What permits are needed to bring CALZEPP online?
State and federal environmental impact studies will be required. The State land use permit will fall under the jurisdiction of the California Energy Commission or Kern County. The County permits plants with net outputs less than 50 MW and the California Energy Commission has jurisdiction over plants with net outputs of 50 MW or more. Engineering is underway to determine the exact net output. Federal underground injection and local water and air permits will be obtained. The most significant federal permit will be the UIC permit for CO2 injection. For the initial operation to demonstrate CO2 sequestration, CALZEPP may be permitted to dispose of the CO2 in a Class V well; however, the USEPA has published proposed rules to regulate CO2 sequestration under a newly created Class VI well program.
