How 2 companies are taking different approaches to carbon capture as climate reports show rising temperatures

Current local weather stories have proven alarming tendencies as 2023 was confirmed because the hottest yr on file and rising temperatures led to the lack of 1 million sq. kilometers of arctic ice within the final yr. 

Because the Biden administration is committing almost $4 billion towards jumpstarting a brand new carbon seize business within the U.S., CBS Information was given an inside take a look at two firms taking completely different approaches to course of.

Graphyte is a startup that takes leftover materials from timber and rice mills and turns it into bricks to be wrapped up and buried within the floor — for now, in a subject in central Arkansas.

“We’re taking the carbon captured by crops and retaining it out of the ambiance for a thousand years or extra,” mentioned Graphyte CEO Barclay Rogers.

Graphyte plans to show an empty warehouse into the world’s largest carbon elimination facility, ultimately eradicating 50,000 tons of carbon dioxide a yr — concerning the equal of taking 10,000 vehicles off the highway. American Airways is at the moment paying Graphyte to offset a few of the air pollution from its flights.

To keep away from the worst impacts of local weather change, scientists say we have to cease burning fossil fuels and swap to cleaner types of vitality. However, they are saying, billions of tons of carbon which have already been put into the ambiance additionally should be eliminated.

Heirloom Carbon just lately opened the nation’s first business direct air seize plant in Central California. The automated facility stacks trays of limestone 40 ft excessive, permitting the rock to suck carbon dioxide from the air like a sponge. The stone can do in days what nature would usually take months to perform.

Heirloom Carbon mentioned its pilot plant removes simply 1,000 tons of carbon dioxide per yr, but it surely plans to construct amenities that seize 1,000 occasions extra. 

Whereas carbon seize is typically criticized for its price, with opponents saying the cash can be higher spent on pursuing renewable vitality sources, Heirloom Carbon CEO Shashank Samala says it is a vital a part of the local weather change resolution.

“We have to begin turning again the clock on local weather change/what carbon elimination presents us is the closest factor to a time machine,” he mentioned.

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