Stage 1 – CO2 Emissions

Geologic Sequestration

Since 1970, the Clean Air Act has mandated reductions in emissions in transportation, industrial and power generation. During this span, large efficiency gains have been made through the reduction of emissions and fuel efficiency advances. As with all improvement projects, overtime the impact of the technologies decrease as systems operate at higher efficiencies. As with the Emission graph below, the CO2 Emissions improvements have effectively plateaued, while atmospheric levels have continued to increase.

EPA GHG Equivalencies Calculator and Bureaus of Transportation StatisticsData Sources: EPA GHG Equivalencies Calculator and Bureaus of Transportation Statistics

Prior to 1990, the EPA reported that the management of forest and land acted as a net sink of CO2 emissions. During this period, plants, trees, and soil effectively utilized and absorbed more CO2 than was emitted into the atmosphere. With the CO2 sink in decline and the demand for energy increasing, the emissions imbalance is growing at a substantial rate. The need to enhance our carbon sink’s capacity with Carbon Capture & Sequestration techniques is clear.

U.S. EPA's Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks Data Source: U.S. EPA’s Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks