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TRUMP SUPPORTS THIS CLIMATE SOLUTION: IS THAT A BAD THING?

MARIA HINOJOSA: DEAR LATINO USA LISTENER, BEFORE WE START, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT IF YOU WANNA LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE, ADD FREE. JUST JOIN FUTURO+ AND YOU CAN JOIN FOR AS LITTLE AS $7 A MONTH. JOINING ALSO GETS YOU BEHIND THE SCENES ACCESS, AND YES, SOME CHISME. SO CLICK THE LINK IN THE EPISODE DESCRIPTION, AND AFTER YOU DO THAT, THEN CLICK PLAY.

MARIA HINOJOSA: LET’S GO TO THE SHOW.

NEWS CLIP: “WE ARE STILL FOLLOWING BREAKING NEWS OF A MAJOR GAS LEAK IN YAZOO COUNTY NEAR HIGHWAY 4 33 AND HIGHWAY THREE”

VICTORIA ESTRADA: AT AROUND 7:00 PM ON A SATURDAY AND LATE FEBRUARY, 2020, RESIDENTS OF THE SMALL VILLAGE OF SATARTIA IN MISSISSIPPI HEARD A LOUD BOOM.

MARIA HINOJOSA: “THE MAJOR GAS LEAK IN YAZOO COUNTY SENT A WHOLE TOWN FLEEING THEIR HOMES.”

VICTORIA ESTRADA: AFTER HEAVY RAINS, A PIPELINE CARRYING CARBON DIOXIDE, OR CO2 RUPTURED.

(MUSIC FADES IN)

VICTORIA ESTRADA: TEN MINUTES AFTER THE RUPTURE THE PRIVATE COMPANY THAT RAN THE PIPELINES CLOSED THE MAIN OPERATING VALVES FOR SATARTIA, BUT IN THOSE 10 MINUTES, MORE THAN 30 THOUSAND BARRELS OF CO2 HAD BEEN RELEASED INTO THE AIR.

CALL: “911.”

VICTORIA ESTRADA: RESIDENTS STARTED EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS AND CALLED 911.

CALL 2: “I, I DON’T KNOW IF SOMETHING, THEY BUSTED IT. IN, IN THE AIR, WHATEVER, BUT UM, IT’S CAUSING MY DAUGHTER TO HAVE BREATHING PROBLEMS. SHE’S ON THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW, SO WE ARE NOT GOOD.”

VICTORIA ESTRADA: CO2 IS AN ASPHYXIANT AT HIGH CONCENTRATIONS. YOU CAN’T BREATHE IT.

CALL 2: “IT’S BAD. IT, IT’S, IT’S, IT’S CAUSING, YOU KNOW, BAD PROBLEMS IN THERE.”

VICTORIA ESTRADA: THE PIPELINE COMPANY DIDN’T IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY LOCAL AUTHORITIES ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED. SO FIRST RESPONDERS REACTED WITHOUT HAVING ALL THE DETAILS.

CALL: “YES, SIR. WE’VE GOT A GAS LEAK UP THERE. YES, SIR. THEY ON AN AMBULANCE. YES. OKAY.”

VICTORIA ESTRADA: CO2 DISPLACES OXYGEN. SO COMBUSTION ENGINES LIKE THE ONES IN REGULAR VEHICLES DON’T WORK PROPERLY. IN THE EVENT OF A CO2 LEAK. SATARTIA AMBULANCES HAD TROUBLE RESPONDING TO CALLS. SOME RESIDENTS HAD TO DRIVE THEMSELVES TO THE HOSPITAL.

CALL 2: “I’M LIKE FIVE MINUTES OFF OF HIGHWAY THREE.”

VICTORIA ESTRADA: IN TOTAL, 45 PEOPLE WERE HOSPITALIZED FOR CO2 POISONING THAT DAY, AND AT LEAST 200 HAD TO BE EVACUATED.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: YEARS LATER, SOME OF SATARTIA’S RESIDENTS STILL REPORT HEALTH PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE GAS LEAK.

(MUSIC FADES OUT)

VICTORIA ESTRADA: AFTER THIS SATARTIA INCIDENT, THERE WAS A TWO YEAR INVESTIGATION BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH FOUND THAT THERE WERE GLARING GAPS IN HOW CO2 PIPELINES WERE REGULATED. SO THE GOVERNMENT STARTED WORKING ON NEW RULES.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: BY JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, FIVE YEARS AFTER THE INCIDENT, THERE WAS FINALLY AN OFFICIAL PROPOSAL WITH NEW REGULATIONS THAT WOULD PREVENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: BUT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION QUICKLY RESCINDED THEM BEFORE THEY WENT INTO EFFECT.

