As concern over global carbon dioxide emissions grows, techniques to manage carbon become increasingly important, especially given the recent adoption of new federal regulations limiting these emissions. The Carbon Management Institute (CMI) at the University of Wyoming engages in the research and development necessary to keep Wyoming at the cutting edge of geological CO₂ storage, a process essential to future carbon management efforts. Carbon capture, the process of capturing and separating CO₂ from emission streams, is often combined with geological sequestration and enhanced oil recovery under the umbrella term CCUS (carbon capture, utilization, and storage).

Successful CO₂ storage is extremely important to the continued viability of Wyoming’s natural resources, particularly coal. Currently, half of the electricity generated in the U.S. comes from coal-fired sources, and approximately 40 percent of the coal comes from Wyoming. Wyoming’s coal industry contributes more than $1.2 billion annually to the state’s economy and provides a considerable percentage of the state’s primary and secondary jobs. The federal government’s goal of an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 requires accelerated exploration of the CO₂ storage technologies necessary to ensure that Wyoming coal remains a viable energy resource.

Through various research projects and cooperative initiatives, CMI aims to speed the development and deployment of successful, safe geologic CO₂ storage, both in Wyoming and elsewhere. CMI works to address all aspects of CO₂ sequestration, from initial site characterization to facility design and demonstration, legal and regulatory issues, and other challenges. CMI also endeavors to inform and educate the public about carbon management: the institute is committed to clear and open communication, and strives to supply regulators, legislators, and other stakeholders with the best science and information available. Over the next decade or more, CMI will be integrally involved in the implementation of CO₂ sequestration in Wyoming, and institute research will continue to advance the science of carbon storage across the globe.