siting, 

construction and operation of CCS projects. Options to address these differences include establishing 

minimum standards for financial responsibility and/or an indemnity program. To view the World Resource 

Institute issue brief, click: http://pdf.wri.org/liability-and-financial-responsibility.pdf. 

“Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: How Much at What Cost?” The United States could 

reduce greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 by 3.0 to 4.5 CO2e using tested approaches and high 

potential emerging technologies. These reductions would involve pursuing a wide array of abatement 

options available at marginal costs less than $50 per ton, with the average net cost to the economy being 

far lower if the nation can capture sizable gains from energy efficiency. Achieving these reductions at the 

lowest cost to the economy, however, will require strong, coordinated, economy-wide action that begins 

in the near future. Although our research suggests the net cost of achieving these levels of GHG 

abatement could be quite low on a societal basis, issues of timing and allocation would likely lead various 

stakeholders to perceive the costs very differently – particularly during the transition to a lower carbon 

economy. Costs will tend to concentrate more in some sectors than others, and involve “real” up-front 

outlays that would be offset by “avoided” future outlays. Given the timing of investments relative to 

savings, the economy might well encounter periods of significant visible costs, with the costs and 

benefits shared unequally among stakeholders. Nonetheless, a concerted, nationwide effort to reduce 

GHG emissions would almost certainly stimulate economic forces and create business opportunities that 

we cannot foresee today and that may accelerate the rate of abatement the nation can achieve, thereby 

reducing the overall cost. To read the complete executive report from the US Greenhouse Gas 

Abatement Mapping Initiative, go to: 

http://www.mckinsey.com/clientservice/ccsi/pdf/US_ghg_final_report.pdf. 

March 2008 

“The Future of Carbon Capture and Storage.” A global consensus has formed on the need for 

government intervention to reduce GHGs, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), in order to fight the 

potentially disastrous impacts of climate change. This will have a huge impact on the energy industry, 

one of the leading sources of GHG emissions. While there is some potential for switching to carbon-free 

methods of generation, it is likely that coal and natural gas will be a part of the generation mix for a long 

time. This means that methods of reducing the CO2 produced by power generation must be developed. 

CCS is one way in which carbon emissions can be reduced and there is a need for members of the 

industry to understand the technology of CCS, the role it can play in helping generators succeed in a 

carbon constrained environment, and the impact that its implementation will have on generation costs. 

The report aims to provide the reader with a thorough understanding of CCS and how it serves as a 

GHG mitigation option. It also aims to provide a look at the options that exist to implement CCS and the 

current programs underway to develop and implement CCS technology. The report focuses specifically 

on the needs of the electric power industry as they relate to CCS, providing the information necessary for 

industry participants to start moving forward with participation in CCS opportunities. This report will be of 

interest to the utility industry, power plant developers, and generation technology vendors. It will also be 

of interest to energy industry vendors, academics, consultants, and analysts. To order the 3rd Edition of 

Research Reports International's “The Future of Carbon Capture and Storage report,” go to: 

http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c80081. (Subscription required.)

“Pipelines for Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Control: Network Needs and Cost Uncertainties.” Congress is 

considering policies promoting the capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO2) from sources such 

as electric power plants. Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is a process involving a CO2 source 

facility, a long-term CO2 sequestration site, and CO2 pipelines. There is an increasing perception in 

Congress that a national CCS program could require the construction of a substantial network of 

interstate CO2 pipelines. However, divergent views on CO2 pipeline requirements introduce significant 

uncertainty into overall CCS cost estimates and may complicate the federal role, if any, in CO2 pipeline 

development. S. 2144 and S. 2191 would require the Secretary of Energy to study the feasibility of 
75

constructing and operating such a network of pipelines. S. 2323 would require carbon sequestration 

projects to evaluate the most cost-efficient ways to integrate CO2 sequestration, capture, and 

transportation. P.L. 110-140, signed by President Bush on December 19, 2007, requires the Secretary of 

the Interior to recommend legislation to clarify the issuance of CO2 pipeline rights-of-way on public land. 

To read the complete CRS Report for Congress, click: 

http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34316_20080110.pdf. 

“Geologic Storage of Carbon Dioxide - Staying Safely Underground.” Geologic storage of carbon 

dioxide (CO2) is the underground disposal of CO2 from large industrial sources such as power plants. 

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), also known as Carbon Capture and Sequestration, includes 

geologic storage as one of its components. CCS is a powerful tool – along with energy efficiency, fuel 

switching and renewable energy sources – essential to reducing atmospheric CO2 levels. Many studies 

show that the most effective and least-costly way to reduce CO2 levels to avoid climate change is to use 

all CO2 reduction tools, including CCS. CO2 is a natural substance in the air that is essential to life. As 

part of the natural carbon cycle, people and animals inhale oxygen from the air and exhale CO2. 

Meanwhile, green plants absorb CO2 for photosynthesis and emit oxygen back into the atmosphere. CO2

is also widely used for many purposes such as carbonating drinks and filling fire extinguishers. As a 

greenhouse gas, its presence in the atmosphere traps heat from the sun. Normally, this keeps the 

climate warm enough for life to continue. However, the burning of fossil fuels is increasing CO2 levels in 

the atmosphere above naturally-occurring levels, contributing to global climate change. To view the 

complete booklet, published by the IEA Working Party on Fossil Fuels and the IEA Greenhouse Gas 

R&D Programme, click: http://www.cslforum.org/documents/geostoragesafe.pdf.

April 2008

“Policy Options for Reducing CO2 Emissions." There is a growing scientific consensus that rising 

concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other [GHGs], which result from the burning of fossil fuels, 

are gradually warming the Earth’s climate. The amount of damage associated with that warming remains 

uncertain, but there is some risk that it could be large and perhaps even catastrophic. Reducing that risk 

would require restraining the growth of CO2 emissions—and ultimately limiting those emissions to a level 

that would stabilize atmospheric concentrations—which would involve costs that are also uncertain but 

could be substantial. The most efficient approaches to reducing emissions of CO2 involve giving 

businesses and households an economic incentive for such reductions. Such an incentive could be 

provided in various ways, including a tax on emissions, a cap on the total annual level of emissions 

combined with a system of tradable emission allowances, or a modified cap-and-trade program that 

includes features to constrain the cost of emission reductions that would be undertaken in an effort to 

meet the cap. This Congressional Budget Office (CBO) study—prepared at the request of the Chairman 

of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources—compares those policy options on the 

basis of three key criteria: their potential to reduce emissions efficiently, to be implemented with relatively 

low administrative costs, and to create incentives for emission reductions that are consistent with 

incentives in other countries. In keeping with CBO’s mandate to provide objective, impartial analysis, the 

report contains no recommendations. To read the complete Congressional Budget Office study, click: 

http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/89xx/doc8934/02-12-Carbon.pdf.

“Climate Change Legislation Design: Appropriate Roles for Different Levels of Government.” 

Sorting out the appropriate roles of each level of government in addressing climate change is far more 

complicated than the specific question of whether State climate change programs should be preempted. 

This Paper raises more comprehensive and complex questions that the Committee must consider: what 

roles are best played by each level of government as we marshal our country’s resources to address 

climate change and how should these roles be reflected in Federal legislation. Many State and local 

governments have begun to address climate change, as the Subcommittee heard last year in testimony 

from State and local witnesses. Activity by State and local governments has helped reduce [GHG]
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emissions, has helped build a consensus that we need to address climate change nationally, and is 

helping to develop and test different policies. To read the first in a series of white papers from the House 

Committee on Energy and Commerce and its Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, go to: 

http://energycommerce.house.gov/Climate_Change/white%20paper%20st-lcl%20roles%20final%202-

22.pdf.

“Managing the Transition to a Secure, Low-Carbon Energy Future.” Over the coming decades, the 

world faces a daunting challenge in meeting the energy needs of a growing and developing world 

population while mitigating the impacts of global climate change. There is now broad-based scientific and 

political agreement that climate change is occurring and that the increase in atmospheric [GHG]

concentrations is the single biggest factor in global temperature rise. Stabilizing GHG concentrations at 

levels that will not dangerously interfere with the climate system requires an urgent and fundamental 

change in the way we produce and use energy. At the same time, concern over energy security grows 

deeper as global energy demand increases, prices continue to rise, and the ability to bring new supplies 

to market is called into question. Although the world is not running out of energy resources overall, 

significant geopolitical, economic, environmental, and technical challenges lie in accessing, producing, 

converting, and delivering those resources to the people who need them. The entire World Resources 

Institute Issue Brief is available at: http://pdf.wri.org/managing_transition_to_lowcarbon_energy_future.pdf.

“Designing a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Registry.” With the federal government now debating the 

best way to reduce [GHG] emissions on a national scale, policymakers must also address the need to 

collect the emissions data necessary to ensure the success of U.S. climate change policies. The first 

step in reducing emissions is to measure them. Without accurate and complete data on the sources of 

emissions and the amount they emit, the success of U.S. climate policies may be compromised. In 

December 2007, Congress passed and President Bush signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations 

Act, 2008. The law includes a provision directing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to require 

mandatory reporting of [GHG] emissions from appropriate sources in all sectors of the U.S. economy. 

