Wyn Christian, the Texas Railroad Commissioner, voted against ExxonMobil's carbon capture and storage (CCS) permit for the Rose project in Jefferson County on Tuesday. This vote was issued due to concerns about the long-term safety of the project and questions regarding the economics and purpose of government-supported carbon storage.
Details of the Rose Project and Commission Vote
The Texas Railroad Commission approved the permit with a 2 to 1 vote. The Rose project includes three Class VI injection wells designed to store approximately 53 million metric tons of carbon dioxide over a 13-year injection period. After the vote, Christian stated, "I am disappointed with the outcome. I am still not convinced that there is sufficient record to prove the long-term safety of the project."
Concerns About Safety and Costs
Christian, who had previously criticized federal support for CCS, also argued that carbon storage projects are heavily reliant on tax subsidies and can increase costs for consumers. He referred to the federal tax credit 45Q, describing it as government support that distorts energy markets, rather than allowing CCS projects to compete independently.
Christian further pointed to the technical records of ExxonMobil's Rose project and expressed concerns regarding the groundwater monitoring network and the characteristics of the project's upper confining zone. He also referenced evidence suggesting that sandy zones within the upper confining area may not act as a sufficient barrier.
In his remarks before the vote, he added, "Due to these safety concerns, I have a motion. I think we need to know more about this permit. I cannot vote in favor of this permit unless I am fully assured that it is safe."
In contrast, ExxonMobil's request states that specific geological identifications and safety modeling of the storage site have been validated, and the identified risks and uncertainties have been addressed through the project's operational strategy, well design, and monitoring plan.
The Rose project is located approximately 15 miles southwest of Beaumont, and ExxonMobil intends to inject about 4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually from nearby industrial sources into the Flemings and Upper Frio formations. The RRC project plan provides monitoring throughout the 13-year injection period and for 50 years thereafter, or until the commission confirms that groundwater resources are no longer at risk.
Christian has also emphasized his critical stance on CCS policy in Texas and called for public voting on Class VI permits in the future.
