SEA FUEL Act of 2019

To require the Secretary of Defense to carry out the Direct Air Capture and Blue Carbon Removal Technology Program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Securing Energy for our Armed Forces Using Engineering Leadership Act of 2019 SEA FUEL Act of 2019 2. Direct Air Capture and Blue Carbon Removal Technology Program (a) Program required (1) In general The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Energy, and the heads of such other Federal agencies as the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate, shall carry out a program on research, development, testing, evaluation, study, and demonstration of technologies related to blue carbon capture and direct air capture. (2) Program goals The goals of the program established under paragraph (1) are as follows: (A) To develop technologies that capture carbon dioxide from seawater and the air to turn such carbon dioxide into clean fuels to enhance fuel and energy security. (B) To develop and demonstrate technologies that capture carbon dioxide from seawater and the air to reuse such carbon dioxide to create products for military uses. (C) To develop direct air capture technologies for use— (i) at military installations or facilities of the Department of Defense; or (ii) in modes of transportation by the Navy or the Coast Guard. (3) Phases The program established under paragraph (1) shall be carried out in two phases as follows: (A) The first phase shall consist of research and development and shall be carried out as described in subsection (b). (B) The second phase shall consist of testing and evaluation and shall be carried out as described in subsection (c), if the Secretary determines that the results of the research and development phase justify implementing the testing and evaluation phase. (4) Designation The program established under paragraph (1) shall be known as the Direct Air Capture and Blue Carbon Removal Technology Program Program (b) Research and development phase (1) In general During the research and development phase of the Program, the Secretary of Defense shall conduct research and development in pursuit of the goals set forth in subsection (a)(2). (2) Direct air capture The research and development phase of the Program may include, with respect to direct air capture, a front end engineering and design study that includes an evaluation of direct air capture designs to produce fuel for use— (A) at military installations or facilities of the Department of Defense; or (B) in modes of transportation by the Navy or the Coast Guard. (3) Duration The Secretary shall carry out the research and development phase of the Program during a four-year period commencing not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (4) Grants authorized The Secretary may carry out the research and development phase of the Program through the award of grants to private persons and eligible laboratories. (5) Report required Not later than 180 days after the date of the completion of the research and development phase of the Program, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the research and development carried out under the Program. (6) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the research and development phase of the Program— (A) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; and (B) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023. (c) Testing and evaluation phase (1) In general During the testing and evaluation phase of the Program, the Secretary shall, in pursuit of the goals set forth in subsection (a)(2), conduct tests and evaluations of the technologies researched and developed during the research and development phase of the Program. (2) Direct air capture The testing and evaluation phase of the Program may include demonstration projects for direct air capture to produce fuel for use— (A) at military installations or facilities of the Department of Defense; or (B) in modes of transportation by the Navy or the Coast Guard. (3) Duration Subject to subsection (a)(3)(B), the Secretary shall carry out the testing and evaluation phase of the Program during the three-year period commencing on the date of the completion of the research and development phase described in subsection (b), except that the testing and evaluation phase of the Program with respect to direct air capture may commence at such time after a front end engineering and design study demonstrates to the Secretary that commencement of such phase is appropriate. (4) Grants authorized The Secretary may carry out the testing and evaluation phase of the Program through the award of grants to private persons and eligible laboratories. (5) Locations The Secretary shall carry out the testing and evaluation phase of the Program at military installations or facilities of the Department of Defense. (6) Report required Not later than September 30, 2026, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the findings of the Secretary with respect to the effectiveness of the technologies tested and evaluated under the Program. (7) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the testing and evaluation phase of the Program $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2026. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) Blue carbon capture The term blue carbon capture (2) Direct air capture (A) In general The term direct air capture (B) Exclusion The term direct air capture (i) that is deliberately released from a naturally occurring subsurface spring; or (ii) using natural photosynthesis. (3) Eligible laboratory The term eligible laboratory (A) a National Laboratory (as defined in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( 42 U.S.C. 15801 (B) a laboratory of the Department of Defense.

Summary: Securing Energy for our Armed Forces Using Engineering Leadership Act of 2019 or the SEA FUEL Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of Defense to carry out a program of research, development, testing, evaluation, study, and demonstration of technologies related to blue carbon capture and direct air capture, with the goals of developing technologies to turn carbon dioxide into clean fuels, creating products for military uses, and using the technologies at military facilities and in military transportation. The bill defines "blue carbon capture" as the removal of dissolved carbon dioxide from seawater through engineered or inorganic processes and "direct air capture" as the use of equipment to capture carbon dioxide directly from the air.