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Senate committee considers creating a statewide carbon capture legislation for carbon storage, aiming to balance industry innovation with environmental safeguards.
LANSING, Mich. — Michigan lawmakers are weighing a trio of Senate bills that could position the state as a national leader in carbon capture and storage (CCS) — a technology viewed by many scientists and energy advocates as a critical tool in the push for industrial decarbonization.
During a public hearing last week, the Senate Energy and Environment Committee took up Senate Bills 394, 395, and 396, which would establish a permitting and regulatory structure for CCS projects in Michigan. The legislation aims to give local communities more authority over future developments, while also creating a clearer path for private investment in carbon storage infrastructure.
Michigan’s Deep Geology Offers Prime Opportunity for Carbon Storage
One of the central arguments for the legislation is geological: Michigan is home to three extensive deep subsurface formations composed of porous rock — ideal conditions for long-term carbon dioxide storage. These formations lie more than a mile beneath the surface and are already in use at several operational CCS sites across the state.
Experts from the Western Michigan University Geological Survey testified at the hearing, emphasizing that CCS is not an experimental technology in Michigan. “We’ve already proven this is feasible in our geologic environment,” said a university spokesperson, citing over a decade of carbon storage projects in the state’s lower basin. [MLA citation: Western Michigan University Geological Survey. “Carbon Capture Capabilities.” 2025. https://wmich.edu/geology]
The legislation would move Michigan toward a Class VI primacy structure — effectively allowing the state to oversee carbon storage projects rather than defaulting to federal U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permitting. Currently, only Wyoming and North Dakota have such approval from the EPA, but Michigan’s geology makes it a natural candidate for expansion. [MLA citation: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “Class VI Wells Permitting.” 2025. https://www.epa.gov/uic/class-vi-wells-used-geologic-sequestration-co2]
Support from Industry, Labor, and Environmental Groups Highlights Broad Consensus
Testimony in favor of the bills came from a coalition organized by the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and the MI SUCCESS Coalition, which included industry representatives, labor unions, and environmental advocates.
The coalition underscored how a well-regulated CCS program could allow manufacturers and energy producers to make “zero-emission” investments — building new facilities without increasing their carbon footprint. In turn, this could attract new economic development while simultaneously reducing localized pollution.
“One of the major arguments underscored during the testimony is that carbon capture and storage is not new in Michigan. In fact, the state is home to several facilities that have been capturing and storing carbon dioxide deep underground for more than a decade. This proven technology could be an important tool for companies wanting to make new investments in the state without increasing their carbon footprint. said Mike Alaimo, Director of Environmental and Energy Affairs at the Michigan Chamber.
New Rules Aim to Prioritize Environmental Oversight and Landowner Rights
A key feature of the proposed legislation is greater community control and landowner transparency. Unlike the federal system, which critics say lacks local oversight, Michigan’s proposed rules would require notification and consultation with landowners near potential CCS sites. Environmental advocates also praised the inclusion of site monitoring and post-injection stewardship provisions.
If passed, the legislation would make Michigan the third state in the nation to assume permitting authority for geologic carbon storage — a move that supporters argue would fast-track energy transition projects while giving residents a louder voice in how and where facilities are built.
What Comes Next: A Push to Secure House Support on Carbon Capture Legislation Before Year’s End
The bills are currently awaiting additional hearings in the Michigan Senate. Advocates with the MI SUCCESS Coalition are pushing for a parallel hearing in the House Energy Committee and have called on lawmakers to pass the bipartisan package before the end of the 2025 legislative session.
“Michigan has the tools, the geology, and the technology,” said Alaimo. “Now it’s time for lawmakers to give us the rules to put it to work.”
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