Committee advances bill directing MDE to write carbon‑capture permitting rules after debate over scope

The House Environment and Transportation Committee on April 8 advanced SB625, which directs the Maryland Department of the Environment to adopt regulations and standards governing permitting of carbon dioxide capture, removal, or sequestration projects that use biochar or wood vaulting and requires MDE to consult with the Maryland Department of Agriculture in developing the standards.

The bill, presented to the committee by Delegate Foley, includes an amendment that narrows the scope of projects covered and explicitly requires MDE to consult with MDA. Proponents said the change preserves regulatory oversight while adding agricultural expertise during rule development.

“[W]hen you have a group of people that are working on a project and they have a goal to reach, they get concentrated on that goal and sometimes they can’t see unintended consequences,” Delegate Anderson said, urging broader consultation and calling the MDA addition a way to bring “more people to the table” and reduce what she called unconscious bias.

Delegate Foley moved the amendments and the committee adopted them. Several members recorded opposition during the voice vote; after the amendments were accepted the committee moved the bill as amended and passed it.

Why it matters: the measure does not itself authorize projects or permits but directs MDE to write the regulatory framework that would govern projects using specified carbon‑capture methods. That rulemaking step will determine which projects qualify, the standards they must meet, and what agency review is required.

Next steps: the bill (as amended) moves to the next stage of the legislative process; the committee did not set permit standards in the bill text but required that MDE consult with MDA while developing regulations.