HB452 reforms the regulation of carbon capture and storage in Utah. It replaces two existing funds with a new Carbon Dioxide Storage Fund, and grants the Board of Oil, Gas, and Mining the authority to set fees and manage the fund. The bill covers the state’s oversight of carbon storage facilities, especially after a project is certified as complete. It sets requirements for permits, monitoring, and liability for storage operators. The state will assume title and responsibility for storage facilities after project completion, with funds used for regulation, long-term monitoring, and remediation efforts.
The Utah State Senate passed HB452 on February 16, 2024 by a vote of 68 to 0. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this bill embraces carbon-capture practices aligned with the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 goals, which undermines state sovereignty and prioritizes global environmental agendas over local interests. States should be cautious about adopting policies that may pave the way for increased federal or international influence on local land use and energy production.