Governor Signs Myers’ Environmental Bills

The Governor recently signed two environmental bills that could help make Oklahoma a national leader on such issues. Sen. David Myers is the author of SB 679 which re-creating the Oklahoma Geological Storage of Carbon Dioxide Task Force. He also authored SB 953 which creates the Oklahoma Clean Energy Independence Commission.

“Carbon dioxide is released from the combustion of materials that contain carbon including coal, natural gas, oil and wood. The production and use of these materials are fundamental to our state’s economy,” said Myers, R-Ponca City. “There are continuing efforts to capture carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere and store it in a safe way, such as in underground formations.”

Under SB 679, a task force established last year will be able to continue to study any issues necessary to implement the transmission and storage of carbon dioxide in geologic formations, including, but not limited to, insurance, liability and ownership issues relating to long-term carbon dioxide storage facilities.

“For many years, technologies for the injection, of carbon dioxide in underground geologic formations have been developed and successfully utilized for the extraction of crude oil. Oklahoma’s a leader in developing these technologies,” said Myers. “Our knowledge of these technologies will be basic in developing methods for future sequestration of carbon dioxide which will not only be good for the environment, but our state’s economy.”

SB 953 creates the Oklahoma Clean Energy Independence Commission. The Secretary of Energy will select the members of the commission, which must include representatives from governmental agencies with energy-related responsibilities, private energy industries, including traditional and alternative technologies, and public and private state universities with an interest in energy technologies. The purpose of the Commission is to utilize a dedicated group of Oklahomans with experience in energy-related industries to make a contribution to the nation’s efforts to address the energy issues, including the country’s dependence on foreign oil.

Myers, a former chemical engineer, is a leading national expert on carbon dioxide and other energy-related issues and travels the country teaching others about the importance of the issue to the nation’s economy as well as environmental protection.