EPA issues first license key to climate-friendly coal plants

“This marks the first time any state has received primacy for Class VI UIC wells, which are used for the long-term storage of carbon dioxide captured from industrial and energy-related sources,” the EPA said in making the announcement.

The licensing process was developed 10 years ago by the Obama administration’s EPA. Although North Dakota is a large shale oil and natural gas producer, it does produce a big chunk of its power from coal and had been interested in capturing carbon to meet former President Barack Obama’s climate regulations.

Both Democrats and Republicans in the state were highly critical of the lack of fairness under the climate rules, which acted to prohibit the state’s use of clean coal.

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt emphasized the reasons for the license in making Tuesday’s announcement, which is to ensure carbon dioxide does not pollute the state’s water table.

“By allowing North Dakota to protect its underground sources of drinking water, we are practicing cooperative federalism and increasing the state’s involvement in local environmental protection,” Pruitt said. “EPA will work with the state to ensure a smooth transition and that all North Dakotans continue to have safe drinking water.”

The EPA said North Dakota received the carbon capture license after it certified that the state is able to enforce clean water regulations to ensure drinking water is kept safe.

The state has not begun to capture carbon dioxide from coal plants, but the Trump administration has been supportive of clean coal technology.

Energy Secretary Rick Perry told the Washington Examiner that he will work to promote the process known as carbon capture utilization and storage, or CCUS, which would seal the carbon from coal plants to be used by the oil industry to increase production.

Carbon dioxide is used as a liquid to help oil drillers produce more from existing wells. It is widely deployed in places such as Texas.