Colorado will take over permitting and enforcement for underground carbon storage wells after EPA approval. The state becomes the seventh with Class VI primacy, and the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission starts handling permits on November 12, 2026. The change shifts oversight from federal regulators to the state for injection wells used to store carbon dioxide. Colorado submitted its application in October 2025 and the EPA approved it a year later. Supporters see this as a faster path for carbon capture and storage projects, though the real test is how quickly the state agency issues permits and manages long term liability.
