CLEAR Act

To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to require the Secretary of Energy to create a plan for research, development, and commercialization projects capable of making significant reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions or carbon intensity of qualified fuel production facilities, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Carbon Limiting Emissions At Refineries Act CLEAR Act 2. Carbon emissions and intensity reduction technologies for qualified fuel production facilities (a) Carbon reduction program Section 962 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( 42 U.S.C. 16292 962. Carbon emissions and intensity reduction for qualified fuel production facilities (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of Energy shall transmit to the Congress a plan outlining opportunities for research, development and commercialization projects capable of making significant reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions and/or carbon intensity of qualified fuel production facilities, including a road map for advancing the readiness level of such technologies from laboratory scale to industrial use for the 5-year period beginning on the date of the submission of the plan. (b) Program Not later than 180 days after the Secretary submits the plan under subsection (a) to Congress, the Secretary shall establish a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of carbon emissions and intensity reduction technologies based on such plan to facilitate the development of— (1) promising research projects including but not limited to energy usage reductions, use of advanced catalysts, electrification of heat and steam generation, hydrogen firing, low grade waste heat recovery, membrane separations, and other process improvements that, with appropriate support, could produce commercially-feasible technologies capable of meaningfully lowering the global greenhouse gas emissions or carbon intensity of qualified fuel production facilities; or (2) carbon capture and sequestration technologies for qualified fuel production facilities. (c) Demonstration projects (1) In general In carrying out the program under subsection (b), the Secretary may award funds for commercial-scale demonstration projects for qualified fuel production facilities that test the scale of technology necessary for commercial operation, in accordance with this subsection. (2) Engineering and design studies In carrying out the program under subsection (b), the Secretary may award funds for front-end engineering and design studies in addition to, or in advance of, issuing an award for a demonstration project under this subsection. (3) Application An entity seeking an award to conduct a demonstration project under this subsection shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require. (4) Limitations The Secretary shall only provide an award under this subsection after reviewing each applicant and application for— (A) financial strength; (B) construction schedule; (C) market risk; and (D) contractor history. (5) Requirements An awardee under this subsection shall— (A) utilize technologies that have completed pilot-scale testing or the equivalent, as determined by the Secretary; (B) secure and maintain agreements for technologies designed to reduce carbon intensity of or otherwise lower net greenhouse gas emissions at, qualified fuel production facilities or for the utilization or sequestration of captured carbon dioxide; and (C) upon completion, demonstrate greenhouse gas emissions and/or intensity reduction or carbon capture technologies utilized by a qualified fuel production facility. (6) Cost sharing The Secretary shall require cost sharing under this subsection in accordance with section 988. (d) Applicability No technology, or level of emission reduction, shall be treated as adequately demonstrated for purpose of section 111 of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7411 42 U.S.C. 7479 42 U.S.C. 7501 (e) Qualified fuel production facilities defined The term qualified fuel production facilities (f) Authorization of appropriations For activities under this section, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $200,000,000 annually to carry out its purpose. .

Summary: Carbon Limiting Emissions At Refineries Act or the CLEAR Act This bill requires the Department of Energy to submit a plan to Congress outlining opportunities for research, development, and commercialization projects that are capable of making significant reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions and/or carbon intensity of qualified fuel production facilities.