Michael Coren explores a potentially solid idea for carbon sequestration - turning our greenhouse gas emissions into underground rock formations.
Aside from the growth of renewable energy technologies, there is another promising option to combat climate change being tested in pilot projects around the world. Iceland's new CarbFix project uses subterranean chemistry to transform carbon dioxide emissions into limestone rocks.
Coren writes, "CarbFix is injecting its CO2 emissions into volcanic basalt, where it (hopefully) leaches minerals from the surrounding volcanic basalt to form new rock." By doing so, it would allow for a larger storage capacity placed underground and less carbon in the air.
Although the science and technology are still being developed and perfected, its the cost that will likely determine the strategy's long-term success.
"CarbFix project's pilot project has spent $11 million to sequester its first 2,000 tons of CO2, even though researchers estimate the cost may fall to less than $10 per ton." Similar experiments in Australia and the U.S have been met with cost and technical challenges.
FULL STORY: Turning CO2 Into Rocks With Upside-Down Smokestacks
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service