Unlocking the Southeast’s Role in a Net-Zero Future
Dr. Greenberg is a scientist, strategic advisor, and engagement specialist with over 30 years of experience in environmental and energy geosciences. She has led diverse teams on groundbreaking carbon management projects, including FutureGen and the world’s first bioenergy carbon capture and storage project. She combines her scientific research foundation with a deep understanding of societal impacts to provide strategic advising, thought leadership and research in the energy transition and carbon management fields.
Dr. Esposito is an experienced program manager with a demonstrated history of working in the electrical utility industry related to research, development, and deployment in the area of energy transition. He has experience in the areas of CCUS, bulk energy storage, geothermal power, hydrogen storage, deep borehole isolation, and associated permitting and regulations.
Dr. Milewski is a Professor of Hydrogeology & Remote Sensing and Head of Geology at the UGA. He is also President of Geospatial & Hydrologic Services, LLC (GHS).
Currently, Milewski serves on the Board of Directors of the US Chapter of the International Association of Hydrogeologists and is Past-President of the US Early Career Hydrogeologists’ Network. He is also Associate Editor for three leading journals in his field.
Ben is a seasoned CCUS professional with a strong track record in research, development and project leadership. He specializes in bridging theory and application, having led teams on pioneering projects that showcase CCUS technologies.
With expertise in securing funding and navigating regulations, he consistently delivers tangible results, driving innovation and advancing the deployment of carbon capture, utilization and storage solutions.
As global momentum for decarbonization accelerates, carbon capture and storage (CCS) has emerged as a critical tool in reducing emissions from hard-to-abate sectors. In a timely conversation, experts including Dr. Sallie Greenberg, Dr. Richard Esposito, Adam Milewski and Dr. Ben Wernette discussed how CCS is transitioning from years of research into real-world deployment, particularly across the Southeastern United States. They explored how collaborative models, public trust and regulatory clarity must evolve in tandem with technical advances to unlock CCS at scale.
CCS is Proven, Not Experimental — and Ready for Scale
The panelists emphasized that CCS is not a hypothetical solution, but a mature suite of technologies honed over decades. While the public often associates CCS primarily with coal or gas-fired power plants, the process is far broader in its application — capable of decarbonizing cement, steel and chemical production. One panelist noted that the separation and injection of CO₂ builds upon techniques used for over a century in natural gas processing and enhanced oil recovery. What’s new is not the science, but the opportunity for commercial-scale implementation driven by policy incentives and private sector interest.
The current moment represents a culmination of more than 20 years of federally funded research and demonstration projects led by institutions like the Southern States Energy Board. These projects have proven both the technical feasibility and safety of large-scale storage in geologic formations across the Southeast. However, one panelist cautioned that scaling CCS is not like “flipping a switch” — it requires persistent effort, infrastructure readiness and community engagement to move from pilot to practice.
Cross-Sector Collaboration is the Backbone of CCS Success
Successful CCS deployment depends on broad collaboration among government, academia, utilities and private industry. One panelist underscored that while cement producers may understand their industrial processes, they often lack expertise in CO₂ transport and storage. Partnerships between geologists, engineers, regulators and community leaders are therefore essential. The panelists described decades of cross-sector cooperation — not only among local stakeholders, but also with international peers contributing to shared scientific and regulatory frameworks.
This collaborative spirit is especially critical in the Southeastern U.S., where abundant geologic storage potential intersects with industrial demand and growing political will. Federal investments through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act have provided vital early-stage funding, putting the U.S. at the forefront of global CCS project development. Still, realizing these projects requires synchronizing permitting processes, local expertise and regional infrastructure planning.
Public Trust Can’t Be an Afterthought
Despite its technical maturity, CCS faces substantial headwinds from public skepticism. One speaker noted that many residents are unaware of CCS projects operating in their own backyards, highlighting the communication gap that continues to plague the industry. Concerns about safety, permanence and environmental impact persist, often fueled by incomplete media narratives or past grievances with extractive industries.
The panelists agreed that building trust requires long-term, localized engagement — not just one-time informational meetings. In one example, a community concern about the integrity of cap rocks used for storage prompted an organization to fund a specialized laboratory to study and explain their sealing properties. Such gestures of transparency not only strengthen the science, but also demonstrate responsiveness to community input.
One panelist emphasized that stakeholder engagement must be integrated into the scientific process itself, shaping research priorities and building mutual respect.
Regulatory Certainty and Policy Stability Are Crucial for Momentum
While the technology is ready, regulatory frameworks often lag behind. CCS projects must navigate the rigorous EPA Class VI well permitting process, which provides strong risk mitigation but can be time-consuming. Several states, including Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi, are pursuing primacy — the right to manage permitting at the state level — to streamline approval processes and tailor oversight to regional geology. One speaker argued that local regulators often have more relevant experience and can respond more nimbly to project needs.
Yet even with permitting improvements, broader policy uncertainty remains a challenge. Shifting legislative priorities, inconsistent permitting timelines and local resistance can stall progress. The panelists stressed that bipartisan support and enabling state-level legislation will be critical to sustain momentum as CCS transitions from the research phase to infrastructure deployment.
CCS Is Part of a Broader Decarbonization Strategy
While the panelists were united in their support of CCS, they consistently framed it as one component of a diversified decarbonization toolkit. It is not a silver bullet, but it plays a vital role alongside renewables, energy storage, hydrogen and demand-side efficiency. Particularly in industrial sectors and fossil-fueled power generation, CCS can provide an immediate path to deep emissions cuts without waiting for full electrification.
As data centers and global manufacturers increasingly demand low-carbon power, CCS may also gain traction through market forces rather than regulation alone. The Southeast’s geological advantages, industrial mix and recent policy support position it to be a national leader — if it can also clear the hurdles of permitting, perception and public engagement.
The speakers offered a shared reminder: achieving net-zero goals at scale will require more than technological readiness. It demands that communities be informed and engaged, that regulators be responsive and that stakeholders across sectors work toward a common vision for a decarbonized future.
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