President Trump has doubled down on his promise to unleash American energy in his first 100 days in office, as has been evident in recent actions by the Departments of Energy and Interior that streamlined permitting under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and expanded offshore oil production parameters in the Gulf of America.

This also includes actions by the Environmental Protection Agency to advance a core pillar of the president’s “America First” energy strategy: Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). From streamlining permitting to returning regulatory authority to the states, the Trump administration is advancing CCS not as a bold innovation strategy that protects U.S. energy jobs and helps cement global energy leadership.

Here are some of the most notable achievements so far:

West Virginia Achieves Primacy for Class VI Wells

Just weeks after taking office, the Trump EPA announced that it had granted West Virginia primacy over Class VI wells, which are used to safely and permanently store CO2 underground.  EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin made clear this was about restoring the state authority and cutting red tape:

“As one of my first acts as EPA Administrator, I am proud to sign this rule to allow West Virginia the independence it needs to permit and regulate itself, while also working to safeguard our environment and drinking water.”

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey echoed his support directly:

“Today’s actions open the door for new investment and job creation in our energy, manufacturing, and petrochemical sectors. I want to thank President Donald Trump and EPA Administrator Zeldin for granting us the authority to permit and regulate these wells, allowing our state to produce even more energy.”

West Virginia joins Louisiana, North Dakota, and Wyoming as one of the four states with primacy. This move is expected to free up federal bandwidth for other pending Class VI applications – including Texas, Ohio, and Indiana.

Clearing the Permitting Backlog

The Trump EPA is doing in weeks what the previous administration failed to do in years. On April 7, the EPA announced that it had issued three new Class VI permits for the Brown Pelican CCS project in Texas. For perspective, during the entire Biden Administration, the EPA only issued six Class VI permits. The Trump EPA has approved half that number in under 100 days.

This is more than a bureaucratic win. It’s a signal to the private sector that CCS infrastructure will be permitted in a timely manner.

Executive Orders Supporting CCS

In February, President Trump signed an executive order titled “Declaring a National Energy Emergency,” which directed federal agencies to “prioritize permitting, infrastructure development, and investment incentives for U.S.-led carbon capture, transport, and storage projects.”

This builds on the president’s first-term record, including the 2018 Bipartisan Budget Act that expanded 45Q tax credit – a key driver of CCS economics. New proposed updates are already being drafted to extend 45Q beyond 2032 and simplify eligibility for industrial and power sector emitters.

The White House’s Earth Day Commitment to Innovation

On Earth Day, the White House reaffirmed its approach to environmental progress through American Energy Innovation:

“By supporting cutting-edge technologies like carbon capture and storage, nuclear energy, and next-generation geothermal, the Trump Administration is ensuring America leads in both energy production and environmental innovation — producing the cleanest energy in the world.”

This is a significant break from the regulatory-heavy approach from the prior administration and a signal that the United States can lead on environmental outcomes without sacrificing energy production.

Texas Moves Toward Primacy

In March, the EPA and the Texas Railroad Commission signed a Memorandum of Agreement, laying the groundwork for Texas to become the fifth state to be granted Class VI primacy. The proposed rule is now under review, with EPA Region 6 Administrator Scott Mason stating:

“The Texas Railroad Commission has demonstrated the ability to protect Texas’s drinking water while overseeing a variety of drilling and injection activity. I appreciate Chairman Craddick and her team’s cooperation throughout the Class VI primacy application process, and I look forward to continued partnership between our agencies.”

Once finalized, Texas – home to the largest number of proposed CCS projects in the country – will gain full permitting authority, further accelerating deployment.

Trump Top Energy Officials Also Back CCS

Beyond policy actions, President Trump’s senior energy and environmental officials have consistently championed CCS as part of an all-of-the-above energy strategy. In addition to Administration Zeldin, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum have also consistently shown their support for CCS. During his confirmation hearing, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated:

“I do know that within fossil fuels, the concern has been about emissions. And within emissions, we have the technology to do things like carbon capture to eliminate that.”

When Energy Secretary Chris Wright was asked if he would work with North Dakota on carbon capture, he said:

“My answer is a resounding yes”

Bottom Line: In just 100 days, the Trump Administration has turned CCS from a regulatory pipe dream into a cornerstone of its energy strategy. From executive orders to primacy approvals, permitting speedups, and strong agency leadership, CCS has become a national energy priority.

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