TLDR:
Direct air capture technology is being used in Arizona to remove CO2 from the atmosphere in order to mitigate the effects of climate change. Governor Katie Hobbs has emphasized the importance of technological innovation in addressing climate-related challenges. ASU’s Center for Negative Carbon Emissions is conducting research on new materials and carbon capture systems, while companies like CarbonBuilt are finding ways to sequester carbon dioxide into concrete. These innovations are promising but not a substitute for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Article:
During her first State of the State address, Gov. Katie Hobbs announced the re-establishing of the Governor’s Energy Office as the Governor’s Office of Resiliency, with a focus on water, energy, and land use solutions to address climate-related challenges in Arizona.
Chris Camacho, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), highlights the importance of developing a climate technology hub in Phoenix to tackle CO2 removal and sequestration. The region offers a favorable environment for clean tech and climate technology innovations due to low natural disaster risk and power reliability.
Arizona State University’s Center for Negative Carbon Emissions (CNCE) is actively researching direct air capture technologies. The Mechanical Tree, designed by Klaus Lackner, is one of the systems developed by CNCE that efficiently captures carbon dioxide from the atmosphere without the need for forced air movement.
Another initiative called Block-lite, led by CarbonBuilt and AirCapture at the Block-Lite facility in Flagstaff, aims to sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide into concrete blocks to reduce the facility’s carbon footprint significantly.
Ramón Alatorre from the 4 Corners Carbon Coalition emphasizes the importance of a portfolio approach in climate tech solutions and cautions against relying on a single solution to address climate change.
In conclusion, while promising developments in direct air capture technologies and carbon sequestration show potential for combatting climate change, it is crucial to remember that these innovations are not a replacement for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.