This policy brief explains the critical need for such a mandatory [GHG] emissions registry and reporting 

program and outlines key design elements to include in such a registry. To view the World Resources 

Institute policy brief, click: http://pdf.wri.org/designing_a_us_ghg_emissions_registry.pdf.

May 2008 

“Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2006.” An emissions inventory that 

identifies and quantifies a country's primary anthropogenic sources and sinks of greenhouse gases is 

essential for addressing climate change. This inventory adheres to both 1) a comprehensive and 

detailed set of methodologies for estimating sources and sinks of anthropogenic greenhouse gases, and 

2) a common and consistent mechanism that enables Parties to the United Nations Framework 

Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to compare the relative contribution of different emission 

sources and greenhouse gases to climate change. In 1992, the United States signed and ratified the 

UNFCCC. As stated in Article 2 of the UNFCCC, “The ultimate objective of this Convention and any 

related legal instruments that the Conference of the Parties may adopt is to achieve, in accordance with 

the relevant provisions of the Convention, stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the 

atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. 

Such a level should be achieved within a time-frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to 

climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened and to enable economic development to 

proceed in a sustainable manner.” To download the complete version of EPA’s annual national GHG 

inventory, click: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/downloads/08_CR.pdf. 

“Clean Coal Technologies - Accelerating Commercial and Policy Drivers for Deployment.” Coal is 

and will remain the world’s most abundant and widely distributed fossil fuel. Burning coal, however, can 

pollute and it produces carbon dioxide. Clean coal technologies address this problem. The widespread 
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deployment of pollution-control equipment to reduce sulphur dioxide, [nitrogen oxide (NOx)] and dust 

emissions from industry is just one example which has brought cleaner air to many countries. Since the 

1970s, various policy and regulatory measures have created a growing commercial market for these 

clean coal technologies, with the result that costs have fallen and performance has improved. More 

recently, the need to tackle rising CO2 emissions to address climate change means that clean coal 

technologies now extend to include those for CO2 capture and storage (CCS). To read the complete 

International Energy Agency (IEA) publication, click: 

http://www.iea.org/textbase/papers/2008/Clean_Coal_CIAB_2008.pdf. 

“Analysis of the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act (S. 2191) Using the National Energy 

Modeling System (NEMS/ACCF/NAM).” The American Council for Capital Formation (ACCF) and the 

National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) believe it important to fully and realistically examine the 

potential costs that enactment of Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act (S. 2191) would impose on the 

U.S. economy. It is becoming increasingly recognized that the cost to U.S. consumers and employers of 

implementing greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions is highly dependent on the market penetration 

achieved by key technologies and the availability of carbon offsets by 2030. Understanding the potential 

economic impacts at the national, state and individual household levels can help guide choices on 

climate change policy to minimize the impacts on economic growth and maximize the benefits to the 

environment. Greenhouse gas reduction policies need to include consideration of impacts on energy 

security, economic growth, and U.S. competitiveness. To view the report, written by Science Applications 

International Corporation (SAIC), go to: http://www.accf.org/pdf/NAM/fullstudy031208.pdf. 

“Measuring Forest Carbon: Strengths and Weaknesses of Available Tools.” Policy makers at every 

level recognize the importance of forests in the global carbon cycle, and there is a growing consensus 

that protecting forestland and enhancing its carbon stores will be an important component of any attempt 

to mitigate climate change. Whether it's Congress considering a national cap-and-trade system, the 

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (scheduled for the northeastern U.S. in 2009), or the California 

Climate Action Registry Forest Project Protocol, forests will play an important role in carbon storage and 

mitigating climate change. As these efforts unfold, it's important to develop accurate measures of the 

carbon stored in forests and the changes in those stores over time. To read the complete policy brief, 

compiled by The Wilderness Society, click: http://wilderness.org/Library/Documents/upload/FR7-

28carbonbrief.pdf.

June 2008 

“Energy Market and Economic Impacts of S.2191, the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 

2007.” This report responds to a request from Senators Lieberman and Warner for an analysis of S. 

2191, the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2007 and a subsequent analysis request from 

Senators Barasso, Inhofe, and Voinovich. S. 2191 is a complex bill regulating emissions of greenhouse 

gases (GHG) through market-based mechanisms, energy efficiency programs, and economic incentives. 

Title I of S. 2191 establishes a cap on emissions of greenhouse gases beginning in 2012 through an 

emission allowance program. The Title I allowance program covers energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2), 

methane, nitrous oxide, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) emitted 

from production of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). Sources that are exempt from the Title I cap, but 

which have other emission reduction incentives under the bill, include most non-CO2 agricultural 

emission sources, emissions from coal mines and landfills, and the other HFCs. The emissions covered 

under Title I represented approximately 87 percent of total GHG emissions in 2006 as reported by the 

Energy Information Administration (EIA) in its inventory. To read the EIA report, which responds to a 

request from Senators Lieberman and Warner for an analysis of S.2191, click: 

http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/servicerpt/s2191/pdf/sroiaf(2008)01.pdf. 

“The European Union's Emissions Trading System in Perspective.” The performance of the 

European Union’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) to date cannot be evaluated without recognizing 
78

that the first three years from 2005 through 2007 constituted a “trial” period and understanding what this 

trial period was supposed to accomplish. Its primary goal was to develop the infrastructure and to provide 

the experience that would enable the successful use of a cap-and-trade system to limit European GHG 

emissions during a second trading period, 2008-12, corresponding to the first commitment period of the 

Kyoto Protocol. The trial period was a rehearsal for the later more serious engagement and it was never 

intended to achieve significant reductions in CO2 emissions in only three years. In light of the speed with 

which the program was developed, the many sovereign countries involved, the need to develop the 

necessary data, information dissemination, compliance and market institutions, and the lack of extensive 

experience with emissions trading in Europe, [the authors] think that the system has performed 

surprisingly well. The document is available at: http://www.pewclimate.org/docUploads/EU-ETS-InPerspective-Report.pdf. 

 

“What Will It Cost to Protect Ourselves From Global Warming?” Important parts of the world are 

acting to reduce greenhouse gases that cause global warming, and the United States is not debating 

whether to join that process. This paper examines the potential impact of a cap on greenhouse gases on 

the U.S. economy as a whole and on American families. What will it cost to protect ourselves against the 

potentially catastrophic consequences of global warming? Advocates of action anticipate minimal costs. 

Those who want to do nothing sometimes assert that carbon cuts will “bankrupt the economy.” Who is 

right? This paper conducts the broadest assessment to date of the impacts on the U.S. economy of 

capping greenhouse gases. This report synthesizes the findings of several state-of-the-art economic 

models, and arrives at a strong conclusion: The United States can enjoy robust economic growth over 

the next several decades while making ambitious reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. If [the United 

States] put a cap-and-trade policy in place soon, [Americans] can achieve substantial cuts in greenhouse 

gas emissions without significant adverse consequences to the economy. And in the long run, the 

coming low-carbon economy can provide the foundation for sustained American economic growth and 

prosperity. To read the entire economic policy report produced by the Environmental Defense Fund 

(EDF), click: http://www.edf.org/documents/7815_climate_economy.pdf. 

“Adapting to Climate Change: A Business Approach.” The business community has for some time 

been aware of the risks and opportunities associated with greenhouse gas mitigation and current and 

future climate change policies. Many businesses have taken steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 

voluntarily. Many are taking into account some of the impacts of climate change—potential state and 

federal regulations, shareholder perceptions, and changes in consumer and supplier markets, for 

example—on the cost of doing business now and in the future. Fewer businesses, however, are 

incorporating the risks and opportunities associated with the physical effects of climate change in their 

business planning. As trends in climate become clearer and the uncertainty surrounding future changes 

is reduced, more businesses will want to consider whether to adapt to projected changes by taking action 

now. This, in turn, involves reacting to and managing risks as well as taking advantage of opportunities. 

To read the complete report, which outlines a sensible business approach to analyzing and adapting to 

the physical risks of climate change, click: http://www.pewclimate.org/docUploads/BusinessAdaptation.pdf. 

“General Reporting Protocol.” The Climate Registry (the Registry) sets best practice standards for 

voluntary North American greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions calculation, reporting and verification. It is a 

non-profit organization governed by its member U.S. States, Canadian Provinces, Mexican States and 

Native American Tribes. As of March 2008, the Registry’s membership includes: thirty-nine U.S. states 

and the District of Columbia, seven Canadian provinces, six Mexican states, and three Native American 

Tribes. Emissions Reporters are environmental leaders in the private and public sectors. The Registry 

also supports the collection of high-quality GHG emissions data for mandatory emissions reporting 

programs. To read the complete General Report Protocol, go to: 

http://www.theclimateregistry.org/downloads/GRP.pdf. 

