Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) poses a variety of safety risks, including an increased risk for earthquakes. You cannot simply sweep carbon dioxide under the rug (or underground) and pretend it no longer exists.
When “supercritical” (highly-pressurized) carbon dioxide (CO2) is injected deep underground, it takes up space and displaces brine (salty water) already present in the rock formations. This can increase pressure underground and alter stresses along existing faults.
These changes can trigger induced seismicity and can fracture rock or reactivate existing faults, creating new pathways for CO2 to migrate out of its intended storage formation. The pressure changes can also extend well beyond the area where the CO2 is injected, meaning it’s not only directly impacted landowners facing the risks..
Scientists have raised concerns that the large volumes of CO₂, elevated injection pressures, and long injection periods associated with carbon capture and sequestration could increase the likelihood of induced seismic activity.
Yet, the Environmental Protection Agency’s permitting process for CO2 injection does not properly address the risk of induced earthquakes. While companies are required to evaluate seismic risks, the science behind predicting how underground formations and faults will respond to long-term carbon injection remains incomplete, particularly when multiple projects are injecting CO2 into the same region. More research is needed to understand these cumulative risks before communities should be expected to live with the consequences.
And while the government and industry minimize the issue, the financial consequences could fall on homeowners. Earthquake damage is generally excluded from standard homeowners insurance policies. Coverage has to be bought separately, either as an endorsement or a stand-alone policy, and it can come with a steep deductible.
Indiana Farm Bureau, for example, offers 10% or 15% deductibles based on the home’s coverage amount, which on a $200,000 home means $20,000 to $30,000 out of pocket before any payout from insurance. While that might seem like chump change to these multi-billion dollar CO2 companies, it’s a life-altering amount of money for the average Hoosier.
Induced earthquakes could threaten homes, damage property, and leave families facing significant repair costs. The companies pushing these projects cannot be allowed to gamble with other people’s land and safety.
Landowners shouldn’t have to take on the risks of an industry they never asked for, especially when the consequences could cost them their homes, their savings, and their peace of mind.
