Oil Lobbyists Push to Block Safety Setbacks in Carbon Pipeline Bills

Oil and gas lobbyists are fighting to block safety buffer zones from California’s carbon pipeline legislation, Consumer Watchdog warns, as lawmakers prepare to vote on bills that could greenlight dozens of carbon capture projects.

(P&GJ) — Consumer Watchdog says oil and gas lobbyists are pressuring California lawmakers to keep safety buffer requirements out of two pending carbon pipeline bills. Environmental advocates argue that without a mandated setback zone, nearby communities could be at risk.

“Assembly member Cottie Petrie-Norris and Senator Henry Stern must stand up to the oil and gas lobbyists wanting to exclude language creating a safe buffer zone between communities and carbon pipelines,” said Consumer Advocate Liza Tucker. “Should a carbon pipeline rupture near people, it can be a potentially lethal asphyxiant. It happened a few years ago in the town of Satartia, Mississippi, and the result wasn't pretty. Some suffered convulsions and unconsciousness.”

The legislation — Assembly Bill 881 and Senate Bill 614 — would lift a moratorium imposed in 2022 and potentially clear the way for about 25 proposed carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects across California, according to the Center for Biological Diversity. Advocates warn that CCS technology is still unreliable, requiring significant energy to operate while capturing only a portion of carbon emissions.

Lobbyists Virgil Welch of Caliber Strategies and Theo Pahos of Kemper/Pahos represent California Resources Corp. (CRC) and Calpine, respectively. Calpine is the largest U.S. producer of electricity from fossil gas and geothermal energy.

Welch, who previously worked as special counsel and chief advisor at the California Air Resources Board (CARB), now directs the California Carbon Solutions Coalition, a group pushing for carbon capture projects. CRC, Calpine, AERA Energy, and Chevron all have CCS proposals in the state.

Tucker said the lobbying push has been backed by “hundreds of thousands of dollars” spent in the first half of 2025. She warned that without amendments requiring setbacks and safety measures like odorants to detect leaks, lifting the moratorium would put Californians at risk.