California court halts Kern County carbon capture project over environmental review

A Kern County judge ruled that approval of California Resources Corp.'s TerraVault carbon capture and storage project violated state environmental law and must be set aside, according to mv-voice.com.

The TerraVault project, which began operating earlier this year, is the state's first operating carbon capture facility and is designed to store up to 46 million metric tons of carbon dioxide underground in a Kern County oil field to reduce atmospheric emissions.

Judge Marcos Camacho found that the environmental review for the project was insufficient, notably for failing to analyze the industries expected to supply carbon dioxide to the facility.

The ruling's timing and impact on ongoing carbon injection operations remain unclear, as the judgment is not yet final, and the company’s website indicates that carbon injection continues.

Kern County officials had supported the project as a way to support the local oil-dependent economy while advancing California's climate goals, but the project faced opposition from environmental groups and local residents concerned about pollution and leaks.

More than 15 similar carbon capture projects are in development across California, but community concerns about safety and environmental impacts have complicated their siting and approval processes.