July 2008
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“Expert Review of Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships Phase III.” The Regional Carbon 

Sequestration Partnerships Program (Partnerships Program) is a multi-million dollar research program 

which is underway in the USA. The Partnerships Program is being carried out in three phases: (1) Phase 

I – Characterization (2003-2005); (2) Phase II – Validation (2005-2009); and (3) Phase III – Deployment 

(2008-2017). The USDOE requires that an independent technical review of the Phase III program should 

be undertaken at the outset of the program. The USDOE approached the IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D 

Programme (IEA GHG) to undertake the Phase III technical review. IEA GHG has extensive experience 

of CO2 injection projects worldwide and has organized a number of independent technical reviews on 

behalf of member organizations such as USDOE. To review the Partnerships Program and the Phase III 

activities IEA GHG appointed an independent international panel of experts. The experts were drawn 

from on-shore CO2 injection projects underway in Canada, Europe and Australia, many of the experts 

were involved in the IPCC Special Report on CO2 Capture and Storage or the IPCC 2006 Inventories 

Guidelines report. The complete expert review is available at: 

http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/carbon_seq/refshelf/Expert_Review_of_DOE_Regional_Patrnershi

ps_Phase_III_-_ExecS.pdf. 

“Getting the Most Greenhouse Gas Reductions for Our Money.” One of the [House Committee on 

Energy and Commerce and its Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality’s] goals in designing a 

comprehensive climate change program is to achieve the necessary greenhouse gas reductions for the 

least cost and with the least economic disruption. Reducing greenhouse gas emission will be an 

expensive proposition, but scientists tell us that not reducing emissions will leave future generations with 

serious problems that will cost even more to address. This White Paper discusses ways to keep costs as 

low as feasible while still achieving out environmental goals. The most important way to keep costs down 

is to establish a system that will achieve lowest-cost reductions. The climate change debate often 

focuses on the need for expensive measures. If the program is structured properly, however, significant 

reductions can be achieved by economically beneficial measures (i.e. measures with savings that 

exceed costs). In large part, these measures are improvements in energy efficiency and productivity. The 

decision to have a cap-and-trade regulatory program as the cornerstone of a mandatory climate change 

program is driven in large part by the ability of such a program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to a 

specified level at the lowest possible overall cost to society and to lower the cost for regulated entities. 

As compared to more traditional forms of regulation, a well-designed cap-and-trade program generally 

should achieve the same environmental results at a lower cost because it provides flexibility to emitters, 

creates incentives for sources to use low-cost compliance strategies, and provides incentives for 

technological advances. To read the complete White Paper, issued by the House Committee on Energy 

and Commerce and its Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, go to: 

http://energycommerce.house.gov/Climate_Change/Climate%20Change%20White%20PaperCost%20Containment.052708.pdf. 

“Capturing King Coal.” Coal is a key fuel source for current and future electric power generation. Coal 

becomes even more critical when cost of electricity and security of supply issues are viewed in light of 

other fuel sources such as gas or uranium. Yet coal combustion produces about 1.9 billion tons of CO2

per year in the U.S., roughly equivalent to all CO2 emissions from U.S. transport per annum. The burning 

of coal, with more CO2 emissions per unit of energy produced than any other fossil fuel, has significant 

adverse climate change impacts. One way to reduce carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants is to 

capture and store it permanently underground, a process called carbon capture and storage (CCS), also 

called carbon sequestration. CCS has captured the attention of policymakers, power generators, and 

environmentalists because of its potential as a bridging technology that will permit the continued use of 

coal as a fuel source while not contributing to a further destabilization of the climate. A great deal of work 

is underway to develop and improve the technologies, legal frameworks, and policies required for widescale deployment of CCS systems. To view the full report about deploying CCS systems in the United 

States, click: http://pdf.wri.org/capturing_king_coal.pdf.
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August 2008 

“Returns to Scale in Carbon Capture and Storage Infrastructure and Deployment.” The degree to 

which carbon capture and storage (CCS) is deployed will be partly determined by the returns to scale of 

the technological system that captures, transports, and stores carbon dioxide (CO2). This technological 

system spatially connects the organization of CO2 point sources with the organization of geologic CO2

storage reservoirs. These point sources and storage reservoirs are heterogeneous in the amount of CO2

that they produce or store and in the costs of capturing or storing CO2, and the associated cost 

structures interact to determine the returns to scale for the entire coupled system. The SimCCS costminimizing geospatial deployment model is used to deploy CCS for a variety of combinations of CO2

sources and injection reservoirs and determine the returns to scale for CCS deployment and unravel the 

determinants thereof. SimCCS minimizes the total costs of the entire capture, transport, and storage 

system by simultaneously determining how much CO2 is captured from each source, how much CO2 is 

stored in each storage reservoir, and assigning CO2 flows through pipeline networks that include trunk 

distribution lines that are routed to minimize the influence of the social and physical topography. The 

returns to scale for the entire CCS system involves the interaction of the cost structures for each link in 

the CCS chain - capture at the source, transport through the network, and storage at the reservoir - each 

of which is modeled with cost structures that allow for increasing returns to scale. While it is possible that 

these cost structures can reinforce each other, the variability of source and reservoir costs and capacities 

interact with the spatial organization of sources and reservoirs to limit and ultimately reverse the returns 

to scale for CCS as the scale of the system expands. The complete discussion paper is available at: 

http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/files/Bielicki_CCSReturnsToScale.pdf. 

“Carbon Capture and Storage: A Solution to the Problem of Carbon Emissions.” Carbon capture 

and storage (CCS) is a technically feasible solution for mitigating global warming. It does so by capturing 

carbon dioxide from large single-point sources and storing it underground rather than allowing it to be 

released into the atmosphere. In September 2007, The Boston Consulting Group analyzed global 

sources of carbon dioxide and determined that if the CCS were implemented at the 250 largest stationary 

emitters worldwide, carbon dioxide emissions would be reduced by 4 Gton per year – 25 percent of the 

total from all stationary sources worldwide. Implementing CCS at the 1,000 largest stationary sources 

would reduce emissions by 8 Gton per year – a 50 percent reduction. Over time, the benefits of CCS 

would grow. By 2030, its use at the 1,000 largest stationary sources would reduce emissions by 15 Gton 

per year. That would represent a reduction of more than one-third of the 42 Gton of global emissions 

from all sources estimated for 2030 – a significant contribution to solving the global warming problem. 

The BGG analysis also looked at how to pay for CCS. [The authors] concluded that by 2030, assuming a 

stable global market price of [$47.09 (€30)] per ton, carbon trading would offset the likely cost of 

capturing, transporting, and storing the carbon dioxide emitted by stationary fossil-fuel-burning sources in 

Europe and North America. Today, however, it would cost a minimum of about [$70.64 (€45)] per ton to 

implement CCS at these facilities. [The authors’] estimates indicate that financing the technological 

advancements that will lower the cost of CCS to the threshold of [$47.09 (€30)] per ton will require 

approximately [$793 billion (€500 billion)] in government subsidies and company investments through 

2030, most of which could be recovered through the trading of carbon certificates. Although the required 

government share of subsidies is difficult to predict, [the authors] expect it to be no more than about 

[$158.6 billion (€100 billion)], or one-fifth of the total estimated cost. To read the complete publication, go 

to: http://www.bcg.com/impact_expertise/publications/files/Carbon_Capture_and_Storage_Jun_2008.pdf. 

“Six Thousand Feet Under: Burying the Carbon Problem.” The challenge of reducing emissions to 

tackle climate change is one of the toughest faced by modern economies. The political consensus is that 

carbon emissions [need to be reduced by 60 to 80 percent] by 2050 and yet, instead of falling, they 

continue to rise. Worldwide emissions from fossil fuels are expected to rise 62 [percent] by 2030, with 

two thirds of that in India and China. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a term for a set of 

technologies which could tackle part of this problem by capturing up to 95 [percent] of the carbon dioxide 

(CO2) released by coal and gas fired power stations. The CO2 is captured from the station emissions, 
81

liquefied for transport by ship or pipeline before being finally stored underground in depleted oil and gas 

fields, coal seams or deep saline aquifers. [The authors’] report finds that: (1) fitting CCS equipment to 

coal and gas power stations could slash global emissions by between 28-50 [percent] by 2050; (2) fitting 

CCS to UK plants could cut emissions by 20 [percent] by 2020; and (3) these emission reductions could 

be extremely affordable. If all large gas and coal fuelled electricity plants in the UK were fitted with 

commercially viable CCS, the additional cost of electricity would be around $118.77 (£60) per household 

per year. To view the complete report, visit: http://www.policyexchange.org.uk/images/libimages/390.pdf. 

Legislative 

September 2007 

E&E Daily, “CO2 Sequestration May Have Reached ‘Adolescence’.” On August 1, the Senate Energy 

and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing to discuss recent advancements in clean coal 

technology, including large-scale sequestration of CO2 emissions. The hearing was the third full 

committee hearing of its kind held this year. Challenges facing the coal industry, including long-term 

liability issues related to permanent storage of CO2 and public acceptance of sequestration technology 

were reported as testimony at the hearing. A National Coal Council representative presented a report 

that states that new CO2 capture and storage technologies could be commercially available within the 

next 15 years. Carl Bauer, director of DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory, also provided 

testimony and affirmed that DOE would announce a third round of solicitations for the Clean Coal Power 

Initiative. (See the Announcements section of this newsletter for a link to Carl Bauer and other 

witnesses’ testimony at the Senate oversight hearing.) August 2, 2007, http://www.ensnewswire.com/ens/aug2007/2007-08-06-10.asp. 

