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Committee hears carbon-removal bill; proponents tout "wood vaulting" and farming benefits
Summary
SB 625 directs the Maryland Department of the Environment to adopt rules for carbon capture, removal and sequestration projects; witnesses described wood burial ("wood vaulting"), biochar, and other techniques as scalable removal pathways and raised questions about permanence, regulatory classification, and property impacts.
Senate Bill 625 — the Carbon Dioxide Capture, Removal and Sequestration bill — was presented to the committee on April 2, 2026. The amended bill removes funding provisions and requires the Maryland Department of the Environment to adopt regulations for carbon removal projects by Jan. 1, 2028.
Fredricka Straus, representing Senator Brian Feldman, framed the revised bill as a narrow step to provide regulatory clarity for an emerging carbon-removal industry and to position Maryland to benefit economically and environmentally. Dr. Ning Zeng, testifying in support, said gigaton-scale carbon removal is now necessary to stabilize the climate and noted technologies developed at the University of…
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