Promoting Carbon Storage and Sequestration

In addition to reducing the amount of carbon dioxide emitted at the source, research is underway to determine if carbon dioxide emissions could be captured and stored.

We helped secure funding for the Minnesota Geologic Survey to investigate whether a geologic formation known as the Mid-Continent Rift would be suitable for storage of carbon dioxide. The Mid-Continent Rift is a geological formation that stretches from Michigan, through Lake Superior, Ontario, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas and that holds the potential for trapping carbon dioxide deep underground.

We also helped secure funding for research into the ability of Minnesota's agricultural lands, forests and wetlands to capture and store carbon dioxide emissions. The study estimates the potential these land types provide for storing carbon, describes the types of land use practices that would provide the most carbon sequestration potential, and identifies sites for long-term monitoring of specific carbon storage activities.

We are also an active participant in the Coal Gasification Work Group, a regional effort in the Upper Midwest working to identify the needed research into coal gasification technologies, to evaluate the potential for the capture and storage of carbon emissions, and to offer support for demonstration projects through the Midwest.

Links

• Minnesota Geologic Survey study
• Minnesota Terrestrial Carbon Sequestration initiative report
• Great Plains Institute Advanced Coal with Carbon Capture Program