Long Beach-based California Resources Corp.’s massive carbon storage project at its Kern County oil field has garnered approval from the Kern County Board of Supervisors.

The board’s unanimous Oct. 21 vote to authorize construction activities moves California Resources and its Carbon Terra Vault carbon management business one step closer to establishing the state’s first major carbon storage facility. The project still needs federal approval, though.

“We are pleased the Board of Supervisors approved the conditional use permit for CTV I,” Francisco Leon, California Resources’ chief executive, said in the company’s announcement. “This is a significant step forward for Kern County and (California Resources) in supporting energy transition in California. We believe that carbon capture technology will lead to the creation of new energy jobs and improve air quality in Kern County.”

The board’s approval came despite concerns from some environmental groups about the potential for carbon dioxide leaks during the capture and storage process.

Located at California Resources’ Elk Hills Field in Kern County, Carbon Terra Vault’s planned storage reservoir would have the capacity to store 46 million metric tons of carbon dioxide – at a rate of more than 1 million metric tons per year. The company says that’s the equivalent of removing of approximately 200,000 passenger automotive vehicles annually.

Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that when emitted into the atmosphere contributes to global warming. Carbon storage or sequestration has been one of the oil industry’s main responses to pressures to curb carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition to being California’s first carbon capture and storage project, the Carbon Terra Vault facility will be the nation’s first to use a depleted oil and gas reservoir for carbon dioxide sequestration.