- What is carbon capture and sequestration?
Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is the act of separating Carbon Dioxide from a pollution source (in this case processed coal), liquefying it, and then storing it underground for prolonged lengths of time. The PurGen project will process 1.3 million tons of coal each year creating carbon dioxide. To get rid of this pollution they will send the separated liquefied Carbon Dioxide through a 138-mile pipeline under the Raritan Bay to the shores off Atlantic City, where it will be stored under the seabed.
- Where is the proposed site for the project?
The 750 mega watt coal plant is proposed for the former DuPont chemical plant alongside the Arthur Kill. This site is so polluted with hazardous waste it has taken years to cleanup.
- Are there safety risks involved in this process?
Yes. This new concept of capturing carbon and sequestering it underground for long periods of time is an untested and unproven technology. Carbon Dioxide, when concentrated in gas or liquid, is lethal and deadly to humans and animals. A carbon dioxide explosion in Cameroon, Africa in 1986 released a naturally formed carbon dioxide bubble from a lake. This bubble blew through nearby villages at 50mph and killed 1,700 people. A leak at the PurGen plant would seriously threaten not just the people of Linden, but also of New Jersey and New York. At least 1.8 million people live within 10 miles of the proposed PurGen project.
- Has this technology been used safely and effectively in other areas?
While proponents of the coal industry would like you to think that CCS is a successful technology that has been utilized safely, that’s not quite the case. Since 1996, a project in Norway has sequestered a million tons of Carbon Dioxide each year into a geological formation below the grounds of the North Sea. However, leaks have been detected.