Is your state regulation ready? a review of geologic carbon sequestration regulations in the United States

Paul Franke co-authored “Is Your State Regulation Ready? A Review of Geologic Carbon Sequestration Regulations in the United States,” published in Carbon Management, which provides a comprehensive, comparative analysis of the evolving regulatory landscape governing geologic carbon sequestration (GCS) across all 50 states. The article evaluates state-level readiness through a structured assessment of 14 key legal and regulatory factors —including UIC primacy, pore space ownership and unitization, long-term liability frameworks, pipeline regulation and environmental justice considerations — assigning weighted scores to quantify each jurisdiction’s capacity to support GCS project development. The authors identify significant variability among states, with energy-producing jurisdictions and those with active federal support demonstrating the highest levels of preparedness and offer a practical framework for policymakers and stakeholders seeking to design, refine, or operationalize carbon management regimes.