Carbon capture: Balancing industry, environment in Ohio

Farah Siddiqi

Ohio is becoming a focal point in the fight against climate change, thanks in part to its industrial might and a growing interest in carbon capture technology.

As the state looks to balance its economic needs with environmental responsibility, carbon capture utilization and storage is emerging as a critical tool. Critics of carbon capture voice concerns it could prolong the use of fossil fuels.

Simone Stewart, senior industrial policy specialist for the Climate and Energy program at the National Wildlife Federation, said in industrial states like Ohio, the technology will be important to curb the effects of carbon emissions.

"There's a big industrial component to their economies but at the same time, we want to act on climate action and address the climate crisis," Stewart pointed out. "We can't continue to emit CO2, so this allows us an alternative pathway."

Ohio's heavy industries, especially in manufacturing and raw materials, are both a strength and a challenge. Stewart acknowledged the sectors are hard to decarbonize, due to the emissions generated in the production processes. However, carbon capture utilization and storage provides a way to reduce the environmental impact while maintaining industrial productivity.

Stewart noted carbon capture is more than an industrial solution, it is also about protecting wildlife and preserving natural habitats, a connection of which she stressed the National Wildlife Federation is keenly aware. She stressed the importance of considering the ecological impact of industrial activities.

"While preserving the economy, while thinking about how infrastructural buildout is going to affect conservation and affect ecology, it really became important to us -- as a federation, and specifically as a climate team -- to participate in these conversations," Stewart added.

The privately owned energy company Tenaska is building a Tri-State Carbon Capture and Storage Hub to serve industrial customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.