OPINION: CCS: A Safe and Proven Low-Carbon Solution to Get Behind

“OPINION: CCS: A Safe and Proven Low-Carbon Solution to Get Behind

The energy and petrochemical industries are rapidly changing. With growing calls to improve sustainability while satisfying increasing demand, the energy industry is adopting new technologies to meet this challenge. However, these should not be seen as obstacles to continued industry growth for the Port Arthur region, but rather opportunities to pursue innovation and solutions that will spur economic development. We need safe and proven low-carbon solutions that improve our traditional energy capabilities and promote economic growth.

This is why we need to embrace carbon capture and storage (CCS).

The Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce is deeply committed to fostering a sound economic environment and maintaining a high quality of life for the entire Port Arthur community. CCS presents a unique opportunity to achieve this vision without compromising the safety and wellbeing of our community.

CCS can help us safely reduce emissions from hard-to-decarbonize industries while maintaining high levels of production in Port Arthur and throughout the Golden Triangle region. In use for more than 50 years, the science behind CCS has substantial research backing its safety and efficacy. With the addition of modern technologies, companies can closely monitor CCS infrastructure throughout their lifecycles, from capture and transportation, to injection and permanent storage, providing valuable insights and verifying project safety.

According to recent studies, installing CCS technology could reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90% and greatly reduce other emissions like particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide. Reducing emissions on this scale would significantly improve the air quality along the Gulf Coast and result in quantifiable health benefits totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, making our region a better place to live, work, and call home.”