Washington Post, “Two Senators to Unveil Climate Bill,” and Associated Press, “Senators Line 

Up Behind Economy-Wide Approach to Slow Global Warming.” On August 2, Senator Joe 

Lieberman (I-Conn.) and ranking Republican, John Warner of Virginia outlined a bipartisan measure 

addressing climate change. The bill calls for three elements: a “Federal Reserve-style” board whose goal 

would be to regulate the cost of carbon; a 70 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions below today’s 

level by 2050; and initiation of a Climate Change Credit Corporation that would auction pollution credits 

among electric utilities, transportation, and other industries and use the revenue to promote new 

technologies, including carbon capture and sequestration. The Senators hope to have the bill to the 

Senate floor by late fall. Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is preparing to offer a climate 

change bill in the House this fall which also favors a cap-and-trade program to reduce CO2 emissions. 

August 2, 2007, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2007/08/01/AR2007080102321_pf.html, and August 3, 2007, 

http://climate.weather.com/articles/senators080307.html. 

October 2007 

E&E Daily, “International Carbon Traders Pick Apart Lieberman-Warner Proposal.” Participants in 

the European carbon market are voicing their concern over Senators Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and John 

Warner’s (R-Va.) draft climate bill, and specifically their approach on how to manage a US cap-and-trade 

program. In a letter to the senators, International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) president and 

CEO, Andrei Marcu, praised them for taking a market-based approach to climate change with the 

establishment of a cap-and-trade based system, but offered detailed suggestions on certain issues of 

concern contained within it. The Lieberman-Warner bill proposes the formation of a Carbon Market 

Efficiency Board, whose responsibility it would be to monitor the pricing of the carbon market. The IETA, 

however, discouraged this type of intervention. Other areas of concern to the IETA include the provision 

in the senators’ proposal to set up a 15 percent limit on the use of carbon sequestration, forestry, 
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methane capture, and other projects. An initial auction of up to 42 percent of the allowances in the capand-trade program was also opposed by Marcu and other IETA members. The Lieberman-Warner plan is 

expected to be formally introduced in the Senate by the end of September. To read the IETA’s letter to 

the senators, go to: http://www.eenews.net/features/documents/2007/09/10/document_pm_05.pdf. 

September 11, 2007, http://www.eenews.net/EEDaily/print/2007/09/11/1. 

E&E Daily, “Global Warming Panel Takes on CO2-Capture for Coal.” On September 6, the House 

Select Committee on Global Warming will hear testimony from industry and government representatives 

on ways to reduce CO2 emissions in the US, including the option of carbon capture and storage. With 

emissions expected to increase at an average rate of 1.2 percent per year through 2030, the prospect of 

adopting legislation aimed at reducing the country’s carbon footprint is being considered. NETL Director 

Carl Bauer provided testimony at the hearing, along with American Electric Power CEO, Michael Morris 

and Natural Resources Defense Council Climate Center Director, David Hawkins. The hearing follows a 

study released by Latham and Watkins partner Bob Sussman, which recommends mandatory carbon 

capture and storage for new coal-fired power plants by 2016. To read Carl Bauer’s testimony “Future of 

Coal: Carbon Capture and Storage,” go to: 

http://www.netl.doe.gov/newsroom/testimony/September%206_NETL_Bauer.pdf. September 4, 2007, 

http://www.eenews.net/EEDaily/print/2007/09/04/9. 

 

November 2007 

PressMediaWire, “EPA to Develop Regulations for Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide,” 

and USA Today, “EPA Studies Emissions Storage.” On October 11, The US Environmental 

Protection Agency (EPA) announced plans to develop geologic CO2 sequestration regulations. Once in 

place, the regulations will ensure a consistent and effective permitting system under the Safe Drinking 

Water Act for commercial-scale projects aimed at mitigating CO2, a greenhouse gas that contributes to 

global climate change. The same federal law established the Underground Injection Control (UIC) 

program which works with state and local governments to oversee underground injection of waste in 

order to prevent contamination of drinking water resources. The EPA said in a statement that it will 

propose regulations by the summer of 2008. For further information about the UIC program as related to 

the geologic sequestration of CO2, see: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/uic/index.html. 

October 12, 2007, http://pressmediawire.com/printFriendly.cfm?articleID=2759, and October 14, 2007, 

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/environment/2007-10-14-epa-carbon-dioxide_N.htm.

E&E Daily, “Senate Bill Seeks Study on CO2 Pipeline Expansion.” Ten United States senators 

introduced legislation on October 14, calling for DOE to study the safety, cost, and overall potential of 

transporting large amounts of CO2 by pipeline to its eventual underground location. Cosponsored by 

several members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee, the bill states the DOE would 

partner with the Commerce and Interior departments, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the 

Environmental Protection Agency to study the unknowns related to expanding the nearly 1,500 miles of 

US pipeline that ships both natural and man-made CO2, mostly to western Texas oilfields. The bill’s main 

objective is to examine issues such as compression rates for CO2, potential for leakage, inspection 

policies, injection methods, and whether CO2 fits the classification of a commodity or pollutant, an 

important difference for regulation. While engineers and lawmakers someday hope to have a sound CO2

infrastructure, many hurdles still exist, such as rights-of-way, the absence of detailed CO2 rules, and 

incentives for private lenders and developers. To view a copy of the draft legislation, “Carbon Dioxide 

Pipeline Study Act of 2007,” click on: 

http://www.eenews.net/features/documents/2007/10/05/document_pm_01.pdf. October 5, 2007, 

http://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/print/2007/10/05/2. (Subscription may be required.) 

Biopact, “Towards Carbon-Negative Bioenergy: U.S. Senator Introduces Biochar Legislation.”

Legislation focused on carbon-negative bioenergy production was recently introduced in the Senate. 
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S.1884, entitled “The Salazar Harvesting Energy Act of 2007” relates to the concept of producing carbonnegative fuels and energy. The legislation includes the creation of a joint US Department of 

Agriculture/DOE research program that involves a quantification and verification of the carbon 

sequestration benefits of various bioenergy and agricultural crops and practices. Unlike “carbon-neutral” 

technologies which factor out the CO2 emissions with the growth of new energy crops, carbon-negative 

bioenergy effectively removes more CO2 from the atmosphere than is released. Proponents of the 

biochar technology boast of its low cost and long-term benefits. The technology involves heating green 

waste or other biomass without oxygen to generate renewable energy through a process called pyrolysis. 

Because of the absence of oxygen in this process, no CO2 is emitted. The byproduct of this process is 

agrichar, a black carbon substance which is added to agricultural soils where it can be stored safely for 

hundreds or even thousands of years. Benefits of agrichar use in soils are numerous. It reduces fertilizer 

requirements, increases crop yields, and reduces the impact of croplands on the climate and 

environment. Also, the low-cost technique can be applied world-wide on agricultural soils in developing 

countries. To read S.1884, “The Salazar Harvesting Energy Act of 2007,” click on: http://www.biocharinternational.org/images/S.1884_Salazar_Harvesting_Energy_Act_of_2007.pdf. October 7, 2007, 

http://biopact.com/2007/10/towards-carbon-negative-bioenergy-us.html. 

December 2007

Wall Street Journal Online, “Senate Panel Backs Cap-and-Trade for Limiting GHG.” On November 

1, 2007, a US Senate Environment and Public Works subcommittee voted 4-3 to approve legislation that 

would institute a cap-and-trade system to limit greenhouse gases. Should the bill come to fruition, 

companies would receive allowances beginning in 2012 to release a predetermined amount of CO2 and 

other greenhouse gases, with the amount of emissions permitted decreasing 70 percent by 2050. The 

responsibly for allocating credits would fall into the hands of the EPA, while a newly created “Climate 

Change Credit Corporation” would auction off 18 percent of the credits at the program’s onset; by 2036 

that figure would rise to 73 percent. Over the first five years of the program, electrical power companies 

would receive 19 percent of the allowances and industrial companies would receive 20 percent, with the 

free, tradable allowances completely phased out by 2036. About 55 percent of the auction proceeds 

would fund energy technology deployment, such as developing new automobiles. The bill arises from a 

United Nations panel estimate that greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced 50 to 85 percent below 

2000 levels by 2050 to avert significant damage to the environment. To browse the Senate Committee 

web site, see: 

http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=ec1a7a4f-802a23ad-4773-1e922d374f71. To view the legislation, go to: 

http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&FileStore_id=85a349e8-0579-4b3ba642-70219ab09f41. November 1, 2007, 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119393294388879212.html?mod=googlenews_wsj. (Subscription may be 

required.) 

