New Energy Frontiers Through Carbon Innovation Act of 2020

To establish and support the research, development, and demonstration of advanced carbon capture and utilization technologies at the Department of Energy, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the New Energy Frontiers Through Carbon Innovation Act of 2020 2. Carbon utilization research and development program and infrastructure (a) Section 963 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( 42 U.S.C. 16293 963. Carbon utilization research and development infrastructure (a) In general The Secretary shall carry out a program to conduct basic and fundamental research in materials science, chemistry, subsurface instrumentation, and data analysis to inform the research, development, and demonstration of carbon capture, storage, and utilization technologies and techniques, and to facilitate the translation of basic research results to industry. (b) Coordination In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall leverage expertise and resources and facilitate collaboration and coordination between— (1) the Office of Fossil Energy; and (2) the Office of Science. (c) Carbon utilization energy innovation hub In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall establish and operate a national Carbon Utilization Energy Innovation Hub (referred to in this section as the Hub (1) post-combustion and pre-combustion capture of carbon dioxide; (2) advanced compression technologies for new and existing fossil fuel-fired power plants; (3) technologies to convert carbon dioxide to valuable products and commodities; and (4) advanced carbon dioxide storage technologies that consider a range of storage regimes. (d) Selection The Secretary shall select the Hub under this section on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis. The Secretary shall consider applications from National Laboratories, institutions of higher education, multi-institutional collaborations, and other appropriate entities. (e) Duration The Hub established under this section shall receive support for a period of not more than 5 years, subject to the availability of appropriations. (f) Renewal Upon the expiration of any period of support of the Hub, the Secretary may renew support for the Hub, on a merit-reviewed basis, for a period of not more than 5 years. (g) Termination Consistent with the existing authorities of the Department, the Secretary may terminate the Hub for cause during the performance period. (h) Funding For each of fiscal years 2020 through 2025, out of any amounts appropriated to the Department to carry out fossil energy research and development activities and not otherwise obligated, the Secretary may use to carry out the Hubs under this section not more than $25,000,000. . (b) Section 1(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( 42 U.S.C. 15801 Sec. 963. Carbon Utilization Research and Development Infrastructure. . 3. Natural gas carbon capture research, development, and demonstration program (a) In general Subtitle F of title IX of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( 42 U.S.C. 16291 969. Natural gas carbon capture research, development, and demonstration program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Natural gas The term natural gas (A) natural gas; (B) liquid petroleum gas; (C) synthetic gas derived from petroleum or natural gas liquids; (D) any mixture of natural gas and synthetic gas; or (E) any product derived directly from natural gas, including hydrogen. (2) Qualifying electric generation facility The term qualifying electric generation facility (3) Qualifying technology The term qualifying technology (b) Establishment of research, development, and demonstration program (1) In general The Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall, through a competitive, merit-reviewed process, award grants to eligible entities to conduct research, development, and demonstration of qualifying technologies. (2) Objectives The objectives of the program established under paragraph (1) shall be— (A) to conduct research to accelerate the development of qualifying technologies to reduce the quantity of carbon dioxide emissions released from qualifying electric generation facilities, including— (i) pre- and post-combustion capture technologies; and (ii) technologies to improve the thermodynamics, kinetics, scalability, durability, and flexibility of carbon capture technologies for use during the generation of electricity from natural gas power systems; (B) to expedite and carry out demonstration projects (including pilot projects) for qualifying technologies in partnership with qualifying electric generation facilities in order to demonstrate the technical feasibility and economic potential for commercial deployment of technologies developed pursuant to subparagraph (A); and (C) to identify any barriers to the commercial deployment of any qualifying technologies under development pursuant to research conducted pursuant to subparagraph (A). (3) Eligible entities An entity eligible to receive a grant under this subsection is— (A) a National Laboratory; (B) an institution of higher education; (C) a research facility; (D) a multi-institutional collaboration; or (E) another appropriate entity or combination of any of the entities specified in subparagraphs (A) through (D). (c) Carbon capture facilities demonstration program (1) Establishment As part of the program established under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall establish a demonstration program under which the Secretary shall, through a competitive, merit-reviewed process, enter into cooperative agreements with entities that submit applications pursuant to paragraph (4) for demonstration or pilot projects to construct and operate, by not later than September 30, 2025, up