II 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1432 

To require the Secretary of Energy to conduct a study on the technology, 

potential lifecycle energy savings, and economic impact of recycled carbon 

fiber, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 21, 2015 

Ms. CANTWELL introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 

referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To require the Secretary of Energy to conduct a study on 

the technology, potential lifecycle energy savings, and 

economic impact of recycled carbon fiber, and for other 

purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Carbon Fiber Recy5 cling Act of 2015’’. 

6 SEC. 2. RECYCLED CARBON FIBER STUDY. 

7 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 


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1 (1) current methods for manufacturing carbon 

2 fiber are energy intensive, making carbon fiber cost3 ly for use in mass-produced applications; 

4 (2) it takes approximately one-tenth the energy 

5 to produce recycled carbon fiber as it does to 

6 produce virgin carbon fiber; 

7 (3) using recycled carbon fiber in the manufac8 turing process could result in as great as 40 percent 

9 in cost savings compared to the manufacture of vir10 gin fiber; and 

11 (4) up to 30 percent of carbon fiber manufac12 tured becomes part of the waste stream. 

13 (b) STUDY.—The Secretary of Energy (referred to in 

14 this Act as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall conduct a study on— 

15 (1) the technology of recycled carbon fiber and 

16 production waste carbon fiber; and 

17 (2) the potential lifecycle energy savings and 

18 economic impact of recycled carbon fiber. 

19 (c) FACTORS FOR CONSIDERATION.—In conducting 

20 the study under subsection (b), the Secretary shall con21 sider— 

22 (1) the quantity of recycled carbon fiber or pro23 duction waste carbon fiber that would make the use 

24 of recycled carbon fiber or production waste carbon 

25 fiber economically viable; 


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1 (2) any existing or potential barriers to recy2 cling carbon fiber or using recycled carbon fiber; 

3 (3) any financial incentives that may be nec4 essary for the development of recycled carbon fiber 

5 or production waste carbon fiber; 

6 (4) the potential lifecycle savings in energy 

7 from producing recycled carbon fiber, as compared 

8 to producing new carbon fiber; 

9 (5) the best and highest use for recycled carbon 

10 fiber; 

11 (6) the potential reduction in carbon dioxide 

12 emissions from producing recycled carbon fiber, as 

13 compared to producing new carbon fiber; 

14 (7) any economic benefits gained from using re15 cycled carbon fiber or production waste carbon fiber; 

16 (8) workforce training and skills needed to ad17 dress labor demands in the development of recycled 

18 carbon fiber or production waste carbon fiber; and 

19 (9) how the Department of Energy can leverage 

20 existing efforts in the industry on the use of produc21 tion waste carbon fiber. 

22 (d) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

23 of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 

24 Congress a report describing the results of the study con25 ducted under subsection (b). 


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1 SEC. 3. RECYCLED CARBON FIBER DEMONSTRATION 

2 PROJECT. 

3 The Secretary shall consult with the aviation and 

4 automotive industries and existing programs of the Ad5 vanced Manufacturing Office of the Department of En6 ergy to develop a carbon fiber recycling demonstration 

7 project. 

8 SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

9 There is authorized to be appropriated to the Sec10 retary to carry out this Act $10,000,000, to remain avail11 able until expended. 

Æ 


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