Reuters, “Kerry Floats GHG Sequestration Proposal.” Massachusetts Senator John Kerry introduced 

a bill titled “Carbon Capture and Storage Technology Act of 2007,” on November 8, 2007, calling for 

billions of dollars to be spent boosting carbon sequestration research and development funds and 

assembling a nationwide assessment of CO2 storage capacity. The bill would authorize DOE to create a 

competitive grant program for the construction of three to five coal-fired power plants capable of 

capturing CO2 and an equal number of sequestration projects able to exhibit the storage of one million 

tons of CO2 per year. The power plants would receive $2.4 billion per year thru 2015, while the 

sequestration projects would receive $1.6 billion per year, with half of the power plants and 20-50 

percent of the sequestration projects costs covered by non-federal sources. The bill requires at least two 

of the sequestration projects inject CO2 into deep saline aquifers, instead of unminable coal seams or 

depleted oil or gas reservoirs. In addition, a task force composed of EPA, DOE, and US Geological 

Survey officials would develop regulations regarding safe transportation and storage of CO2, possible 

liability issues, and storage site certifications. DOE would also be responsible for researching and 
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developing several capture techniques, including oxygen-fueled pulverized coal combustion, separation 

of oxygen and air, and coal gasification. To view a copy of the proposed legislation, click on:

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=f:s2323is.txt.pdf

November 8, 2007, http://www.eenews.net/EEDaily/print/2007/11/08/6. 

January 2008

Reuters, “Climate Change Bill Heads for Full Senate,” and E&E Daily, “Focus Shifts to Senate 

Floor as Lieberman-Warner Clears Committee.” On December 5, the Senate Environment and Public 

Works (EPW) Committee approved S. 2192, America’s Climate Security Act of 2007, with an 11-8 

committee vote, clearing the path for the global warming legislation to be considered by the full Senate in 

2008. If the bill reaches fruition, a federal program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power, 

industry, and transportation sectors by 70 percent by 2050 would be created, with special care taken to 

protect the economy and citizens from hardships. During the nine-and-a-half hour markup, Senators 

addressed many issues arising from the broad climate bill. In particular, the EPW committee added an 

amendment setting a new low-carbon fuel standard for the nation’s motor vehicles and several state 

related amendments regarding emission allowances and financial incentives for new technology. 

However, Senators failed to pass amendments concerning the following issues: exemptions for major 

industries undertaking projects to reduce greenhouse gas levels, increasing the bill’s emissions reduction 

target for 2050 from 70 percent to 80 percent, auctioning of the climate program’s emission credits, 

expanding nuclear power, endorsing a 10 percent production tax credit for new nuclear power plants, 

and the conditions that would negate the new US climate program. EPW Committee head, Barbara 

Boxer, promised to discuss unaddressed issues on the Senate floor. To view the S. 2192 bill, titled, 

“America’s Climate Security Act of 2007,” click: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgibin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=f:s2191is.txt.pdf. December 6, 2007, 

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN058916420071206 and December 6, 2007, 

http://www.eenews.net/EEDaily/2007/12/06/1/#1. 

E&E Daily, “Feinstein Looks Ahead to Carbon Market Oversight.” California Senator Dianne 

Feinstein introduced a carbon market bill on December 6 that would designate the EPA as regulators of 

the estimated $300 billion carbon market created by the Senate bound Climate Security Act of 2007. 

Feinstein chose the EPA to oversee the new carbon markets because the Agency currently regulates 

under the Clean Air Act of 1990 that created cap-and-trade programs for sulfur dioxide and nitrogen 

oxide emissions. The bill, designed to prevent Enron like fraud from entering into carbon markets, would 

require EPA to publish market price data to increase market transparency, monitor trading for 

manipulation and fraud, and enforce position limits, referring to the total number of emission credits a 

company can hold at one time. Furthermore, the bill would prevent carbon market participants from false 

reporting, engaging in manipulation or deception as defined in the Securities Exchange Act, and cheating 

or defrauding another market participant. Violators of the aforementioned offenses would be subject to 

EPA sanctioned $1 million fines and 10 year jail sentences per each offense. In addition, the Feinstein 

Bill gives the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) exclusive jurisdiction over CO2 futures 

markets. December 7, 2007, http://www.eenews.net/EEDaily/2007/12/07/3/#3. 

February 2008 

New York Times Online, “Bush Signs Broad Energy Bill.” On December 19, President George W. 

Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which will increase fuel economy 

standards for the first time in 32 years, phase out incandescent light bulbs within 10 years, and require 

the production of 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels by 2022. The landmark legislation passed in the 

House on a bipartisan vote of 314 to 100, but critics contend the potential exists for farmland to be used 

for ethanol feedstock and raise the cost of food due to increased competition for corn and grain. 

Proponents say that the legislation has the potential to significantly reduce dependence on foreign oil 
85

imports and greenhouse gas emissions. In regards to carbon sequestration, the legislation provides up to 

$30 million for a national assessment of capacity for CO2, up to $200 million per year for the 

demonstration of technologies exhibiting the large-scale capture of CO2 from industrial sources, and up 

to $240 million per year for research and development (R&D). To view the Energy Bill’s Title VII, 

highlighting carbon capture and sequestration plans, click: 

http://www.govtrack.us/data/us/bills.text/110/h/h6.pdf and view pages 213-225. December 19, 2007, 

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/19/washington/19cnd-energy.html?ex=1355720400&en=8b630cb48ce 

08ed5&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss. 

Gillette News Record, “Legislator: Greenhouse Gases Must Be Managed.” Wyoming State 

Representative Tom Lubnau announced that three separate carbon sequestration bills, supported by 

House Speaker Roy Cohee and Governor Dave Freudenthal, will go before the Wyoming Legislature in 

February 2008. The legislation would create a legal framework for pumping CO2 underground by 

addressing ownership, regulation, and “condemnation” issues – although Lubnau admitted sequestration 

projects could cause up to a 40 percent increase in consumers’ electric bills. The draft bill contains the 

following: pore space would be owned by the surface owners, while the gas would be owned by whoever 

injects it; Wyoming’s Department of Environmental Quality and Oil and Gas Conservation Commission 

would both play a role in regulating the gas; and condemnation issues, such as how to manage CO2 that 

moves from under one person’s property to another or into a neighboring state, because underground 

chambers can stretch for hundreds of miles. At the Federal level, Wyoming Senator John Barrasso said 

that he recently voted against the Lieberman-Warner (S. 2191) bill that would cap greenhouse gases, but 

would consider each greenhouse gas bill that comes before him. January 9, 2008, 

http://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/articles/2008/01/09/news/recent_articles/news07.txt. 

March 2008 

E&E Daily, “States Should Keep Control for Pipeline Siting, Officials Say.” Following testimony 

before the Senate’s Energy and Natural Resource Committee, witnesses said it was argued that states 

should play a prominent role in the regulation of CO2 pipelines, which currently span around 3,900 miles 

and would need to be significantly expanded for effective CCS. In particular, Federal Energy Regulatory 

Commission (FERC) Chairman Joseph Kelliher, who believes states should maintain their regulatory 

authority, supported a proposal sponsored by Senator Norm Coleman (R-Minnesota) that called for a 

DOE led study of the regulatory factors impacting the expansion of the nation’s CO2 pipeline network. 

The alternatives to the states maintaining regulatory authority include FERC establishing a set CO2

transportation rate or granting FERC both siting and rate jurisdiction. It was also urged that the Interstate 

Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) be consulted because of the commission’s experience in 

CO2 regulation. Currently, states and pipeline operators are free to establish their own rates, with the US 

Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Surface Transportation Board settling rate disputes and US DOT’s 

Office of Pipeline Safety providing oversight. February 1, 2008, 

http://www.eenews.net/EEDaily/2008/02/01/2/. 

Environmental News Service, “States Seek Fraud Protection for Carbon Offset Market.” With the 

US market for carbon offset credits expected to reach $100 million annually within the next four years, 

California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown, Jr. teamed with attorneys from nine other states to 

advocate that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hone carbon credits guidelines to prevent fraud. The 

letter recommended that the FTC conduct research on consumers' understanding of carbon offsets, 

guarantee that offset projects do not double sell credits or claim credits for practices that are already 

required by law, and ensure that consumers understand carbon offsets and the potential for fraud. The 

states also called for a more concrete definition of what constitutes a carbon offset. Finally, the states 

said that the FTC, responsible for ensuring that carbon offsets are honestly marketed to consumers, offer 

consumer tips on its website and describe details about offsets on all marketing material. The letter came 

in response to an FTC request for comments on marketing carbon offsets. January 25, 2008, 

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2008/2008-01-25-091.asp. 
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April 2008

Casper Star Tribune, “Gov Signs Carbon Bills.” On March 4, Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal 

signed two bills that establish ownership and regulation principles for the state’s effort to develop CCS

technologies for coal-fired power plants. The laws, which go into effect July 1, 2008, state the following: 

Wyoming Bill 89 designates that owners of the land surface retain underground storage rights, while 

Wyoming Bill 90 creates a state regulatory framework for carbon sequestration projects. However, 

several legal questions still remain unresolved, such as what happens when the right to develop minerals 

on a piece of land interferes with the landowner's right to store carbon underneath and what happens if 

stored carbon migrates under neighboring land parcels. The storage ownership bill was written by 

Representative Tom Lubnau, who specified Wyoming does not plan to force power plants to institute 

CCS technologies. As the nation’s largest coal-producing state, Wyoming hopes to market their electrical 

power as a “value-added” product to states like California. Lubnau said the legislature will continue their 

work to resolve unsettled issues. To read Wyoming Bill 89, click: 

http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2008/Enroll/HB0089.pdf or for Wyoming Bill 90, click:

http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2008/Enroll/HB0090.pdf. March 5, 2008, 

http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2008/03/05/news/wyoming/41d80ae8b86188e48725740300021

c5f.txt. 

