Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Community Engagement

Project developers and technical experts in carbon capture and storage (CCS) often cite the public as a “barrier” to CCS deployment, because decisions on whether an individual project move forwards often depends significantly on the local community’s acceptance or opposition. The case studies from the United States, the Netherlands, and Australia featured in this report suggest that communities often have more concerns and questions about CCS than they do about more-established industries and technologies. The guidelines for community engagement, however, were written with the belief that decisions on individual demonstration projects ultimately hinge on site-specific factors, including the needs of the local community. The report focuses on providing recommendations for creating a culture of effective, two-way community engagement around CCS projects.