Covington County Commission unanimously opposes Pine Hills carbon storage project, asks state to pause permitting

The Covington County Commission voted unanimously on Jan. 15 to oppose the proposed Pine Hills Storage Hub, a large underground carbon dioxide storage project planned for southern Covington County, and asked the Alabama Oil and Gas Board to deny or suspend permitting until independent environmental reviews and interstate consultation are completed.

The commission adopted a formal resolution and transmitted a letter that said residents and local leaders have raised ‘‘concerns over groundwater supplies, safety, farms and wildlife’’ and warned that the project could have ‘‘generational impacts’’ if containment fails. The letter highlights that Covington County lies within the reach of the Floridan Aquifer, a regional drinking-water source shared with neighboring Florida counties.

Chairman Michael Smith read the commission’s position and noted dozens of local residents had attended recent meetings and a town hall in Florala to express opposition. Commissioner Lynne Holmes, representing District 3, urged adoption of the resolution and recognized community members who organized opposition to prior energy projects, saying the public’s concerns deserve formal notice to state regulators.

The commission’s letter cites the 2020 pipeline rupture near Satartia, Mississippi — where dozens of people were treated for carbon dioxide exposure and hundreds were evacuated — as an example of real-world risks the county wants regulators to consider. The letter also requests that the Oil and Gas Board ‘‘engage in meaningful consultation with affected local governments and stakeholders — including those in neighboring states that share vital water resources.’’

Commissioners said State Representative Matthew Hammett has prefiled a proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit underground storage of carbon dioxide and similar nonhazardous fluids in Covington County and that the commission is requesting legislative help to pursue placement of such an amendment on the ballot.

The motion to adopt the resolution and send the letter was made by Commissioner Ben Courson and seconded by Commissioner Robbie Weaver; the vote was unanimous. The commission directed staff to forward the resolution and letter to the Alabama Oil and Gas Board and the county’s legislative delegation.

No project proponents were recorded speaking at the meeting; the commission’s action formalizes local opposition and asks state regulators to require additional study and interstate coordination before permitting a project near shared aquifers.