By Tom Buis

February 18, 2025 - Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS)—a pioneering U.S. technology that captures carbon dioxide emissions and stores them safely underground— represents one of the most promising opportunities to secure America’s energy future. It also represents a strategic investment for critical industries including agriculture, manufacturing, and artificial intelligence.

The good news is the incoming Trump administration has a unique opportunity to advance this technology by focusing on faster permitting and cutting through bureaucratic gridlock at places like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The best example of how to make CCS work might be North Dakota.

Tom Buis

North Dakota was the first state granted “primacy” by the EPA to oversee permitting for underground carbon storage wells (Class VI). Since receiving primacy in 2018, North Dakota has approved eight permits for carbon injection and advanced three additional carbon storage projects. In that same time, the EPA—which oversees permitting at the federal level – approved only two permits. There are now more than 150 pending applications, most of which have been stuck at EPA for over a year.

Like other energy technologies, CCS must be paired with infrastructure to transport the CO2 to storage sites. North Dakota regulators unanimously approved a key section of a pipeline to connect CO2 capture projects across the Midwest, reflecting the importance of this technology to agricultural communities throughout the region. Ethanol producers want to sell to customers who are increasingly demanding lower-carbon products. CCS will enable that.

North Dakota’s leadership in carbon capture has already led to substantial new investment and good jobs.

The Blue Flint Ethanol plant in Underwood, ND, for example, secured $205 million in funding from Bank of America and has been successfully since 2023. Summit Carbon Solutions invested $250 million in a CCS project in the Williston Basin. These projects exemplify how state-led innovation can attract capital and create opportunities for farmers to access new markets, increase profitability, reduce transportation costs and remain competitive.

Thankfully, the Trump administration selected Doug Burgum, former Governor of North Dakota, to lead the U.S. Department of Interior, which will oversee CCS on federal lands. During his tenure in North Dakota, Burgum championed initiatives that demonstrated how CCS could deliver economic wins for farmers and industry alike. At the heart of Burgum’s success is the recognition that strong partnerships between state regulators, industry and federal agencies are essential to achieving results.

Several states have already proven that CCS can deliver results when regulatory barriers are addressed. North Dakota, Louisiana, Wyoming and most recently West Virginia are among the few states that have received regulatory primacy for carbon storage wells. These states have shown that empowering local regulators to take the lead will accelerate the permitting process while adhering to rigorous safety and environmental standards.

Wyoming, for example, has leveraged its Class VI primacy to promote CCS projects that support its many energy industries, creating jobs and attracting private investment. Louisiana’s primacy is enabling the development of CCS infrastructure linked to its industrial hubs, providing new economic opportunities for local communities.

The Trump administration has the opportunity to build on these successes, and it doesn’t require an extra funding stream from Congress. By simply reducing permitting backlogs and empowering more states to take on the regulatory burden, the administration can enable a new wave of investment in American energy.

Carbon capture and sequestration offers a bold vision for America’s energy future—one that combines economic growth, job creation, and environmental progress. With Doug Burgum’s leadership and the Trump administration’s commitment to cutting red tape and fostering innovation, the United States can set a global standard for CCS development across America and overseas.

Tom Buis is a leader in renewable energy, former CEO of Growth Energy, promoting cleaner fuels and environmental sustainability as CEO of the American Carbon Alliance.