The idea of pulling carbon out of the air might sound promising at first. But once you unpack the details, it’s clear that carbon capture is an expensive boondoggle dreamed up by billionaires to exploit our tax dollars. Worse, they’ll do so with little to no regard for the safety of communities. 

With a budget reconciliation bill on the horizon, Congress must decide whether to keep funneling billions into the 45Q program, a tax credit for carbon capture projects, or protect communities and taxpayers by putting a stop to this wasteful handout.

While official projections peg the cost of 45Q at just over $3 billion over ten years, independent experts warn the actual burden could soar into the tens of billions annually. These huge amounts of taxpayer dollars would be better spent elsewhere.

Public Pushback Against Carbon Capture is Growing

Communities across the country are raising red flags about the dangers and false promises of carbon capture. A broad coalition of advocacy groups recently urged Congress to repeal 45Q and similar subsidies. They warn that these subsidies pour billions into risky projects that jeopardize safety and stall climate progress. 

Some in Congress are acting on these concerns, including Representative Scott Perry (R-PA) and Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA), who recently introduced legislation to repeal 45Q.

States are acting, too:

• South Dakota’s PUC denied Summit Carbon Solutions’ permit, after the state passed a law restricting eminent domain for CO₂ pipelines.
  
• Iowa’s House approved a measure to block carbon pipeline companies from seizing land, defending farmers’ rights.
  
• Louisiana lawmakers are weighing a moratorium or even a full ban on carbon capture and storage (CCS), citing bipartisan safety concerns.
  
• Illinois’ legislators unanimously passed a bill to block carbon storage near the Mahomet Aquifer after a CO₂ leak in the region triggered community alarm.
  

Five Big Issues with Carbon Capture

Nationwide, people are standing up against carbon capture projects — for good reason. Here are five main ones:

1. It’s an Expensive Failure

Since 2005, the federal government has poured billions into carbon capture pilot programs. Most failed to meet performance goals or were abandoned altogether. 

Petra Nova in Texas, once touted as a flagship project, shut down in 2020 after repeated failures. These experiments haven’t proven viability — they’ve just burned through public dollars.

2. It Poses Real Safety and Property Risks

From injection well blowouts and groundwater contamination to earthquakes and pipeline ruptures, CCS infrastructure carries serious hazards. 

In Satartia, Mississippi, a 2020 pipeline rupture sent residents to the hospital. In Decatur, Illinois, a carbon injection project leaked underground, raising concerns for nearby drinking water supplies. Meanwhile, landowners across the Midwest are fighting off threats of eminent domain from pipeline companies.

3. It’s Incredibly Energy-Intensive

Running carbon capture equipment requires a significant energy investment, up to a quarter of a power plant’s output. That essentially adds a second plant just to handle the captured emissions. 

Scaling this approach to meaningful levels would devour enormous amounts of electricity, competing with other essential energy needs. Crucially, growing CCS would drive up costs for families during a cost-of-living crisis.

4. It Benefits Corporations, Not People

The vast majority of carbon capture projects exist to aid oil production by injecting captured CO₂ into old wells, highlighting the fact that these projects will line the pockets of wealthy CEOs. What do our communities get? Dangerous infrastructure, higher bills, and more public money to serve corporate profits instead of real community needs.

5. It Undermines Real Solutions

Money spent on carbon capture isn’t just wasted, it’s money not spent on proven climate and infrastructure priorities. That includes clean energy investments, drinking water upgrades, flood protection, and support for rural and working communities. Every dollar that props up CCS is a dollar we don’t spend building a livable, just future.

Congress Must Choose: People or Polluters?

The upcoming reconciliation bill is a moment of truth. Lawmakers must choose: Will they double down on a costly, polluter-backed distraction? Or will they reject the 45Q tax credit and instead stand with families, communities, and a cleaner future?