At The Raices Collaborative (TRC), our mission is clear: to elevate and protect environmental harm. Today, we face a renewed threat—one that could jeopardize the health, safety, and future of countless families across Texas.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reviewing permit requests for carbon waste injection wells—an experimental form of carbon capture and storage (CCS)—to be developed near populated areas, often where Latino and low-income communities reside.
We are sounding the alarm. These projects are not just a technological gamble—they are an environmental injustice.
What Are Carbon Waste Injection Wells?
Carbon waste injection wells are designed to store captured carbon dioxide (CO2) deep underground. While proponents of carbon capture and storage argue that these projects help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the reality is far more complicated. The long-term safety of these wells is still uncertain.
The risk of groundwater contamination, seismic activity, and the possibility of leaks presents a ticking time bomb for nearby residents.
Disproportionate Impact on Vulnerable Communities
In Texas, the proposed sites for these carbon injection wells are often located near Latino and low-income neighborhoods. These communities already face elevated exposure to industrial pollution, lack of access to healthcare, and minimal political representation. Adding yet another environmental burden to these communities is not just negligent—it is unethical.
Environmental justice means ensuring that no group of people, regardless of race, income, or nationality, bears a disproportionate share of environmental hazards. The EPA has a moral and legal obligation to uphold this principle.
Environmental Racism in Plain Sight
This is not the first time frontline communities have been targeted for high-risk environmental projects. From petrochemical plants to toxic waste dumps, a troubling pattern has emerged across the United States: communities of color are more likely to live near sources of pollution and environmental degradation.
The case of carbon waste injection wells in Texas is yet another example of environmental racism—a systemic issue that requires systemic change.
The Illusion of Climate Solutions
While the promise of carbon capture and storage may sound like a win-win for industry and the environment, these projects often act as smokescreens for continued fossil fuel extraction. Instead of investing in clean, renewable energy sources and sustainable infrastructure, policymakers and corporations are backing unproven technologies that carry significant risks.
At TRC, we believe in real climate solutions—solutions that are communitydriven, equitable, and rooted in scientific evidence. Carbon waste injection wells do not meet that standard.
Our Communities Deserve Better
Our families deserve to drink clean water, breathe clean air, and live free from the fear of industrial accidents. Approving these permits without thorough environmental impact assessments and genuine community consultation would be a betrayal of the EPA’s stated mission to protect human health and the environment.
The Raices Collaborative stands with allied organizations, activists, and concerned citizens who are calling for a halt to the fast-tracking of carbon waste injection permits. We demand:
• Comprehensive environmental and health risk assessments
• Transparent and inclusive community consultation processes
• Investment in renewable energy and sustainable job creation
• A clear commitment from the EPA to environmental justice
HOW YOU CAN HELP
We are urging our supporters and allies to take action now. Signing the petition to the EPA is a simple but powerful way to show solidarity and push for meaningful change. You can sign the letter here:
In addition, you can:
• Share this message on social media
• Contact your local representatives
• Join community meetings and environmental advocacy groups
The Time to Act Is Now
Environmental justice is not a buzzword—it’s a necessity. As we face the growing threats of climate change and systemic inequality, we must stand firm in our commitment to protect the most vulnerable among us. The decisions made today by the EPA will have long-lasting impacts on our health, our environment, and our future.
Let’s ensure those decisions are guided by science, equity, and humanity—not corporate interests.
Together, we can build a future where no community is a sacrifice zone.