Marine Carbon Initiative.

Assembly Member Muratsuchi's Marine Carbon Initiative legislation establishes a comprehensive framework for advancing marine-based carbon dioxide removal and sequestration research in California. The bill creates two key entities: a Marine Carbon Council to guide scientific understanding and evaluation of removal methods, and a Marine Carbon Research Program to fund eligible projects through competitive grants.

The seven-member Council, to be appointed by the State Air Resources Board by July 2027, will include experts from industry, academia, federal laboratories, and nonprofit organizations with specialized knowledge in marine carbon removal chemistry, ocean ecosystems, and conservation. The Council must submit recommendations by July 2028 on research priorities across various approaches including ocean alkalinity enhancement, electrochemical engineering, macroalgae cultivation, and coastal ecosystem solutions. Beginning January 2029, the Council will provide biennial reports to the Legislature summarizing research findings and progress.

The Research Program, launching August 2028, will distribute $2 million annually for at least seven years to California-based marine carbon removal and sequestration projects. The State Air Resources Board will administer the program in consultation with the Council and coordinate implementation with relevant agencies including the Coastal Commission, Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Ocean Protection Council. Funded projects must provide public annual updates on their research activities. The initiative maintains the Board's existing authorities regarding carbon capture and storage while creating new pathways specifically for marine-based approaches.