The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) has unveiled the final Responsible Carbon Management Initiative (RCMI) Principles. This marks the start of the RCMI pilot phase, designed to promote and acknowledge top-tier safety, environmental stewardship, accountability, community involvement, and societal benefits in carbon management projects.
The ten RCMI Principles emphasise community engagement, workforce development and quality jobs, tribal engagement, environmental justice, environmental responsibility, air, water, and soil quality, health and safety, emergency response, transparency, and long-term stewardship.
Carbon management, which includes technologies for capturing, transporting, converting, storing, and directly removing carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere, is crucial for advancing the nation’s climate goals and achieving the target of a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.
FECM initially announced the RCMI in the Federal Register on August 11, 2023, seeking input through a Request for Information. Feedback from various stakeholders, including climate and environmental justice groups, carbon management experts, and others, was incorporated into the final Principles with guidance from DOE’s Office of Energy Justice and Equity, Office of Indian Energy, and Office of Energy Jobs.
The RCMI Resources, released alongside the Principles, offer background, context, and guidance to aid project developers in applying each Principle. This resource library includes research, reports, tools, best practices, and other relevant materials from DOE, other federal agencies, academia, and non-governmental organisations.
During the RCMI pilot phase, FECM plans to engage with stakeholders, including communities, local governments, Tribal organisations, and carbon management professionals. Activities will include gathering feedback, sharing knowledge, supporting Principle implementation, and developing recognition opportunities for effective RCMI implementation, with announcements expected in late 2024.
Brad Crabtree, Assistant Secretary of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management said, “The Responsible Carbon Management Initiative and its Principles encourage project developers to maximise the societal and environmental benefits of their carbon management projects, engage effectively with communities, and demonstrate transparency and accountability.”