Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 170 into law, creating the state's first comprehensive regulatory framework for permanent geologic carbon storage. The law gives the Ohio Department of Natural Resources sole authority over permitting and operation of carbon injection facilities, overriding local zoning restrictions. It also clarifies pore space ownership, allows unitization when 70% of subsurface rights are secured, and transfers long-term liability to the state after a certificate of completion is issued. A dedicated fund financed by a 5 cent per metric ton fee will cover post-closure monitoring. Agricultural groups like Ohio Corn and Wheat backed the bill because it lets ethanol plants lower their carbon intensity scores and access premium low-carbon fuel markets. The framework is designed to attract carbon management infrastructure by reducing developer risk and bypassing slower federal processes. ODNR is now drafting final rules to implement the program.
