Summary/Abstract
Prior to SB 643, existing law establishes the State Air Resources Board as the state agency responsible for monitoring and regulating sources emitting greenhouse gases. The law required the state board to establish a Carbon Capture, Removal, Utilization, and Storage Program, as provided, to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and viability of carbon capture, utilization, or storage technologies and carbon dioxide removal technologies and facilitate the capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide from those technologies, where appropriate.
SB 643, enrolled on September 18, 2025, requires the establishment and administration of the Carbon Dioxide Removal Purchase Program to purchase carbon dioxide removal credits by eligible carbon dioxide removal projects. Eligible carbon dioxide removal projects must be physically located within the state, incorporate or fund community benefit mechanisms commensurate with the eligible carbon dioxide removal project and result in carbon dioxide removals that are verified in the claimed quantity. Further it requires a minimum duration of sequestration, elimination, or other storage of removed gases without leakage to the atmosphere that is sufficiently long enough to ensure that the risk of leakage poses no material threat to public health, safety, the environment, or the achievement of net zero greenhouse gas emissions in California, and shall not be less than 100 years, and cannot be used for enhanced oil recovery. SB 643 also requires a survey of carbon dioxide removal projects existing or in development within the state, and, on or before December 31, 2027, and annually thereafter, to publish on its internet website a report describing Carbon Dioxide Removal Purchase Program activities completed and carbon dioxide removal credits purchased to date.