Clarion County, Pennsylvania is in the conceptual stages of underground CO2 storage in salt caverns. Basically, the carbon dioxide released during the burning of coal for energy will be captured and pushed underground instead of into the environment, contributing to global warming.

We have seen many examples of the other uses of salt cave storage, for example; natural gas, CAES, but here is a good example of the use of CCS (Carbon Capture and Sequester) in salt caverns.

The Pennsylvania government has not only discussed the concept, but has also requested evaluation of the state’s geological storage potential. The technology will create jobs and allow the state’s coal-burning industries to continue to operate in an environmentally friendly manner. The more states that jump on this cleantech bandwagon, the faster the US can mandate these practices.

The carbon storage capacity of salt caves is quite large in the US, something like 600 billion tons of CO2. It is a feasible long-term solution as well as being quite safe. However, research on CO2 leakage, drinking water contamination and accountability is not 100% and this is often the obstacle to launching a CCS project.

For Clarion County, deep, solid salt beds made primarily of halite could be created by extracting solutions to drill the wells for CO2 storage. The dissolved salt could then be used as fertilizer or other commercially valuable products.

If Pennsylvania can lead in this technology, it could generate big profits for the state. Investors understand the lucrative future of a cleantech project and will be eager to support them. Not only the investors win, but also the land.

Jason Fradley