Biden Grants Louisiana Lead Role in Vetting Carbon Wells (2)

The Biden administration approved Louisiana’s bid to take the lead role in vetting and overseeing carbon dioxide storage wells in the state, a blow to environmentalists and some local residents who battled the plan.

The Environmental Protection Agency formally approved Louisiana’s primacy over the so-called class VI storage wells and inked an agreement with the state designed to blunt the impact on communities most vulnerable to pollution.

The move promises to accelerate the permitting and construction of wells to store carbon dioxide captured from oil refineries, ethanol plants and other industrial facilities, after expanded subsidies in last year’s climate law ...