WHAT IS PROJECT CYPRESS?

Project Cypress is a Direct Air Capture (DAC) Hub proposed for construction in West Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. It is one of the first DAC hubs supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Regional DAC Hubs program. The project team is led by Battelle, the world’s largest, independent, nonprofit applied science and technology organization; Climeworks, a global DAC leader; and Heirloom, a leading DAC company in America Its anticipated groundbreaking is in 2024, with continued build-out through 2029.

WHAT IS DIRECT AIR CAPTURE?

Direct Air Capture (DAC) is the process of capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the air/atmosphere and permanently storing it safely underground. DAC removes historic CO2 emissions that are already in the atmosphere. The need for CO2 removal technologies such as DAC has been affirmed by scientists across disciplines around the world. Decarbonization experts and industry leaders support the responsible scale-up of DAC.

WHY DO WE NEED DIRECT AIR CAPTURE?

We must take an “all in” approach to reach climate goals. We need to remove existing historic emissions in addition to reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions generally and from being emitted into the atmosphere from hard-to-abate industries like power plants, metal refineries, and cement and fertilizer manufacturing operations.

WHAT OPPORTUNITIES WILL THE PUBLIC HAVE TO ENGAGE WITH PROJECT CYPRESS?

Project Cypress is committed to providing ample opportunities for community members to engage with the project team and gain insight into the Direct Air Capture (DAC) facility and its operations.

The team hosted its first community meeting on Nov. 7, 2023, in Sulphur, Louisiana, following direct engagement with hundreds of project stakeholders. Project Cypress is continuing to communicate with stakeholders through direct engagement and through the establishment of a Community Engagement Council (CEC) to help inform the project.

Project Cypress will continue to communicate planned meetings and engagement opportunities with the public as they are available. Please reach out to info@projectcypress.com for inquiries.

IS PROJECT CYPRESS’ TECHNOLOGY SAFE?

Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology has been deployed and proven through real-world projects over recent years. Climeworks and Heirloom have commercial facilities up and running in different parts of the world, demonstrating their efficacy, safety, and consistency with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Regional DAC Hubs Program. Climeworks has more than a decade of experience with DAC research and development and operates the world's first and largest commercial-scale DAC plus storage (DAC+S) facility located in Iceland. Heirloom operates the first DAC facility in the United States, located in California.

WILL CARBON DIOXIDE STORAGE IMPACT DRINKING WATER?

Storing carbon dioxide (CO2) underground in the United States is stringently regulated under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Class VI program. Class VI wells are built with strong materials highly tolerant to CO2 and built to withstand leaks and corrosion. When applying for permits for Class VI wells, the storage company must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the operations will not influence groundwater, and the company will continuously monitor the wells to ensure the CO2 is safely and permanently stored. This process includes a thorough review that shows the stored CO2 will not leak into drinking water aquifers.

WHY IS PROJECT CYPRESS BEING LOCATED IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA?

Southwest Louisiana’s geology has extensive capacity for carbon dioxide (CO2) storage, as studied and characterized by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). In addition, the region has a long history of manufacturing and industrial processes that provide a workforce that can support a DAC hub while continuing to power the operations of companies with a longstanding presence in the area.

HOW WILL PROJECT CYPRESS BENEFIT SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA?

We anticipate Project Cypress will produce a wide range of community benefits. The project is estimated to create approximately 2,300 quality jobs and generate a billion-dollar economic stimulus in the region, with increased opportunities for local contractors, suppliers, and small businesses. Through its job creation and investment activities, Project Cypress will increase revenues for local governments, creating new opportunities for enhanced community investments and initiatives. The project will prioritize training and hiring local talent through investments in workforce development programs and initiatives in partnership with local education systems and institutions.

Through extensive community engagement efforts, we will seek feedback to identify meaningful investments and actions Project Cypress can pursue to address historical and persistent challenges facing the region, which may include education access, coastal protection, and other issues identified by community members.

WILL 40% OF BENEFITS GO TO DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES PER JUSTICE40? HOW?

Project Cypress is funded by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which includes the federal government’s recently implemented Justice40 Initiative, which ensures that disadvantaged communities receive the benefits of new and existing federal investments by requiring that 40% of all community benefits from federally-funded projects flow toward disadvantaged communities or those overburdened by pollution. The project team is committed to identifying and engaging with these disadvantaged communities before construction begins to assess community needs.

Additionally, Project Cypress is seeking to utilize a local workforce and vendors to provide services and supplies, as well as establishing the Direct Air Capture (DAC) hub on a project site that is a safe distance from frontline communities previously impacted by industrial facilities.

HOW WILL THE PROJECT IMPACT MY COMMUNITY?

Project Cypress is committed to minimizing all potential impacts to the community, including noise, light, and traffic.

Our anticipated project site is located away from populated areas and near existing industrial facilities, keeping noise within the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 49-decibel limit for the closest residence. Additionally, we expect lighting to be comparable to other industrial facilities in the area.

Because the project is in a relatively remote location, we do not anticipate significant and persistent traffic impacts, though there will be an increase in traffic in/out of the site.

HOW WILL COMMUNITY INPUT BE USED IN THE PLANNING PROCESS?

Project Cypress is developing and implementing an extensive community outreach plan, aligning with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) community engagement requirements and refining key aspects of the plan with the community. These efforts include establishing two-way communication between the project team and local officials, economic and workforce development organizations, non-governmental organizations, environmental groups, educational institutions, media outlets, faith leaders, and the local community. Project Cypress will actively engage with the Southwest Louisiana community to answer questions, receive feedback, and help guide the direction of the project.

HOW WILL PROJECT CYPRESS IMPACT EXISTING INDUSTRY?

Louisiana has a long history as a global energy leader, and we are not attempting to change that. Direct Air Capture (DAC) is an additional and complementary technology with a specific purpose to remove excess carbon dioxide from the air, and it will not compete with Southwest Louisiana’s existing industry.

We recognize the value of operating in Louisiana and hope to learn from the state’s institutional knowledge and leverage the expertise of its existing workforce to make Calcasieu Parish a global leader in scaling the DAC and CO2 storage industries. The project will create jobs that align with the skillsets of Southwest Louisiana’s existing workforce.

WHO WILL PAY FOR PROJECT CYPRESS?

Proposed funding for the project will be split between a federal investment into the Southwest Louisiana region and private investments from project team members Battelle, Climeworks, and Heirloom. Federal funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which includes $3.5 billion to develop regional Direct Air Capture (DAC) hubs in the U.S. In 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced Project Cypress had been selected for funding negotiations as one of these two hubs. Project negotiations are ongoing.