Net zero greenhouse gas emissions goal: carbon dioxide removal: regulations.

Senator Becker's carbon dioxide removal legislation establishes new standards for how California will count carbon removal efforts toward its net-zero emissions goals. The bill defines "qualified carbon dioxide removal" as processes that permanently extract CO2 from the atmosphere using approved biological, chemical or physical methods, while prohibiting the use of these technologies for enhanced oil recovery.

The legislation creates a framework requiring that carbon removal efforts match both the duration and type of emissions they aim to offset. Emissions from fossil fuels must be balanced by "durable carbon dioxide removal" with long-term storage capabilities, while shorter-term emissions from natural sources can be offset through qualified removal methods with equivalent storage periods. When reporting emissions and removals, entities must separately document their greenhouse gas outputs and any carbon dioxide removal used as an offset, including details demonstrating compliance with the new duration-matching requirements.

The bill also removes the previous January 2024 sunset date on the California Air Resources Board's authority to adopt protocols for carbon utilization and storage methods. This change allows the board to continue developing and updating standards for both captured and removed carbon dioxide indefinitely. The legislation maintains existing requirements that any carbon removal efforts involving biomass feedstocks utilize only agricultural residues, forestry waste, or municipal organic waste rather than purpose-grown crops.