Charleston Leader

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted West Virginia the authority to oversee and administer the Class VI well program in the state. These wells are designed for injecting carbon dioxide into deep rock formations, serving as infrastructure for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) projects.

Senator Capito expressed her satisfaction with this development, stating, "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 suited than Washington to carry out such authority and highlighted the importance of CCUS in maintaining reliable power from coal and natural gas while reducing emissions.

Capito has been a consistent advocate for granting West Virginia Class VI well primacy. In May 2023, she introduced legislation to streamline state primacy applications for these wells. By November 2023, she urged the EPA to expedite granting state primacy and disburse funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for future CCUS projects in West Virginia. Last November, she supported EPA's proposal to grant this authority by sending a letter advocating approval.