Kern County has signed off an oil company's plan to permanently store greenhouse gas emissions underground in a depleted oil field, marking California's first foray into carbon storage and a potential new role for oil and gas companies.

The Kern County Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 to give the California Resources Corporation (CRC), the state’s largest oil producer, a permit to build the plant, known as Carbon TerraVault 1.

The Kern County Board of Supervisors approved what would be the first large-scale carbon capture facility in California on Monday, overcoming one of the final hurdles for a project that environmental groups oppose over potential air and water impacts.

Kern County officials approve permit for California Resources' carbon capture project, which will permanently store greenhouse gas emissions underground in depleted oil field.