Carbon Control News, “Washington State CO2 Storage Rules May Set Baseline Ahead of EPA.”

The state of Washington is working to become the first state to establish regulations for CO2 injection 

and sequestration projects, which officials plan to have completed by the end of June. The state rules fall 

under the EPA’s UIC Permitting Program of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and may offer EPA 

officials a roadmap for creating nationwide rules for CCS. The proposed regulations would require CO2

injection projects to acquire a UIC Class 5 permit for experimental wells, although the permit 

requirements nearly replicate the prerequisites necessary to obtain a UIC Class 1 permit. The intent of 

the regulations is to protect underground sources of drinking water (USDWs) and public health and 

safety; but most importantly, the legislation places full liability on project developers to ensure the safe, 

long-term geological storage of CO2. EPA is due to release its own draft proposal regarding CO2 injection 

projects in July and it remains to be seen if such projects will be permitted as Class 1 wells – or possibly 

under a new Class 6 well designation specifically for sequestration – which may dictate amending of 

Washington’s regulations. To view Washington’s CO2 injection and sequestration proposal, click: 

http://carboncontrolnews.com/ccndocs/mar08/ccn03102008_washington.pdf. March 10, 2008, 

http://carboncontrolnews.com/index.php/ccn/show/washington_state_co2_storage_rules_may_set_baseli

ne_ahead_of_epa/. (Subscription required.) 

May 2008 

Environment & Energy Daily, “Quick Fix Makes Lieberman-Warner Bill Deficit Neutral – CBO.” 

Following an earlier Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report that Senate bill S. 2191, “America’s 

Climate Security Act,” would add $15 billion over 10 years to the Federal government’s record budget 

deficit, Senators Barbara Boxer, Joe Lieberman, and John Warner drafted an amendment rearranging 

the way that money raised from auctioning off GHG emission credits can be spent. The amendment 

created the “Climate Change Deficit Reduction Fund,” which would set aside about six percent of the 

cap-and-trade program’s annual revenue in 2012 and increase to 16 percent by 2031, resulting in some 

$78 billion over 10 years that would go toward the US Treasury. The April 10, 2008, CBO report states 

that S. 2191 would increase government revenue by $1.21 trillion from 2009 to 2018, when direct 

government spending is expected to total $1.13 trillion. CBO officials contend the projected deficit figure 

is derived from their option to count the free distribution of the bill’s emission credits as the government 

giving away money as part of a new $100 billion market. To read the new CBO report, click: 

http://www.eenews.net/features/documents/2008/04/11/document_daily_03.pdf, or click 
87

http://www.eenews.net/features/documents/2008/04/11/document_daily_04.pdf for the original CBO 

report, dated December 5, 2007. The Boxer-Lieberman-Warner amendment is available at: 

http://www.eenews.net/features/documents/2008/04/11/document_daily_02.pdf. April 11, 2008, 

http://www.eenews.net/EEDaily/most_read/2008/04/11/2/. 

Reuters, “Bush Urges Halt of CO2 Emission Growth by 2025.” On April 16, President George W. 

Bush called for the United States to stop the growth of GHG emissions by 2025 and said coal-fired power 

plants need to develop new methods for reducing GHGs. Some view the 2025 timeframe as an essential 

first step in the United States’ efforts to reduce GHG emissions, although some feel that his position falls 

significantly short of scientific recommendations. While President Bush’s approach does not go to the 

extent of European emissions goals or domestic lawmakers’ proposals, his speech was aimed to 

influence the upcoming mandatory CO2 rules debate in June and global climate change talks that took 

place April 16-18 in Paris, France. President Bush added that he does not believe measures like new 

taxes, abandoning nuclear power, or adopting trade barriers would resolve the GHG issue; instead, he 

favors strong new laws, appropriate incentives, and adherence to the principles he discussed. In the 

past, President Bush has opposed setting mandatory emissions caps, because of the possible threat to 

the US economy and lack of action from developing nations like China and India. For a video of the 

speech, click: http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=80478&newsChannel=environmentNews, or 

click http://www.eenews.net/features/documents/2008/04/16/document_pm_02.pdf for a transcript of 

President Bush’s speech. April 16, 2008, 

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN1518272120080416. 

June 2008 

Carbon Control News, “Senate Budget Chairman Eyes New Incentives for Carbon Storage 

Projects.” According to Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad’s staff, Senator Conrad is 

planning to introduce or co-sponsor legislation that provides tax incentives for CCS technologies. The 

legislation, called “The Clean Technology Bridge Act of 2008,” was discussed at a National Rural Electric 

Cooperative Association (NRECA) conference and is said to include a production tax credit for biomass 

facilities that co-fire with coal, an investment tax credit for CCS technology, and a credit for storing 

carbon underground. An NRECA outline of the plan (available at: 

http://carboncontrolnews.com/ccndocs/may08/ccn05062008_nreca.pdf) contains two incentives: (1) a 10 

to 30 percent tax credit for new clean-coal power plants that capture CO2 and (2) a 30 percent tax credit 

for CCS equipment installed on new or existing coal-fired power plants. The outline also states the 

legislation would provide a $30 per ton credit for CO2 stored in a geologic formation, $20 per ton if 

transferred to the Federal government, and $10 per ton if used for EOR. Finally, the outline contains 

details about regulations, such as making the owner or operator of the facility that captures, transports, 

or injects CO2 liable for up to $100 million in the event of an accident, transferring full liability for stored 

CO2 to the Federal government after the storage project is decommissioned, and establishing the right of 

eminent domain for the construction of CO2 pipelines. May 6, 2008, 

http://carboncontrolnews.com/index.php/ccn/show/senate_budget_chairman_eyes_new_incentives_for_

carbon_storage_projects/. (Subscription required.)

July 2008

ClimateWire, “Landmark Local Emissions Fee Passed in N. Calif.,” and MSNBC.com, “It's a First: 

Bay Area Businesses to Pay CO2 Fee.” The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) 

imposed the first carbon fee in the United States, approving a 4.4 cent charge per metric ton of CO2

equivalent on businesses within the nine-county region in northern California. BAAQMD worked with 

California’s Air Resources Board to integrate the local fee with already existing state laws and 

regulations, such as the “California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006” (AB 32). According to data 

compiled by the air district, of the 2,500 stationary sources that are subject to the fee, seven of the 
88

sources would have to pay more than $50,000 to comply, with most of the regulated emitters paying less 

than one dollar. The new rule will go into effect on July 1 and the money raised in fiscal year 2009, which 

BAAQMD predicts will total around $1.1 million, will finance the district’s climate protection program. 

California passed AB 32 on August 31, 2006, to cost-effectively reduce GHGs. A fact sheet for AB 32 is 

available at: http://www.ef.org/documents/AB-32-fact-sheet.pdf. To browse the BAAQMD website, click: 

http://www.baaqmd.gov/. May 22, 2008, http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2008/05/22/2/, and May 21, 

2008, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24762980/. 

Greenwire, “Markey Unveils Bill for Slashing Emissions 85 Percent.” On June 4, Massachusetts 

Representative Edward J. Markey introduced legislation, called the “Investing in Climate Action and 

Protection Act (iCAP), H.R. 6186,” which proposes cutting CO2 and other GHG emissions by 85 percent 

through a cap-and-trade system that would go into effect in 2012. Under the proposed bill, 94 percent of 

the billions of dollars in emissions credits would be auctioned off, with the proceeds used for energy 

technology research, tax cuts, and energy efficiency programs. United States manufacturers most 

vulnerable to trade competition would receive the remaining six percent. The cap-and-trade program 

transition would result in 100 percent of emissions credits being auctioned by 2020; countries that do not 

implement similar policies by that time would need to purchase emission allowances to import CO2-

intensive goods into the United States. If the proposed bill reaches its fruition, all coal-fired power plants 

built after January 2009 would need to capture and store 85 percent of their GHG emissions. To read the 

executive summary of iCAP, click: http://markey.house.gov/docs/icap_exec_sum.pdf, or browse 

http://markey.house.gov/ for complete information. May 28, 2008, 

http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2008/05/28/1/. 

Greenwire, “Bipartisan House Bill would Create Carbon Sequestration Fund.” Legislation was 

introduced on June 12 by a US House of Representatives coalition to create a multibillion-dollar fund 

aimed at speeding up the deployment of CCS technologies. The bill, backed by the House Energy and 

Air Quality Subcommittee, would set up a $1 billion annual fund paid for by power companies that use 

coal, natural gas, and oil. Under the legislation, a newly created Carbon Storage Research Corporation 

would manage the fund as an affiliate of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and distribute 

grants and contracts to various private, academic, and governmental bodies to help commercialize 

technologies that capture and store CO2. Electric utilities believe the bill will help them survive under a 

future US regulatory system that places a limit on GHG emissions. According to the bill’s sponsors, the 

legislation will add around $10 to $12 to residential customers’ annual rates. To read the bill, go to: 

http://www.eenews.net/features/documents/2008/06/12/document_gw_01.pdf. June 12, 2008, 

http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2008/06/12/2/. 

