Legislation seeks to develop carbon removal technology

A bill introduced in Congress this week looks to advance the research and development of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technology.

The Carbon Removal, Efficient Agencies, Technology Expertise (CREATE) Act seeks to do this by directing federal agencies to include CDR development as part of their annual budget requests.

CDR technology removes existing CO2 from the atmosphere, which will help prevent climate change and mitigate its impacts.

“Climate change is an existential threat to our national security, our society, and the future of our planet,” Rep. Annie Kuster (D-NH), one of the bill’s sponsors, said. “In order to prevent the worst effects, we must dramatically reduce the carbon in our atmosphere. Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technology has the potential to help achieve this goal, and the government should vigorously pursue it. I am excited to advance this legislation as part of my larger clean energy agenda to curb climate change and help us transition to a clean energy economy.”

The bipartisan legislation was also sponsored by David McKinley (R-WV), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), Scott Peters (D-CA), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ), David Schweikert (R-AZ), and Diana DeGette (D-CO).

“Congress must do more to encourage innovation to develop the next generation of clean energy technologies, like carbon capture, direct air capture, and negative emissions technologies,” McKinley said. “Our bipartisan bill will support coordination across the federal government as we look to use our energy resources in the cleanest way possible and remove carbon from the atmosphere.”

Carbon removal and limiting greenhouse gas emissions are a crucial part of achieving net-zero emissions goals.

“The fires, floods, and hurricanes that are raging across our nation make clear that climate change is not a future problem, but an urgent threat that is devastating our infrastructure, economy, and the lives of millions of Americans,” Tonko said. “We need to use every tool possible to rise to this challenge, and carbon dioxide removal must be part of this comprehensive approach. The CREATE Act delivers that needed federal coordination in research and development of technologies and techniques that can reduce and remove carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere.”