Occidental and its subsidiary 1PointFive announced that the US Environmental Protection Agency has approved its Class VI permits to sequester carbon dioxide (CO2) captured from Stratos when the world’s largest direct air capture (DAC) facility begins operating in Ector County, Texas. The permits are the first issued to sequester CO2 from a DAC project.
The permits, issued under the Safe Drinking Water Act’s Underground Injection Control program, are a critical component of Occidental’s plan to securely and durably store CO2 captured from the atmosphere. Throughout the EPA’s rigorous review process, Occidental demonstrated that its technologies, processes, monitoring programs, and other procedures meet or exceed federal and state requirements for injection wells that store CO2 in geologic formations more than a mile underground.
“This is a significant milestone for the company as we are continuing to develop vital infrastructure that will help the United States achieve energy security,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Vicki Hollub. “The permits are a catalyst to unlock value from carbon dioxide and advance direct air capture technology as a solution to help organizations address their emissions or produce vital resources and fuels.”
The Stratos facility is designed to capture up to 500,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. Occidental said the facility is on track to start commercial operations in 2025.