August 2008 

ClimateWire, “Wash. Sets CO2 Emissions for New Power Plants...,” and Washington Department 

of Ecology News Release, “Adopting New Rules, Washington Continues Leadership in Limiting 

Climate Change.” The state of Washington set standards for emissions performance on all new 

electrical generation, as well as adopted guidelines for CCS. The emission standards, which immediately 

went into effect for power plants generating less than 350 megawatts, restrict facilities to the average 

emissions of combined-cycle natural gas turbine plants, or 1,100 pounds of CO2 per megawatt-hour; the 

standard for larger power plants went into effect July 25, 2008. Both emission standards only apply to 

long-term power contracts of five or more years and impose a $1.60 charge per metric ton of CO2, with 

discounts for co-generation and CO2 sequestration. Emissions that are permanently sequestered are not 

counted when determining if a generating facility meets the emissions performance standard. The CCS 

guidelines address safety, public hearings, and post-closure monitoring issues. However, the guidelines 

do not cover long-term liability or how to settle property rights issues, nor do they estimate the state’s 

storage capacity for CO2. The legislation is available at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/laws-
89

rules/wac173407_218/x0711a.pdf. July 8, 2008, http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/rss/2008/07/08/4, 

and June 30, 2008, http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2008news/2008-180.html. 

Sun Advocate, “Utah, North Dakota Senators Introduce Federal Clean Coal Technology 

Legislation.” On June 26, Senators Orrin Hatch of Utah and Kent Conrad of North Dakota unveiled 

Federal legislation to expand the use of clean coal technology in the United States. The Carbon 

Reduction Technology Bridge Act of 2008, if passed by Congress, would promote private research into 

clean coal technology by creating tax incentives. Included in the bill are the following incentives: a tax 

credit for installing CCS equipment equivalent to 30 percent of the qualified investment for a taxable 

year; tax credits of $30 per metric ton of CO2 injected and stored by the taxpayer; tax credits of $20 per 

metric ton of CO2 compressed and transferred for storage; and tax credits of $15 per metric ton of CO2

injected for EOR by the taxpayer. The senators believe these incentives are necessary to achieve energy 

independence because coal is used to generate roughly half of all electricity produced in the United 

States. The legislation is available at: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgibin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=f:s3208is.txt.pdf. To read the official press release, go to: 

http://hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.View&PressRelease_id=c6f88aae1b78-be3e-e089-3a5fa28d5a33. July 3, 2008, 

http://www.sunadvocate.com/index.php?tier=1&article_id=13492. 

Announcements 

 

September 2007 

Carbon Sequestration Testimony Given. A Senate Energy and Natural Resources Oversight Hearing 

was held August 1 to receive testimony on recent advances in clean coal technology, with participation 

by Carl Bauer, Director of DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory. To read Carl Bauer's 

testimony, which includes testimony regarding the laboratory's work in Carbon Sequestration, go to: 

http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=1645.

Georgia Governor Announces Carbon Sequestration Registry. On August 3, Georgia became the 

first southern state to implement a public registry for landowners who use approved forest management 

practices on their land. The Carbon Sequestration Registry, managed by the Georgia Forestry 

Commission, can be found at www.gacarbon.org. 

Listen to Podcast, “Climate Change USA.” SciPod is an international science podcast produced by 

New Scientist Magazine. This special edition podcast explores American attitudes toward climate change 

and other global warming issues. A link to this podcast can be found at: 

http://media.newscientist.com/data/av/podcast/newsci-20070702-climate-change-usa.mp3. 

The Carbon Sequestration Newsletter Annual Index. Access the Annual Index covering September 

2006-August 2007 issues of the Carbon Sequestration Newsletters at: 

http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/carbon_seq/subscribe.html. 

October 2007 

DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) Launches New Carbon Capture and 

Sequestration FAQ Portal. A profusion of information about carbon capture and storage (CCS) can be 

found at the recently launched NETL web portal. The website provides answers to a wide range of 

questions about the technology, the status of ongoing projects, and potential safety concerns, among 

other CCS topics. The website is useful to experts in the field of CCS and to those wanting to learn 
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about the topic for the first time. To visit the website, click on: 

http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/carbon_seq/faqs.html. 

Carbon Sequestration Technology Roadmap and Program Plan 2006 Wins Award for Excellence. 

DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory has been awarded a 2007 APEX Award for the 2006 

Carbon Sequestration Technology Roadmap and Program Plan. The “Roadmap” was recognized for its 

superior quality in graphic design, editorial content, and the ability to achieve overall communications 

excellence. The 2006 roadmap described the status of CO2 capture and sequestration technology, 

identified research pathways, and described DOE efforts to pursue priority pathways. The 2007 Carbon 

Sequestration Roadmap and Program Plan can be downloaded at: 

http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/carbon_seq/project%20portfolio/2007/2007Roadmap.pdf. 

Video Interview with National Resource Defense Council on Cost Implications of Cap-and-Trade 

Policy. This video interview with Dan Lashof, Deputy Director and Science Director of the National 

Resource Defense Council’s Climate Center, analyzes the economic implication of key legislative 

proposals and why he favors a cap-and-trade policy over a carbon tax. To watch the video, click on: 

http://www.eenews.net/tv/video_guide/655. 

Listen to a Podcast, “Carbon Storage: How It Works, What It Means.” Earth & Sky’s Lindsay 

Patterson spoke with two experts on the subject in order to understand how carbon capture and storage 

works and what it means. This 5-minute Earth and Sky Podcast is available for download at: 

http://www.earthsky.org/clear-voices/51562/lynn-orr-and-elizabeth-wilson. 

November 2007 

Interactive Multimedia, “Vital Signs of a Warming World: The science, impacts, and scenarios of 

climate shifts.” MSNBC investigates the impact of temperature changes across the globe through the 

use of pictures, videos, and full length stories to examine issues such as melting ice in the Polar 

Regions, potential animal extinctions, landscape alterations, and the detrimental effects on low lying 

coastal areas. A link to this website is available at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19463513/. 

December 2007

CSLF Launches Discussion Board. The Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF) announced 

the creation of a public meeting place (PuMP) for policy makers, financial institutions, technology 

experts, project sponsors, and the public to post comments and questions about carbon capture and 

storage. Visit http://www.cslforum.org or access the forum directly at: 

http://www.cslforum.org/cslfpump/forums/list.page. 

UCL Launches Carbon Capture and Storage Legal Initiative. University College London (UCL) 

launched the Carbon Capture Legal Programme (CCLP) website; making carbon capture program 

information readily available to governments, companies, lawyers, and non-governmental organizations. 

The website will include links to legislation dealing with climate change, emissions trading regimes, and 

carbon capture and storage. To view the website, go to: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/cclp/.

Video Interview with World Resources Institute Associate. World Resources Institute (WRI) 

representative, John Venezia, discusses a series of policy briefs on carbon capture and storage that are 

being released by WRI. The interview probes the obstacles facing carbon capture and storage 

technology and the opportunities that could arise from carbon capture and storage implementation. The 

video is available at: http://www.eenews.net/tv/video_guide/693. 

January 2008
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Coal Power Plant Database Now Available From DOE. DOE’s NETL has released its 2007 Coal 

Power Plant Database. This database provides information about 191 fields, 1,700 boilers and 

associated units, emissions, power generation, location, and firing data for all US coal-power plants. To 

browse the database, which also includes carbon sequestration resources, visit: 

http://www.netl.doe.gov/energy-analyses/technology.html. 

Kyoto Protocol’s Electronic Emissions Trading System Log Launched. The UN Climate Change 

Secretariat announced the launching of the International Transaction Log (ITL), a computer-based 

system that ensures Kyoto sanctioned emissions trading complies with established rules. For further 

information about the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) ITL, visit: 

http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/registry_systems/itl/items/4065.php. 

Database Revealing Highest CO2 Emitting Power Sources Created. Carbon Monitoring for Action 

(CARMA) offers users the opportunity to search a power plant database by country, state, province, 

county, metro area, city, power company, power plant, or zip code to learn the carbon emissions of more 

than 50,000 power plants and 4,000 power companies located in every country on Earth. To browse the 

CARMA web site, click: http://carma.org/. 

Chicago Climate Futures Exchange Improves Trading Platform. Trading Technologies International, 

Inc. (TT) connected the Chicago Climate Futures Exchange to its X_TRADER 7 order-entry software, 

providing customers with direct, online access to Carbon Financial Instrument futures and Certified 

Emission Reduction futures. For more information, go to: http://www.ccfe.com/ or 

http://tradingtechnologies.com/news/071127_CCFE.pdf. 

February 2008 

Chicago Climate Futures Exchange Announces New Records in 2007. The Chicago Climate Futures 

Exchange (CCFE) announced that 283,756 contracts were traded in 2007, compared to 28,924 contracts 

in 2006 – a record-setting 881 percent increase. In addition, open interest on CCFE rose 719 percent, 

growing from 3,822 contracts at the start of 2007 to 31,290 contracts at year’s end. For further details, 

click: http://www.chicagoclimateexchange.com/news/press/release_20080110_CCFE_endyearrecord.pdf

or visit: http://www.chicagoclimateexchange.com/. 

