CASPER, Wyo. — Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis announced today that the two states have signed an agreement regarding direct air capture.
The agreement focuses on the direct air capture industry’s ability to increase jobs and economic development in both states while reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, according to a news release from Gordon’s office. In direct air capture, carbon dioxide from the air is removed, sequestered and stored. It can be used for carbon removal credits or industrial applications, such as enhanced oil recovery or chemical feedstock for other products. The federal government has incentivized the industry through the use of grants.
The states agreed they could collaborate in applying for grants, assessing infrastructure needs, setting carbon removal measurement standards, analyzing atmospheric carbon dioxide removal markets, resolving issues with cross-border carbon dioxide sequestration and helping commercialize technologies, the release said. They can also work together to ensure stakeholders have the power to influence the technology and its economic opportunity.
Wyoming has carbon capture, use and sequestration assets, including permanent geologic storage, while Colorado has been developing policies to evaluate opportunities in the carbon dioxide removal and direct air capture area, according to the release. Colorado has the world’s second-largest operating direct air capture facility.
The governors made the announcement during the Western Governors’ Association meeting in Boulder, Colorado.
“Wyoming is a longtime leader in carbon management practices and policy,” Gordon said. “We believe direct air capture could complement efforts for point-source carbon capture and the related infrastructure. Colorado and Wyoming each have pieces of the puzzle necessary to develop a carbon removal market and industry. Together, we have a powerful combination of assets, infrastructure, policy, markets, people, geology and mindsets that are needed to accelerate the development of the industry.”
Polis said the partnership builds Colorado’s work to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2040 while adding good-paying jobs.
“I am proud to partner with Gov. Gordon on this innovative work that benefits both Colorado and Wyoming as we continue to find creative ideas and common-sense solutions in the fight for clean air that won’t just benefit Colorado and Wyoming, but the entire world,” he said.
Wyoming and Colorado are also collaborating with Utah and New Mexico to develop the Western Interstate Hydrogen Hub. The four states together will invest billions of dollars in clean hydrogen infrastructure, another emerging technology aimed at reducing pollution and continuing the West’s leadership on global energy solutions.
The full agreement is here.