(MUSIC FADES IN)

VICTORIA ESTRADA: SATARTIA IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN A CO2 PIPELINE RUPTURES AND LEAKS, AND IN THE YEARS TO COME, THERE COULD BE TENS OF THOUSANDS MORE OF THESE PIPELINES. THAT’S BECAUSE PRIVATE COMPANIES WANT TO BUILD THEM FOR SOMETHING CALLED CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE, WHICH I’LL GET INTO LATER, BUT IT’S ESSENTIALLY A WAY TO TRAP CO2 TO KEEP IT FROM GOING UP IN THE ATMOSPHERE AS A GAS.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: THE PLANS INCLUDE CALIFORNIA, ONE OF THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY REGULATED STATES, AND HERE’S SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND. THERE’S A FEDERAL TAX CREDIT THAT HELPS FUND CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE PROJECTS AND HEAR THIS, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL IS GETTING RID OF OR PHASING OUT MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PROGRAMS, BUT NOT THIS ONE. IN FACT, THE BILL IS NOT ONLY KEEPING IT, IT’S GOING TO EXPAND IT. BECAUSE DEPENDING ON WHO YOU ASK, THIS IS A CRITICAL WAY TO ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CRISIS OR A SUBSIDY FOR BIG OIL.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: SO WE’RE GOING TO CALIFORNIA’S CENTRAL VALLEY, WHERE THERE’S A PLAN TO BUILD CO2 PIPELINES, MANY IN THE COMMUNITY ARE AFRAID OF ITS RISKS AND UNSURE OF ITS BENEFITS.

(MUSIC FADES OUT)

MARIA HINOJOSA: FROM FUTURO MEDIA, IT’S LATINO USA. I’M MARIA HINOJOSA. TODAY, PRODUCER VICTORIA ESTRADA BRINGS US A DEEP LOOK INTO CARBON CAPTURE. IT’S A CONTROVERSIAL TECHNOLOGY THAT ADDRESSES THE CLIMATE CRISIS, AND WE LOOK AT HOW IT’S BEING TESTED IN CALIFORNIA.

HINOJOSA: IN 2024, THE PLANET REACHED AN ALL TIME HIGH OF CARBON EMISSIONS. CARBON DIOXIDE, OR CO2 HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE ONE OF THE MAIN FACTORS THAT’S CONTRIBUTING TO THE PLANET’S WARMING. CALIFORNIA, WHICH IS THE FOURTH LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD, HAS VOWED TO GO CARBON NEUTRAL BY 2045. THAT MEANS THAT IT WILL REMOVE AS MUCH CARBON FROM THE ATMOSPHERE, AS IT RELEASES. TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL, SPECIALIZED TECHNOLOGIES ARE COMING INTO THE STATE, INCLUDING THE ONE WE MENTIONED, CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE.

MARIA HINOJOSA: LATINO USA. PRODUCER, VICTORIA ESTRADA TRAVELED TO CALIFORNIA CENTRAL VALLEY. THAT’S THE PLACE WHERE MANY NEW CARBON CAPTURE PROJECTS ARE BEING PROPOSED. AND VICTORIA BRINGS US THIS STORY.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: “I TURNED ONTO BUTTON WILLOW ROAD, WHICH TURNS INTO ELK HILL ROAD.”

VICTORIA ESTRADA: KERN COUNTY IS AT THE SOUTHERN MOST PART OF CALIFORNIA CENTRAL VALLEY ABOUT TWO HOURS NORTH OF LOS ANGELES. THIS IS FERTILE LAND. KERN COUNTY ALONE PRODUCES ALMOST ALL OF THE CARROTS WEED IN THE UNITED STATES. MORE THAN HALF OF THE POPULATION HERE IS LATINO, AND A LOT OF THEM WORK IN THE FIELDS.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: THERE’S A LOT OF TREES. I’M NOT SURE WHAT KIND OF FRUIT TREES THEY ARE. THERE’S ANOTHER INDUSTRY THAT’S. ALSO VERY PRESENT. OIL. YEAH, THAT’S THE FIRST. WELL, AS I DROVE THROUGH THE ELK HILLS OIL FIELD, I SAW HILLS COVERED IN PUMP JACKS. THE MACHINES THAT PULL OIL FROM THE WELLS LOOKS LIKE WATCHING A DINOSAUR, YOU KNOW, THEY’RE METAL AND LOOK KIND OF LIKE GIANT HAMMERS OR PICK AXIS WITH A PULLEY ATTACHED TO ONE END OF THE HEAD.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: I DROVE THROUGH HERE BECAUSE THIS IS A PLACE WHERE. A FIRST CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE PROJECT IN ALL OF CALIFORNIA IS SLATED TO GO UP. THE PROJECT IS ZONED BY THE CALIFORNIA RESOURCES CORPORATION, WHICH IS THE LARGEST OIL AND GAS COMPANY IN THE STATE. THEY’RE CALLING THIS PROJECT CARBON ALT ONE. SO WHAT EXACTLY IS CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE?

