Dozens of other supporters sported orange shirts indicating membership in a labor union and in favor of the project. “If we have a project of this magnitude that’s committed to putting Kern County residents to work, paying them a fair wage, and addressing the global climate crisis, I believe that’s a project that matters,” said Daniel Osborne, a business agent with the Iron Workers Union. Other labor representatives echoed that sentiment. “These are mortgage-paying jobs, these are apprenticeship opportunities and retirement benefits, these are just some of the amazing things the project will bring to the community,“ said Randy Benson of the Skilled Union Carpenters of Kern County. 

Just as passionate were others who weren’t sold on the premise that the projects will provide good-paying jobs. “I’m happy that the union members are still here because they are being lied to,” said Cesar Aguirre, a local environmental activist. Aguirre disputed the county’s claims that the project poses no significant health risks to communities near the projects’ sites. Kern County Planning Director Lorelei Oviatt also confirmed the project would create no more than between 5 to 10 jobs. “Could this project provide future speculative other types of industries to come in? Possibly,” said Oviatt. 

PROPOSED PROJECTS 

The two proposed projects are the first of their kind in California. The Carbon Capture and Storage Project Terra Vault I (Kern County)by Long Beached-based California Resources Corporation aims to construct and operate a Carbon Capture and Storage facility for permanent underground storage of up to 48 million tons of carbon dioxide, or CO2. It would reportedly capture carbon dioxide from oil field installations, and inject the greenhouse gas in liquid form underground into spent oil and gas reservoirs, via a mile-long pipeline. It is located in the Elk Hills oilfield on 9,104 surface acres on land owned by CRC and situated on the west side of Elk Hills Road and the north side of Skyline Road. 

The second proposed project is by Aera Energy called the CarbonFrontier and is similar to the Terra Vault I proposal. This one calls for permanent underground storage of up to 40 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, located in the North and South Belridge oilfield west of State Route 33. Aera Energy was bought out by CRC earlier this year. 

PROJECT IMPACTS

According to a Planning Commission staff report, both projects would have cumulative impacts that would be significant and unavoidable to agriculture, health, biological resources and would contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, among others. For example, the report states that, “Should the injected CO2 fail to remain in the reservoirs in perpetuity, GHG emissions from the project would be potentially significant and the project would have the potential to conflict with GHG reduction plans.” 

A potential gas leak is precisely what worries many of the people who live closest to the proposed projects, many of whom are farmworkers. Numerous farmworkers spoke in Spanish before the Planning Commission expressing their worries. 

“Vulnerable communities, primarily Latino residents and low-income will face heightened health risk and cardiovascular issues. The financial benefits touted in the EIR primarily serve corporate interests with companies like California Resources Corporation profiting while local residents bear the environmental and health costs,” said Miguel Alatorre, member of Green Action for Health and Environmental Justice. 

Yet despite the project impacts, the Planning Commission report determined that “Such impacts are at an acceptable level in light of the specific economic, legal. social, technological or other benefits…and such benefits override, outweigh, and make “acceptable” any such remaining environmental impacts of the project.” 

The report also predicts Kern County stands to benefit by $59,655,000 in total revenues from the Cumulative Impact Oil and Gas Reservoir Pore Space Charge over 25 years of injection. The county also stands to benefit $280,000 a year for the Kern County Fire Department for CO2 training, equipment, and operation of the Ready Kern Emergency Notification program for a total of $7 million over 25 years of injection. Additionally, there would be a one-time sales tax payment of $2 million for carbon capture facility equipment and related oilfield equipment. 

“I don’t know if I’m for or against it because I still don’t have enough information,” said Buttonwillow resident Chris Romanini. Her family, she said farms near the boundary of the project in Elk Hills. “I’m disappointed in how the county ignored in notifying the public, the farmers in that district. The county let the farmers down by not alerting us of the project,” said Romanini. 

Planning Director Oviatt rebutted some of the statements made by the project’s opponents. Oviatt said it was not scientifically possible that any major pipeline rupture resulting in a gas leak would not travel further than 1.368 feet. “That is not even a mile, and the nearest community, the nearest school is 2.86 miles,” said Oviatt. 

After a meeting that lasted more than four hours, the Planning Commission voted 3-0 to approve granting the Terra Vault I project granting conditional use permits and making zone changes. Two commissioners were absent, recusing themselves for undisclosed reasons. The CarbonFrontier project was moved to October 10th for discussion and approval.

But it’s not yet a final deal. The next step in the Terra Vault I project getting final approval will come from the Kern County Board of Supervisors. It will hold a special meeting on October 21 at 9 am to once again hear from the public and then vote on whether to approve the first carbon capture project in California.