Carbon Management Council Formed. A group of eight companies formed the Carbon Management 

Council (CMC) on December 17 to help organizations develop solutions for managing their carbon 

emissions. CMC offers decision makers information for creating a carbon management program and 

discovering market opportunities created by reducing their carbon footprint. Members include 

representatives from Fortune 1000 companies, public utilities, and venture capital firms. To view the 

website, go to: http://www.carboncouncil.org/.

March 2008 

Leading Wall Street Banks Establish “The Carbon Principles.” Citi, JPMorgan Chase, and Morgan 

Stanley announced the formation of climate change guidelines for power company advisors and lenders 

in the United States. The Carbon Principles were created to assess the risk associated with power 

companies and global climate change legislation. For more information about the principles – energy 

efficiency, renewable and low carbon technologies, and conventional and advanced generation – click:

http://www.citigroup.com/citigroup/press/2008/080204a.htm.

North America's First Online Carbon Emissions Auction. World Energy Solutions, Inc., the operator 

of several online exchanges for energy commodities, announced on January 23 that the company 
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oversaw North America’s first online carbon emissions auction. Verdant Energy, a leading Canadian 

power supplier, made history by auctioning 80,000 tonnes of carbon offsets using the World Green 

Exchange recently established under the Alberta Offset System. For further information, go to: 

http://biz.yahoo.com/cnw/080123/world_energy_auction.html?.v=1. 

April 2008

Chinese Begin Accounting for CO2 Emissions. Chinese cement producers have taken the first steps 

toward measuring and managing CO2 emissions across the country’s cement sector. This represents a 

significant step forward by the Chinese government in its clean development and climate change 

strategies, because cement production accounts for five percent of global CO2 emissions, of which China 

contributes some 45 percent. The Chinese government plans to institute a three-phase strategy to collect 

data, beginning with multinational companies and followed by medium and small companies. For details, 

click: http://www.wri.org/stories/2008/02/chinese-cement-companies-account-co2-emissions. 

CCX Sets Trading Volume Record. On March 4, the Chicago Climate Exchange, Inc. (CCX) 

announced it had achieved a new monthly record in trading volume during February 2008, when 100,496 

Carbon Financial Instrument (CFI) contracts were traded. This volume nearly trumps the 102,724 

contracts sold in all of 2006 and brings the year-to-date volume to more than half of 2007’s volume of 

229,375 contracts. For more information about CCX prices and volume information, go to: 

http://www.theccx.com/market/data/summary.jsf. 

International Greenhouse Gas Registry Launched. The Gold Standard Foundation and APX, Inc. 

announced the creation of the Gold Standard Voluntary Emissions Reductions (VER) Registry on March 

11, providing individuals with the opportunity to use APX’s Environmental Market Depository technology 

to track and trade Gold Standard VERs throughout the world. Also, the registry tracks the certification of 

Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) and Emission Reduction Units (ERUs) that are part of Gold 

Standard’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI) project database. Go to 

http://goldstandard.apx.com/ to browse the Gold Standard VER Registry website. 

Climate Change and the Western United States’ Power Sector. A study conducted by DOE’s 

Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) used results from regional climate models to study the impacts of 

projected changes in temperature and precipitation on the development and operations of the Western 

United States’ power system. The study will be presented at the IAEE Conference in Ankara, Turkey in 

June 2008. To read the study, go to: http://www.dis.anl.gov/news/WECC_ClimateChange.html.

May 2008 

Office of Fossil Energy Develops Educational Materials. Climate change and fossil energy study 

guides, online lessons, and classroom activities that target elementary, middle, and high school students 

are now available courtesy of DOE. The materials offer lessons about where coal, petroleum, and natural 

gas come from, how these fossil fuels are utilized, and how research will lead to more environmentally 

friendly fossil fuel usage. The educational materials are available at: 

http://www.fossil.energy.gov/news/techlines/2008/08011-FE_Develops_Educational_Materials.html. 

IEA GHG CCS Summer School. Following the success of last year’s inaugural session, IEA 

Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme is offering another week long session for young scientists (i.e. PhD 

students or Post Docs) about CCS. Students will be divided into teams to research the issues 

surrounding CCS technology development and implementation and give a presentation to their peers at 

the end of the week. For more information about IEA’s International Interdisciplinary Summer School 

program, visit: http://www.co2captureandstorage.info/SummerSchool/SummerSchoolIndex.html. 
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California Registry Launches Website. The nonprofit California Climate Action Registry launched the 

“Climate Action Reserve,” a system designed to provide the public and CO2 emitters with an open venue 

to track, list, register, and retire carbon offsets. The California Registry is as a voluntary GHG registry 

that has several internationally proven elements to protect and promote actions that reduce emissions. 

To view the Climate Action Reserve, click: http://www.climateregistry.org/offsets.html. 

Video Interview on the Challenges Facing Carbon Capture. Hank Courtright, vice president of the 

Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), talked about the challenges facing the electric power sector 

relating to CCS technology, public acceptance issues, public education, safety and security concerns, 

and the economics of CCS projects in an interview with E&E TV. The interview concludes with a 

discussion about new EPRI research that is testing the viability of using chilled ammonia to capture CO2. 

To watch the video, visit: http://www.eenews.net/tv/video_guide/763. 

June 2008 

Principles for Global Warming Legislation Released. Representatives Henry A. Waxman, Ed Markey, 

and Jay Inslee released the “Principles for Global Warming Legislation” in order to provide a framework 

for legislation that will: (1) reduce emissions, (2) transition America to a clean energy economy, (3) 

recognize and minimize any economic impacts from global warming legislation, and (4) aid communities 

and ecosystems susceptible to harm from global warming. To browse the Select Committee on Energy 

Independence and Global Warming website, visit: http://globalwarming.house.gov/. 

Port Authority Creates Website to Offset Emissions. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey 

announced plans to become the first tolling agency in the United States to create a website where 

travelers using the Port Authority’s bridges, tunnels, and/or airports can buy credits to offset their CO2

emissions. For further details, click: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/21/nyregion/21carbon.html. 

CPUC Establishes Institute for Climate Solutions. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) 

created the California Institute for Climate Solutions (CICS) in order to (1) facilitate research that results 

in technological solutions and the development of policies that work to reduce GHG emissions and (2) 

accelerate the transfer, deployment, and commercialization of GHG technologies. More information is 

available at: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/puc/. 

Alberta Launches Carbon Council. Following a commitment to reduce projected emissions by 200 

megatonnes (220.5 megatons) by 2050 (CCS would account for 139 megatonnes [153.2 megatons]), 

Alberta launched a carbon council composed of several government and industry officials that will create 

a roadmap outlining CCS implementation and respond to recommendations made by the Canadian 

Federal government in January. Details concerning Alberta’s climate change action plan are accessible 

at: http://www.environment.alberta.ca/1319.html. 

CantorCO2e Announces the Launch of the “Social Carbon Company.” The Social Carbon Company 

will provide carbon management services to project developers in the Verified Emission Reduction (VER) 

market. The company uses a methodology that enhances carbon credits by quantifying a project’s 

contribution to sustainable development in developing countries. An explanation of the methodology is 

available at: http://www.socialcarbon.com/en/?page=Social_Carbon_In_Action. 

July 2008

Energy Analysis Firm Debuts GHG Reduction Database. Point Carbon unveiled its online database, 

"Carbon Project Manager North America,” in an attempt to organize information on GHG reduction 

projects. The online database provides figures on more than 500 projects in North America that reduce 
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GHG emissions through renewable energy and sequestration methods. For more information, go to: 

http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2008/05/19/6/. 

CCS Network Launched. IEA launched the International CCS Regulators’ Network at IEA Headquarters 

in Paris, France, to discuss the importance of CCS in mitigating climate change. The network will meet 

regularly to aide the development of a legal and regulatory framework for CCS. To learn more about the 

launch of the regulators’ network, visit: 

http://www.iea.org/Textbase/work/workshopdetail.asp?WS_ID=361.

August 2008 

NETL Releases Annual Accomplishments Report. NETL released its annual Accomplishments Report 

showcasing its successes in research and technology during the past fiscal year. Also included are 

sections about technology transfer and awards received in the course of achieving NETL’s primary goal 

– the successful commercialization of advanced technologies to benefit the United States. The complete 

accomplishment report is available at: 

http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/others/accomp_rpt/accomp_fy07.pdf. 
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Contact Information: 

National Energy Technology Laboratory 

626 Cochrans Mill Road 

P.O. Box 10940 

Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0940 

3610 Collins Ferry Road 

P.O. Box 880 

Morgantown, WV 26507-0880 

Contacts: 

Sean Plasynski 

U.S. Department of Energy 

National Energy Technology Laboratory 

626 Cochrans Mill Road 

P.O. Box 10940 

Pittsburgh, PA 15236 

Phone: (412) 386-4867 

Fax: (412) 386-4822 

sean.plasynski@netl.doe.gov

Dawn Deel 

U.S. Department of Energy 

National Energy Technology Laboratory 

3610 Collins Ferry Road 

P.O. Box 880 

Morgantown, WV 26507 

Phone: (304) 285-4133 

Fax: (304) 285-4403 

dawn.deel@netl.doe.gov

For more information on the Carbon Sequestration Program 

please visit our web site: 

NETL Carbon Sequestration Page at: 

http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/carbon_seq/index.html.