VICTORIA ESTRADA: LET ME EXPLAIN. LET’S SAY YOU’VE GOT A COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT OR A NATURAL GAS PLANT THAT’S EMITTING CARBON DIOXIDE AND ON TOP OF THE FACTORY’S CHIMNEY, WHERE THE SMOKE COMES OUT. YOU PUT EQUIPMENT TO TRAP THE CO2 ONCE CAPTURED. THE CO2 GOES THROUGH A CHEMICAL PROCESS AND IT’S TURNED FROM GAS INTO A TYPE OF LIQUID THAT YOU CAN THEN INJECT UNDERGROUND TO STORE HERE IN ELK KILLS.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: THE PLAN IS TO PUT THE LIQUID CO2 IN THE UNDERGROUND DEPOSITS THAT USED TO HOLD OIL, HOPEFULLY PERMANENTLY, OR AT LEAST FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: SOME PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ARE NERVOUS ABOUT THE PROJECT, IN PART BECAUSE AN OIL COMPANY’S BEHIND IT.

CESAR AGUIRRE: WE GROW UP WITH OIL AND GAS WELLS IN OUR BACKYARDS NEXT TO SCHOOLS.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: THIS IS CESAR AGIRI. HE WORKS AT THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE NETWORK IN BAKERSFIELD. KERN COUNTY’S LARGEST CITY.

CESAR AGUIRRE: THERE’S SO MUCH CUT CORNERS IN CALIFORNIA OIL AND GAS LAW AND ENFORCEMENT.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: HE’S SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS AREN’T ALWAYS ENOUGH TO KEEP OIL COMPANIES IN CHECK.

CESAR AGUIRRE: THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR A LOT OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IS CAPACITY, AND THEY DON’T HAVE THE MANPOWER. THEY DON’T HAVE THE HOURS, THEY DON’T HAVE THE NEEDED TOOLS IN ORDER TO PROPERLY INSPECT AND RESPOND TO LEAKS BECAUSE OF THE VAST AMOUNT OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT EXISTS.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: AND LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF A LOCAL CARBON CAPTURE PROJECT IS MAKING HIM RECAP THE DRAWBACKS OF LIVING IN A PLACE WITH A STRONG OIL INDUSTRY.

CESAR AGUIRRE: IN 2014, THERE WAS A PIPELINE LEAK THAT CAUSED EIGHT FAMILIES TO BE EVACUATED FOR NINE MONTHS FROM THEIR HOMES.

NEWS CLIP: AND WE HAVE BREAKING NEWS OUT OF ARVIN TONIGHT WHERE SEVERAL HOMES HAVE BEEN EVACUATED DUE TO A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS GAS LEAK.

NEWS CLIP: FLAMMABLE GASES,

VICTORIA ESTRADA: INCLUDING METHANE, HAD BEEN ACCUMULATING UNDERNEATH THE SOIL AND STARTED SPREADING TO THE HOUSES. OFFICIALS DON’T KNOW HOW LONG THE COMPANY’S PIPELINE HAS

NEWS CLIP: BEEN LEAKING.

CESAR AGUIRRE: AND THE GAS LEAK, IT WAS DISCOVERED COMING OUT OF THE OUTLETS OF A ROOM OF A WOMAN THAT WAS PREGNANT.

NEWS CLIP: RESIDENTS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD BEHIND ME SAY THAT THEY COULD SMELL GAS FOR SEVERAL DAYS.

