In this edition of Plan Sea, hosts Anna Madlener and Wil Burns sit down with Kyla Westphal and Mallory Ringham from Ebb Carbon to discuss Project Macoma — the company’s pilot ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) study being conducted in Port Angeles, Washington this summer. A first-of-its-kind endeavor, Project Macoma aims to remove up to 1,000 tonnes of  CO2 from the atmosphere using Ebb Carbon’s electrochemical OAE technology. Kyla and Mallory join to share more about their journey engaging the local community on this proposed research, securing a permit from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and establishing Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) standards as this work gets underway. 

Project Macoma continues the work of the late Dr. Matthew Eisaman, Co-Founder of Ebb Carbon and a pivotal figure in the ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (oCDR) field. Matt dedicated his life to fostering a clear understanding of the scientific path forward for potential oCDR solutions, while also creating an inclusive and environmentally-responsible sector. For more background into Ebb Carbon and a deep dive into their approach, listen to our episode with Matt HERE. 

Kyla Westphal, Vice President of External Affairs at Ebb Carbon, joins Anna and Will to discuss her role developing safe and responsible deployment of OAE. Building on her experience working in what she calls “the intersection between technology and humanity,” Kyla oversees both the stakeholder engagement and ecological safety aspects of Ebb Carbon’s work. She shares how Project Macoma is building on years of foundational environmental research and engagement with Washington state regulators, community groups, and tribal governments to earn local buy-in and support. 

Mallory Ringham, Lead Oceanographer and Head of MRV, then discusses how Ebb Carbon secured the first-ever National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) approval for oCDR under the Clean Water Act. She shares how the permit requires a slow, careful, and continuously monitored operation to ensure water quality standards are met within prescribed mixing zones. Mallory also discusses how Ebb’s foundational research created a strong understanding of the seasonal and tidal variability in the region, allowing for more accurate monitoring and analysis of the project. This summer, Mallory will continue to oversee the monitoring process to ensure the project is operating safely, responsibly, and effectively.

Plan Sea is a semi-weekly podcast exploring ocean-based climate solutions, brought to you by the Carbon to Sea Initiative & the American University Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal.

ACRONYMS / CONCEPTS:

• MRV (1:05); Monitoring, Reporting and Verification
• NPDES (14:56); National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
• MCDR; Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal  (21:58)

Plan Sea is a semi-weekly podcast exploring ocean-based climate solutions, brought to you by the Carbon to Sea Initiative & the American University Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal.