KRWG News –
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRWG) A bill that could clear the way for underground storage of carbon emissions has cleared the New Mexico Senate.
This marks the second year that Republican Sen. Clint Harden of Clovis has sponsored the so-called pore space ownership legislation.
His bill would clarify that the owner of surface property owns the property below the surface as well, including the pore space. It also states that title to pore space can be severed from the surface estate and that the owner has the right to lease or sell pore space to another who might want to use it for storage.
Supporters of the measure say pore space deep underground will be valuable as technology advances to capture and store emissions from fossil-fuel power plants and other industries.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. KRWG