SB266 proposes a local constitutional amendment for Covington County that would prohibit any person from injecting, storing, or sequestering carbon dioxide in underground wells within the county. The measure specifically bars the operation of Class VI wells, which are the federal Underground Injection Control Program wells used for carbon dioxide sequestration under the Safe Drinking Water Act. If approved by voters, the amendment would become part of the Alabama Constitution of 2022 and would create a county-specific restriction on carbon capture and storage activities.
The bill also sets out the election procedure for placing the proposed amendment on the ballot, including the required ballot language and the standard constitutional-amendment approval process. It directs the Code Commissioner to make only nonsubstantive editorial changes if the amendment is ratified. In practical terms, the bill would affect land use, energy infrastructure, and environmental permitting in Covington County by preventing underground CO2 storage projects there, even if such projects might otherwise be allowed under federal or state regulatory frameworks.
Impact
SB266 would amend the Alabama Constitution as applied to Covington County, creating a local prohibition on carbon dioxide injection and storage in underground wells, including Class VI wells regulated under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The bill would limit the ability of project developers, utilities, and other entities to site carbon sequestration or carbon capture storage facilities in the county, and it could affect future permitting, landowner agreements, and related infrastructure planning. Because it is a constitutional amendment, the restriction would be more durable than an ordinary statute and would supersede inconsistent local or county-level practices.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests strong support and little opposition, with the bill passing its recorded votes unanimously or near-unanimously in the House of Origin. No committee transcript is available, so there is no recorded floor or committee debate to indicate formal opposition. Overall, the bill appears to have been treated as a straightforward local measure, with broad legislative agreement on advancing it to the next stage.
Contention
The main substantive point of contention, based on the bill text itself, is the policy choice to prohibit carbon dioxide sequestration in underground wells in Covington County, which could conflict with carbon capture and storage development interests, energy companies, or landowners seeking economic opportunities from such projects. Supporters likely view the amendment as a local land-use and environmental protection measure, while opponents would likely focus on restricting a potential emissions-reduction technology and limiting future industrial development. No committee discussion is available, so these positions are inferred from the bill’s subject matter rather than from recorded debate.