to five facilities to capture carbon dioxide from qualifying electric generation facilities. The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, provide technical assistance to any entity seeking to enter into such a cooperative agreement in obtaining any necessary permits and licenses to demonstrate qualifying technologies. (2) Cooperative agreements The Secretary may enter into a cooperative agreement under this subsection with industry stakeholders, including any such industry stakeholder operating in partnership with National Laboratories, institutions of higher education, multi-institutional collaborations, and other appropriate entities. (3) Goals Each demonstration or pilot project carried out pursuant to the demonstration program under this subsection shall— (A) be designed to further the development of qualifying technologies that may be used by a qualifying electric generation facility; (B) be financed in part by the private sector; (C) if necessary, secure agreements for the offtake of carbon dioxide emissions captured by qualifying technologies during the project; and (D) support energy production in the United States. (4) Request for applications Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall solicit applications for cooperative agreements for projects— (A) to demonstrate qualifying technologies at up to five qualifying electric generation facilities; and (B) to construct and operate three or more facilities to capture carbon dioxide from a qualifying electric generation facility. (5) Review of applications In considering applications submitted under paragraph (4), the Secretary, to the maximum extent practicable, shall— (A) ensure a broad geographic distribution of project sites; (B) ensure that a broad selection of qualifying electric generation facilities are represented; (C) ensure that a broad selection of qualifying technologies are represented; (D) require information and knowledge gained by each participant in the demonstration program to be transferred and shared among all participants in the demonstration program; and (E) leverage existing— (i) public-private partnerships; and (ii) Federal resources. (d) Cost sharing In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall require cost sharing in accordance with section 988. (e) Fee title The Secretary may vest fee title or other property interests acquired under cooperative agreements entered into under subsection (b)(4) in any entity, including the United States. (f) Report Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary solicits applications under subsection (c)(3), and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of jurisdiction of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report that includes— (1) a detailed description of how applications for cooperative agreements under subsection (b) will be solicited and evaluated, including— (A) a list of any activities carried out by the Secretary to solicit or evaluate applications; and (B) a process for ensuring that any projects carried out under a cooperative agreement are designed to result in the development or demonstration of qualifying technologies; (2) (A) in the case of the first report under this subsection, a detailed list of technical milestones for the development and demonstration of each qualifying technology pursued under subsection (b); and (B) in the case of each subsequent report under this subsection, the progress made towards achieving such technical milestones during the period covered by the report; and (3) with respect to the demonstration program established under subsection (c), includes— (A) an estimate of the cost of licensing, permitting, constructing, and operating each carbon capture facility expected to be constructed under that demonstration program; (B) a schedule for the planned construction and operation of each demonstration or pilot project; and (C) an estimate of any financial assistance, compensation, or incentives proposed to be paid by the host State, Indian Tribe, or local government with respect to each facility. (g) Funding For each of fiscal years 2020 through 2025, out of any amounts appropriated to the Department to carry out fossil energy research and development activities and not otherwise obligated, the Secretary may use to carry out this section not more than $50,000,000. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents for the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( Public Law 109–58 Sec. 969. Natural gas carbon capture research, development, and demonstration program. .

Summary: New Energy Frontiers Through Carbon Innovation Act of 2020 This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish and support the research, development, and demonstration of carbon capture, storage, and utilization technologies and techniques. Specifically, DOE must establish and operate a national Carbon Utilization Energy Innovation Hub which must focus on early stage research and development activities, including post-combustion and pre-combustion capture of carbon dioxide; carry out a program to award competitive grants to certain entities for the capture of carbon dioxide produced during the generation of natural gas-generated power; accelerate the development of commercially viable carbon capture technologies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, including to improve the thermodynamics, kinetics, scalability, durability, and flexibility of carbon capture technologies used during the generation of electricity from natural gas power systems; enter into cooperative agreements with certain entities to construct and operate no more than five facilities to capture carbon dioxide from natural gas generating power facilities; and identify any barriers to the commercial development of carbon capture technologies.