CESAR AGUIRRE: EVERYONE IN THAT HOUSE HAS CHRONIC BLOODY NOSES OR ALLERGIES. ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WAS LIVING INSIDE OF THAT HOUSE HAS LUNG CANCER.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: THIS WASN’T AN ISOLATED EVENT, SAYS THAT, AND HIS TEAM HAVE DOCUMENTED OTHER LEAKS IN KERN COUNTY THAT WENT UNNOTICED FOR MONTHS, EVEN YEARS. AND THE GAS LEAKS. ALONG WITH OTHER POLLUTANTS FROM THE OIL AND AGRICULTURE INDUSTRIES HAVE TURNED KERN COUNTY INTO THE PLACE WITH THE WORST AIR QUALITY IN THE COUNTRY.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: KERN COUNTY’S PLANNING AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENTS SAID THEY’RE IMPOSING MORE THAN 90 MEASURES TO MITIGATE RISKS ON THE CARBON. TERRIBLE PROJECT. TO PREVENT ANYTHING LIKE WHAT HAPPENED IN MISSISSIPPI. BUT SINCE CARBON CAPTURE IS AN INDUSTRIAL AND CHEMICAL PROCESS THAT RELEASES OTHER POLLUTANTS,

CESAR AGUIRRE: ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS IS HOW IS THIS GONNA ADD TO OUR POLLUTION BURDEN?

VICTORIA ESTRADA: THERE’S ALSO ISSUES WITH THE PLACE WHERE CARBON TE VAULT IS SUPPOSED TO STORE THE CO2. BECAUSE THERE’S SO MANY WELLS IN THE ELK HILLS OIL FIELD, CO2 COULD LEAK THROUGH ANY UNUSED, WELL, THAT HASN’T BEEN PROPERLY SEALED. PLUS THIS IS A SEISMIC AREA. GEOLOGISTS ESTIMATE THAT THERE’S A 20% CHANCE THAT AN EARTHQUAKE COULD DAMAGE THE PROJECT IN THE NEXT A HUNDRED YEARS.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: SO DESPITE ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS, IF THIS IS A WAY TO ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CRISIS, ARE CARBON CAPTURE PROJECTS WORTH IT?

MAGGIE COULTER: WE ACTUALLY HAVE NO INFORMATION ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER IS PAYING FOR THIS. PURPORTED CLIMATE SOLUTION AND WHETHER OR NOT IT’S A GOOD DEAL, LIKE ARE WE GETTING ANYTHING FOR IT?

MAGGIE COULTER: THAT’S AFTER THE BREAK.

MARIA HINOJOSA: STAY WITH US. NOT.

MARIA HINOJOSA: HEY, WE’RE BACK. AND BEFORE THE BREAK, WE HEARD ABOUT A TECHNOLOGY COMING TO CALIFORNIA’S CENTRAL VALLEY. IT’S CALLED CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE. SUPPORTERS SAY IT’S A WAY TO ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CRISIS, BUT FOR OTHERS IT SIMPLY HAS WAY TOO MANY POTENTIALLY DEADLY RISKS. LATINO USA PRODUCER VI TODA, IS GONNA CONTINUE THE REPORTING NOW.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: CARBON CAPTURE HAS BEEN PRESENTED AS A WIN-WIN SOLUTION FOR THE CLIMATE CRISIS. IT REMOVES CO2 FROM THE ATMOSPHERE. IT CREATES JOBS, AND IT MAKES THE OIL INDUSTRY, WHICH THE COUNTRY STILL RELIES ON HEAVILY

RICK GARCIA: CLEANER. THERE’S DANGERS. THERE’S CONCERNS IN EVERY PROJECT, IN EVERY KIND OF INDUSTRY, BUT IF YOU’RE MITIGATING THOSE, IT’S WORTH THAT RISK.

RICK GARCIA: TO SUPPLY JOBS TO PEOPLE THAT NEED THEM.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: RICK GARCIA IS PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE LEAGUE OF UNITED, LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS, OR LULAC, THE LARGEST AND OLDEST HISPANIC ORGANIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES. RICK IS RETIRED NOW. BUT FOR DECADES, HE WORKED IN THE OIL INDUSTRY AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: FOR HIM, THE OIL INDUSTRY MEANS EMPLOYMENT.

RICK GARCIA: THE FACT THAT CARBON CAPTURE KEEPS OIL AND GAS GOING IN CALIFORNIA, WE’RE HAPPY FOR THAT BECAUSE WE SEE THE BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITIES AS FAR AS JOBS GO.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: EVEN IF TEMPORARY. RICK SAID, SEE THE CARBON TETER VAULT ONE PROJECT AT THE CENTER OF THE STORY. IS EXPECTED TO CREATE ONLY ABOUT 10 PERMANENT POSITIONS AND AROUND 80 SEPARATE TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION JOBS AT THE START.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: ACCORDING TO GOVERNMENT DATA, ONLY 3% OF JOBS IN KERN COUNTY ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO OIL AND GAS COMPANIES. THAT’S ABOUT 1300 PEOPLE AND JUST UNDER HALF OF THOSE POSITIONS ARE HELD BY LATINOS.

RICK GARCIA: THERE’S MANY EXAMPLES JUST RIGHT HERE IN, BUT WILLOW OF KIDS, UH, FROM THAT CAME FROM FARM LABOR BACKGROUNDS AND THEY WERE AS ABLE TO ESTABLISH THEMSELVES, YOU KNOW, EITHER IN SOLAR PROJECTS OR WIND OR OIL AND GAS.

RICK GARCIA: AND WE VIEW, UM, THIS CARBON CAPTURE AS ANOTHER AVENUE. FOR THOSE TYPE OF JOBS.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: NOT EVERYONE AGREES THAT CARBON CAPTURE IS A GENERATOR OF GREEN JOBS. IT HAD

MAGGIE COULTER: BEEN BILLED AS A CLIMATE SOLUTION, BUT THIS IS TRULY A, AT ITS CORE, AN OIL PRODUCTION SUBSIDY.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: THIS IS MAGGIE COULTER. SHE’S A SENIOR ATTORNEY AT THE CLIMATE LAW INSTITUTE AT THE CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: MAGGIE TAKES ISSUE AT THE WAY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN PROMOTING CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE THROUGH A TAX CREDIT CALLED 45 Q.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: I KNOW THIS IS STARTING TO SOUND LIKE AN EPISODE OF SEVERANCE, BUT STAY WITH ME. WITH 45 Q, PRIVATE COMPANIES GET A TAX BREAK WHEN THEY TAKE CO2 AND STORE IT UNDERGROUND. BUT FOR MAGGIE, THE PROBLEM IS THAT NO ONE’S ACTUALLY CHECKING THAT THE CO2 IS REALLY BEING PUT AWAY.

MAGGIE COULTER: THEY’RE RELYING ON EITHER THE COMPANY SUBMITTING INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY VERIFICATION OF THE STORAGE, OR A SELF-CERTIFIED VERIFICATION THAT’S SUBMITTED TO THE EPA.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: THE IRS RELIES ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY FOR VERIFICATION, BUT THE EPA DOESN’T HAVE A MANDATE TO DO AN INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION, SO THEY SIMPLY DON’T DO IT.

MAGGIE COULTER: SO THERE’S REALLY NO TRUE VERIFICATION OF THE ACTUAL SEQUESTRATION.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: IT’S A SYSTEM BASED ON TRUST, AND THAT TRUST ALONE, IT DOESN’T ALWAYS WORK.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: A 2020 INVESTIGATION BY THE TREASURY INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR TAX ADMINISTRATION FOUND THAT ALMOST A BILLION DOLLARS HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY CLAIMED UNDER THE 45 Q TAX CREDIT, $1

MAGGIE COULTER: BILLION, AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED IN THE REPORTING MECHANISM SINCE THAT INVESTIGATION. AND THERE’S MORE

VICTORIA ESTRADA: UNDER THE TAX CREDIT.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: COMPANIES CAN USE THE CO2, THEY CAPTURE THE CO2 THAT THEY’RE SUPPOSED TO TURN INTO LIQUID AND STORE SAFELY UNDERGROUND FOR AT LEAST A HUNDRED YEARS. THEY CAN USE THAT TO ACTUALLY PULL MORE OIL FROM THE

MAGGIE COULTER: GROUND. IT’S INJECTED INTO AN EXISTING OIL WELL AND USED AS A SURFACTANT TO SCRUB OUT ADDITIONAL OIL IN WHAT’S CALLED AN ENHANCED OIL

VICTORIA ESTRADA: RECOVERY.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: IF YOU’RE CONFUSED, YOU’RE NOT ALONE. IT TOOK ME A SECOND. OKAY. MORE THAN A SECOND TO PROCESS THAT. THE SAME CARBON DIOXIDE THAT THESE PRIVATE COMPANIES ARE SAYING, THEY’RE TRAPPING TO KEEP IT AWAY FROM US AND GETTING MASSIVE TAX  CREDITS. IN DOING SO, THEY’RE NOT ACTUALLY GETTING RID OF THE CARBON. THEY’RE IN FACT USING IT TO PUMP MORE OIL.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: AROUND 80% OF THE MONEY CLAIMED UNDER THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN USED FOR ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY, OR AS MAGGIE PLAINLY PUT IT EARLIER, A SUBSIDY FOR OIL PRODUCTION. THE IRONY WASN’T LOST ON CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS. SO IN 2022, THE STATE PASSED A LAW BANNING THE USE OF CARBON CAPTURE FOR ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY, BUT TRUMP’S ONE BIG.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: BEAUTIFUL ACT EXPANDED THE 45 Q CREDIT SO THAT COMPANIES CAN GET MORE MONEY IF THEY USE THE CO2, THEY CAPTURE SPECIFICALLY FOR ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY.

