42 U.S.C. § 16292 (THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE)
§ 16292. Carbon capture technology program
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Large-scale pilot project
The term “large-scale pilot project” means a pilot project that—
(A) represents the scale of technology development beyond laboratory development and bench scale testing, but not yet advanced to the point of being tested under real operational conditions at commercial scale;
(B) represents the scale of technology necessary to gain the operational data needed to understand the technical and performance risks of the technology before the application of that technology at commercial scale or in commercial-scale demonstration; and
(C) is large enough—
(i) to validate scaling factors; and
(ii) to demonstrate the interaction between major components so that control philosophies for a new process can be developed and enable the technology to advance from large-scale pilot project application to commercial-scale demonstration or application.
(2) Natural gas
The term “natural gas” means any fuel consisting in whole or in part of—
(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) biomethane.
(3) Natural gas electric generation facility
(A) In general
The term “natural gas electric generation facility” means a facility that generates electric energy using natural gas as the fuel.
(B) