News to use

Folks,

Happy Holidays and I trust everyone has recovered from their Thanksgiving outings. Several items of geologic interest.

1. CO2 Storage and Injection: The comment period for EPA's proposed rules for UIC Class VI CO2 storage wells ends December 24. See Docket EPA-HQ-OW-2008-0390 for instructions on how to comment. The proposed rule covers the permitting and operation of CO2 injection wells for storage in geologic media. The IOGCC has published a Legal and Regulatory Guide that proposes a model set of regulations for the permitting, operation, and closure of the storage zone.
2. Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear and Secretary Len Peters of the Energy and Environment Cabinet have released the new energy plan: Intelligent Energy Choices for Kentucky's Future, Kentucky's 7-Point Strategy for Energy Independence. The plan is based on seven strategies: 1. Energy Efficiency, 2. Renewable Energy, 3. Biofuels, 4. Coal-to-Liquids, 5. Natural Gas and Coal-to-Gas, 6. Carbon Capture and Sequestration, and 7. Nuclear. The plan proposes a Renewable and Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS) with a goal of meeting 25% of Kentucky's estimated energy needs by 2025 with energy efficiency, conservation, and renewables (strategies 1, 2, and 3). There is also an Alternative Transportation Fuel Standard (ATFS) that emphasizes technology and Kentucky's resources to "transition away from dependence on foreign petroleum" (strategies 1, 3, and 4).

I think strategy 5 also supports the ATFS as I can see the development of a CNG/NGV transportation fleet ala' the plan proposed by T. Boone Pickens. For more information on natural gas vehicles, see (for example) Natural Gas Vehicles for America.

It is interesting to compare Kentucky's new plan with an assessment of state energy plans published by Environment America. This group reviewed five areas: renewable electricity standards, clean cars programs, energy efficiency programs and standards, appliance efficiency standards, and building energy codes. When published in 2007, Kentucky was graded with only one "gold" star in the area of building energy codes. Of our neighboring states Indiana, Missouri, Tennessee, and West Virginia had no stars. Ohio has one gold star and Virginia has two silver stars. Illinois was a "rising star clean energy state" with a gold and a silver star. OK, it does sound a bit like the stickers in grade school, but Kentucky is improving.