Lawmakers consider using carbon dioxide to extract more oil from Michigan wells

By NICK STANEK
Capital News Service
LANSING – Michigan lawmakers are considering a controversial bill that will allow drillers  to use carbon dioxide to extract oil  from outdated wells. It is part of a series of bills to amend laws that regulate the storage and purchase of crude oil and petroleum. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Peter Pettalia, R-Presque Isle, will allow companies to pump carbon dioxide deep into old wells to extract more oil. “If you have a pop bottle and you shake it, it overflows,” said Maggie Datema, the director of legislative affairs at the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. “It’s the same concept.