Shelley Moore Capito - Ranking member of the Environment and Public Works committee | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Shelley Moore Capito - Ranking member of the Environment and Public Works committee | Official U.S. Senate headshot
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito has announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted West Virginia the authority to manage the Class VI well program in the state. These wells are crucial for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) projects, as they inject carbon dioxide into deep rock formations.
Senator Capito stated, "I’m thrilled that, finally, the EPA has now granted West Virginia the authority we need to properly implement carbon capture technology through Class VI well primacy." She emphasized that states are better equipped than Washington to oversee such projects and highlighted the importance of CCUS in maintaining reliable power from coal and natural gas while reducing emissions.
The senator has been a consistent advocate for this authority. In May 2023, she introduced legislation to streamline state applications for Class VI well primacy. Later that year, she urged the EPA to expedite granting this authority and releasing funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for future CCUS initiatives in West Virginia. Last November, she supported EPA's proposal to grant this authority and sent a letter endorsing approval.
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