About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

1 1 (June 16, 2021)

handle is hein.crs/govedtb0001 and id is 1 raw text is: C o n gr e s s o n a R e e a c S e r i c 0 June 16, 2021 Funding for Carbon Capture and Carbon Removal at DOE Federally funded research and development (R&D) on carbon capture and carbon removal is supported primarily by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). In the Energy Act of 2020 (Division Z of P.L. 116-260), Congress authorized an expanded scope for DOE carbon capture and carbon removal research programs. The President's budget request for fiscal year 2022 (FY2022) likewise proposed expanding DOE's activities in these areas compared to previous years. This analysis summarizes these proposed changes and provides information on FY2021 and FY2022 appropriations. Background Carbon capture and storage (CCS, sometimes called carbon capture and sequestration) is a process that is envisioned to capture man-made carbon dioxide (C02) at its source and store it underground to prevent its release to the atmosphere. Captured carbon also can be used in products, as opposed to being stored underground, in a process called carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). Carbon dioxide removal (CDR, sometimes called carbon removal or negative emissions technologies) is a suite of technologies and practices that aim to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and store it underground or in living organisms. CDR often involves natural CO2 sinks like forests and croplands, but also can involve technologies like direct air capture (DAC). Further discussion of some of these technologies and historical appropriations for related DOE R&D activities is provided in CRS Report R44902, Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) in the United States. CCS (with or without utilization) and CDR both are viewed as potential options to address climate change, though they address different aspects of the issue. CCS equipment can reduce CO2 emissions from point sources that use fossil fuels (e.g., power plants or other industrial facilities), potentially resulting in carbon neutral facilities if 100% of the emissions are captured. DAC facilities can be located anywhere and can be potentially carbon negative if the DAC process uses non-emitting energy sources. CDR involving living organisms (e.g., based on agricultural soils or forestry practices) is often site-constrained by habitat and related factors. FY202 I Appropriations Among other provisions, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2021 (Division D of P.L. 116-260) provided regular appropriations for FY2021 for ongoing R&D activities within DOE. Most of DOE's CCUS research is funded through its Fossil Energy program. According to tables in the explanatory statement for the appropriations act, Congress provided $228.3 million to CCUS line items for FY2021. (See Table 1.) These appropriations are lower than the FY2021 authorized amounts in other divisions of the law (as discussed in the Energy Act of 2020 Authorizations section below.) The explanatory statement provides at least $72.5 million of DOE's appropriated funds for R&D on CDR (which it referred to as negative emissions technologies) in three DOE programs: * within Fossil Energy, not less than $40.0 million, including not less than $15.0 million for DAC; * within Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, not less than $10.0 million for DAC; and * within Science, not less than $22.5 million, including not less than $7.5 million for DAC. Energy Act of 2020 Authorizations DOE's carbon capture R&D activities date back to at least 1997 and historically centered on two aspects: carbon capture technology for coal-fired power plants and underground geologic storage reservoirs. In recent appropriations reports, Congress recommended that DOE expand its focus to include carbon capture for other sources and some types of CDR. Congress codified these and other objectives for DOE's carbon capture and carbon removal R&D in P.L. 116-260, the first major amendments to DOE's statutory R&D program objectives since 2007. Most authorizations are provided by the Energy Act of 2020. The USE IT Act (enacted as part of Division S of P.L. 116-260) provided additional guidance for DOE carbon utilization R&D. The Energy Act of 2020 provides policy direction for DOE's CCUS R&D activities in Title IV-Carbon Management. Sections 4002, 4003, and 4004 address carbon capture, carbon storage, and carbon utilization, respectively. In part, the law directs DOE to fund carbon capture demonstration projects at varying stages of technology maturity, and to continue funding carbon storage projects. Funded carbon capture projects must apply to different types of facilities, such as natural gas-fired power plants and facilities outside the power sector. The law also directs DOE to fund research to identify novel uses of carbon and CO2. DOE's CCUS R&D activities pursuant to Title IV-Carbon Management are authorized at $1,284.0 million in FY2021; $1,285.3 million in FY2022; $1,131.6 million in FY2023; $1,132.9 million in FY2024; and $1,084.4 million in FY2025 (all values rounded to the nearest tenth). ittps://Crsreports.congress.gt

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most