MAGGIE COULTER: WHY WE’RE GIVING A TAX CREDIT FOR A PRODUCTION OF A POLLUTANT. IT’S ALMOST LIKE A CLIMATE FRAUD. THERE’S NO PROOF THAT ANY OF THIS TECHNOLOGY IS ACTUALLY BENEFITING OUR ATMOSPHERE.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: LAST YEAR, THE INSTITUTE FOR ENERGY ECONOMICS AND FINANCIAL ANALYSIS ESTIMATED THAT TAXPAYERS COULD BE HANDING OVER $800 BILLION TO PRIVATE OIL COMPANIES UNDER THIS TAX CREDIT. THAT’S ALMOST THREE TIMES CALIFORNIA STATE BUDGET FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. LAST OCTOBER, THE KERN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE PERMIT FOR THE CARBON TERRIBLE ONE PROJECT.

MARIA HINOJOSA: ALL IN FAVOR OR PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: THE MOTION IS APPROVED ALL AYES.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE EPA ALSO APPROVED THE PROJECT. THE PERMIT ALLOWS THE CALIFORNIA RESOURCES CORPORATION TO INJECT CO2 INTO THE ELK HILLS OIL FIELD FOR 26 YEARS BEFORE THEY CAN START THE PROJECT. THE EPA REQUIRED THE COMPANY TO SEAL 200 WELLS WHERE CARBON DIOXIDE IS EXPECTED TO MIGRATE DURING THE.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: PROJECT 200 OUT OF THOUSANDS OF EXISTING WELLS IN THAT FIELD.

MARIA HINOJOSA: WE’LL BE RIGHT BACK.

MARIA HINOJOSA: HEY, WE’RE BACK. HERE’S PRODUCER BIK TODA WITH THE REST OF THE STORY.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: SINCE AT LEAST THE 1960S, OIL AND GAS COMPANIES HAD KNOWN THAT BURNING FOSSIL FUELS CONTRIBUTES TO CLIMATE CHANGE. BUT THEY WORK TO KEEP THIS FROM THE PUBLIC. THEY UNDERMINED THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS AND INSTEAD WENT ON A PRX CAMPAIGN TO TOUT THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: LIKE THIS CHEVRON AD FROM 1985

ARCHIVAL TAPE: ON THE COAST [00:20:00] OF CALIFORNIA, WHILE BIG JETS REACH FOR THE SKY, ONE OF THE SMALLEST ENDANGERED SPECIES QUIETLY REACHES FOR ITS DINNER ON LAND THAT’S PART OF AN OIL REFINERY.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: THE VIDEO ZOOMS IN ON A VERY SMALL BLUE BUTTERFLY. IT LOOKS LIKE A CROSS BETWEEN A NATURE VIDEO AND TOURISM A.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: PEOPLE

ARCHIVAL TAPE: WHO WORK THERE PROTECT THE AREA AND PLANT BUCKWHEAT.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: FAST FORWARD TO TODAY AND OIL COMPANIES ARE EVOLVING THEIR CAMPAIGNS FROM EXPLICIT DENIAL OF THE SCIENCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE TO MISLEADING INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR COMMITMENT TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: THIS WAS A FINDING IN A 2024 REPORT THAT CAME OUT OF A THREE YEAR INVESTIGATION BY DEMOCRATIC STAFF OF THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND THE SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE. THE REPORT WAS CALLED DENIAL, DISINFORMATION AND DOUBLESPEAK BIG OILS, EVOLVING EFFORTS TO AVOID ACCOUNTABILITY FOR CLIMATE CHANGE. THE REPORT SAYS THAT OIL COMPANIES ARE PRESENTING CARBON CAPTURE TO THE PUBLIC AS A VIABLE SOLUTION TO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING ALL OF THE ISSUES WITH THE TECHNOLOGY, THESE PRIVATE OIL COMPANIES ARE FORKING UP HUGE SUMS OF MONEY FOR EXTENSIVE MEDIA CAMPAIGNS. PROMOTING THIS TECHNOLOGY,

NEWS CLIP: THE WORLD NEEDS WAYS TO REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS.

RICK GARCIA: WE ARE WORKING ON SOLUTIONS IN OUR OWN OPERATIONS

NEWS CLIP: LIKE CARBON CAPTURE.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: WHILE THIS IS OUR FRONT FACING STANCE, THE REPORT SHOWS THAT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, COMPANIES TALK ABOUT CARBON CAPTURE AS A WAY TO PROLONG THE USE OF FOSSIL FUELS. THEY ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT IT’S COSTLY TO SCALE INTERNAL DOCUMENTS SUBPOENAED BY CONGRESS SHOW OIL COMPANIES AREN’T WILLING TO INVEST IN THE TECHNOLOGY TO ACTUALLY MAKE THIS A CLIMATE SOLUTION, AND INSTEAD ARE PURSUING TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR THESE PROJECTS.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: EVEN THOUGH IN RECENT YEARS, FOSSIL FUEL COMPANIES HAVE REPORTED TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN RECORD PROFITS.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: AFTER THE INCIDENT IN SATAR, MISSISSIPPI, CALIFORNIA PUT IN PLACE A PARTIAL MORATORIUM ON CO2 PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION UNTIL NEW FEDERAL GUIDELINES WERE PUBLISHED. FOR NOW, CALIFORNIA RESOURCES CORPORATION. THE COMPANY BEHIND THE CARBON PROJECT IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY CAN ONLY BUILD PIPELINES TO TRANSPORT CO2 WITHIN THEIR OWN PROPERTY.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: BUT AFTER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DIDN’T ALLOW FOR NEW REGULATIONS. THERE’S BEEN PRESSURE ON THE STATE CONGRESS TO LIFT THE MORATORIUM.

CRC: WE FEEL THE MOMENTUM IS THERE AND, AND THE MORATORIUM SHOULD BE LIFTED. UH, LATER THIS YEAR. THERE’S, THERE’S,

VICTORIA ESTRADA: THIS IS AUDIO FROM AN EARNINGS CALL OF THE CALIFORNIA RESOURCES CORPORATION.

CRC: SO ONCE THAT UNLOCKS, THEN THE ABILITY TO TALK ABOUT EMITTERS AVAILABLE TO TALK ABOUT THE BUSINESS MODEL IS GONNA START CRYSTALLIZING A LOT MORE. BUT WE NEED THAT PHYSICAL CONNECTIVITY THAT COMES WITH CO2 PIPELINES BEING APPROVED.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: RIGHT NOW THERE ARE 15 CARBON CAPTURE PLANTS ALREADY OPERATING IN A HANDFUL OF STATES IN THE US, INCLUDING TEXAS AND WYOMING.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: BUT SO FAR THE RESULTS ARE NOT IMPRESSIVE. THESE FACILITIES ONLY CAPTURE LESS THAN HALF OF 1% OF THE COUNTRY’S TOTAL EMISSIONS

CESAR AGUIRRE: HERE IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY. IT’S KIND OF A SACRIFICE ZONE FOR THE REST OF CALIFORNIA.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: THIS IS CESAR AGAIN WITH THE NONPROFIT CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE NETWORK. A COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING CESARS, SUED KERN COUNTY OVER THE RECENT PERMITS.

CESAR AGUIRRE: IT’S ALWAYS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY, IT’S ALWAYS IN THE RURAL COMMUNITIES.

CESAR AGUIRRE: IT’S ALWAYS WHERE THEY SEE SO LITTLE VALUE IN THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE INSIDE THOSE COMMUNITIES TO SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT SOMETHING’S SAFE AND FIND BETTER ALTERNATIVES BEFORE. WE TREAT YOU LIKE GUINEA PIGS.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: THE QUESTION LINGERS WHETHER CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE IS AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO DEAL WITH THE CLIMATE CRISIS.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: A STUDY OF THESE PROJECTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD HAS SHOWN THAT MOST OF THEM CAN BE CONSIDERED FAILURES, EITHER BECAUSE THEY SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERPERFORM IN THEIR CO2 CAPTURE GOALS. OR BECAUSE THEY SHUT DOWN AFTER A FEW YEARS OF OPERATION,

CESAR AGUIRRE: PEOPLE KIND OF FEEL LIKE, WELL, WE’RE BEING TREATED LIKE A DUMP.

CESAR AGUIRRE: RIGHT? THAT’S WHY. WHY IS IT THAT THEY HAVE TO PUT IT UNDERNEATH US? WHY WOULDN’T THEY PUT THIS IN RICHER NEIGHBORHOODS?

VICTORIA ESTRADA: WE REACHED OUT TO THE KERN COUNTY PLANNING AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT FOR THIS STORY, AND THEY REPLIED THAT. THEY DON’T COMMENT ON PROJECTS THAT ARE IN LITIGATION. THE EPA FOR ITS PART SAID THAT THEY ONLY REVIEW WHETHER A PROJECT ENDANGERS UNDERGROUND SOURCES OF DRINKING WATER, ANYTHING ELSE IS OUTSIDE OF THEIR SCOPE.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: THE CALIFORNIA RESOURCES CORPORATION DIDN’T REPLY TO OUR REQUEST FOR COMMENT FOR THIS STORY.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: AT ONE OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT WERE HELD LAST YEAR TO DISCUSS THE CARBON ALT ONE PROJECT IN KERN COUNTY, THERE WAS A LOT OF DEBATE ABOUT THE POSSIBLE JOBS AND TAX REVENUE THIS COULD CREATE VERSUS THE DANGERS AND UNCERTAINTY OF CARBON CAPTURE.

RICK GARCIA: THIS PROJECT IS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT

MARIA HINOJOSA: I ALREADY HAVE IN MY FAMILY, CHILDREN WITH CANCER, WITH ASTHMA, EVEN CONGENITAL.

RICK GARCIA: THERE’LL BE JOBS THAT LAST FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR WORK, BUT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. BETWEEN ALL THE BACK AND FORTH. A YOUNG COMMUNITY MEMBER MADE HIS WAY UP TO THE PODIUM. AND THAT REALLY PUT THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE.

KID 2: I DON’T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN BECAUSE IT’S SCARY BECAUSE, OH, THAT SMOKE, YOU CANNOT BREATHE AND YOU CAN MAYBE PASS OR SOMETHING.

KID 2: SO WE DON’T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. WE JUST, WE JUST DON’T WANT THAT HAPPEN BECAUSE WE WANT ALL WANNA STAY HERE.

VICTORIA ESTRADA: UNWITTINGLY, THAT KID MAY HAVE SPOKEN ON BEHALF OF HIS FUTURE CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN. WE WON’T BE HERE TO SEE ALL OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE DECISIONS MADE TODAY. TRYING TO ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CRISIS, BUT THEY SURELY WILL.

MARIA HINOJOSA: THIS EPISODE WAS PRODUCED BY VICTORIA ES STRADA. IT WAS EDITED BY ANDREA LOPEZ CRUDO. IT WAS MIXED BY JULIA CARUSO. FACT CHECKING FOR THIS EPISODE BY ROXANNA AGUIRE. FERNANDA E CHARI IS OUR MANAGING EDITOR. THE LATINO USA TEAM ALSO INCLUDES JESSICA ELLIS, NANDO ANOS JR. STEPHANIE LEBO, LUIS LUNA. GLORIA MAR MARQUEZ.

MARIA HINOJOSA: JULIETA. MARTINELLI, MARTA MARTINEZ. MONICA MORALES GARCIA, JJ CARIN, AND NANCY TRUJILLO. OUR INTERN IS DIEGO PERDOMO. PENNY LE RAMIREZ AND I, OUR CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS, AND I’M YOUR HOST, MARIANO HOSA LATINO USA IS PART OF IHEART’S. MICHAEL TURA PODCAST NETWORK. EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS AT IHEART ARE LEO GOMEZ.

MARIA HINOJOSA: AND ARLENE SANTANA, JOIN US AGAIN ON OUR NEXT EPISODE. IN THE MEANTIME, I’LL SEE YOU ON ALL OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA. AND REMEMBER, JOIN FUTURO PLUS YOU’LL BE ABLE TO LISTEN TO THE SHOW AD FREE AND YOU’LL GET BONUS EPISODES PLUS CHEESE ME. AND BY JOINING, YOU’LL BE SUPPORTING THE KIND OF REPORTING THAT YOU LOVE.

MARIA HINOJOSA: SO JOIN PLUS IGRA AND

STEPHANIE LEBOW: LATINO USA IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY. THE ANNIE E CASEY FOUNDATION CREATES A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THE NATION’S CHILDREN BY STRENGTHENING FAMILIES, BUILDING GREATER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, AND TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES. CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT. BUILDING A STRONG STATE BY IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF ALL CALIFORNIANS AND FUNDING FOR LATINO USA IS COVERAGE OF A CULTURE OF HEALTH IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION.

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