The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee held an informational meeting this week on theCarbon Management Plandeveloped by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

DCNR Secretary Michael DeBeradinis provided an overview of the Planning process and its results. The report makes recommendations in four broad categories on policy options that DCNR might pursue using Pennsylvania’s land and geology to address global warming.

The four categories, Secretary DiBerardinis noted, are:

1. The potential to store carbon dioxide emissions in underground geologic • formations, and alternative pathways to developing that potential;

2. The potential to offset carbon dioxide emissions and provide sustainable • biomass energy resources through a variety of forest management options;

3. The potential to offset carbon dioxide emissions and capture co-benefits • - habitat and water quality protection, and improved forest health and productivity; and

4. How the design of future federal, regional or private carbon credit mechanisms • and markets could encourage the most effective utilization of the state’s natural resources.

A full copy of Secretary DeBeradinis'presentation is available online.

Jonathan Mathews, assistant professor in the Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering at Penn State University, said Pennsylvania is a very importantpart of the United States’ total energy production with abundant supplies of coal and natural gas.

He said the DCNR report identifies an opportunity for Pennsylvania to incorporate carbon sequestration as part of an overall energy portfolio, but noted the major issue surrounding carbon sequestration is the question of scale.

He said carbon dioxide mitigation is a “remarkable challenge,” and identified enhanced oil recovery as by far the most confident implementation of carbon sequestration. He pointed out Pennsylvania is currently ranked third in carbon emissions nationwide and forth in coal mining. He added now is the appropriate time to look forward to operating in a carbon constrained world.

Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango) serves as Majority Chair of the Committee and Sen. Ray Musto (D-Luzerne) serves as Minority Chair.

9/26/2008