Carbon TerraVault Holdings LLC (CTV) announced on Feb. 7 the creation of the California Direct Air Capture (DAC) Hub, a CO2 capture and storage partnership with organizations across industries, technology, academia and government, among others.

The direct air capture plus storage (DAC+S) hub will be a California regional network that can remove and permanently store atmospheric CO2 using low carbon emission energy. The first hub will launch in Kern County before expanding throughout California.

Funding for the hub network will be pursued from the U.S. Department of Energy under the company’s Regional Direct Air Capture Hubs Initiative, which was outlined under the company’s $3.5 billion funding opportunity announcement.

The goal of the initiative is to commercialize atmospheric CO2 removal using integrated capture, processing, transport and secure geologic storage. California DAC Hub will also pursue low community initiatives involving the improvement of local air quality, renewable energy maximization, reclaimed and new water utilization, union construction jobs and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.

By prioritizing local communities, California DAC Hub will help California reach its carbon neutrality goals of 20 million metric tonnes (MMmt) captured by 2030 and 100 MMmt captured by 2045, outlined in the California Air Resources Board’s California Climate Plan. According to the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC), carbon removal methods like the one California DAC Hub plans to use are key mitigators in keeping global warming below 1.5 C.

“It is very exciting that these organizations are working together cross-functionally to not only provide a carbon removal and storage solution but doing so using low carbon energy and providing economic benefits to California communities,” California State Treasurer Fiona Ma said in the press release. “This project is more than a shared DAC infrastructure project; it serves as a hub model that delivers community benefits and jobs for other parts of the U.S. that also face climate change induced challenges.”

Led by CTV Direct, a wholly owned subsidiary of CTV focused on DAC+S, Kern Community College District and EPRI, a nonprofit energy research and development organization, the consortium may expand as regional hub locations expand.

CTV is a subsidiary of California Resources Corp. and provides CO2 capture, transport and storage services.