An Ohio bill making its way through the legislature regulates carbon sequestration, or taking and storing CO2 emissions underground to mitigate the effects of climate change.

House Bill 170 , introduced by Reps. Monica Robb Blasdel (R-New Waterford) and Bob Peterson (R-Sabina) in March, has so far been backed by oil and gas associations, while environmentalists are largely against it.

It shifts regulation of what is called carbon capture and storage projects, or CCS projects, from the federal government to the state government, generally giving the Ohio Department of Natural Resources “sole and exclusive authority” over the projects.

That is a needed change, Peterson said.

“I know and believe Ohio can and will do it better, faster and safer than the federal government will,” he said d

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