CCS Expert Highlights Risks of
Geologic Carbon Storage
In a recent paper entitled “Limitations of science and engineering relevant to protecting drinking water: The Mahomet Aquifer as a case study”, Charles Harvey, professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, addresses the technical limitations facing the carbon capture industry in its quest to guarantee the safe underground storage of CO2.  This report was commissioned by Eco-Justice Collaborative as part of our work to protect communities from the health and safety risks associated with carbon sequestration.

Harvey, a specialist on CCS and once a proponent of such projects as the FutureGen project in Illinois, cites the deficiencies of geologic modeling, the likelihood of induced seismicity, the unpredictability of large pressure increases and limitations in design experience dealing with the highly corrosive environments of CO2 dissolved in underground brine. His conclusion:

 “Geologic carbon dioxide storage is an experimental project. Allowing private interests to risk the safety of public resources is not a risk that can be justified by our current state-of-the-art science or engineering.”

Read and download his report.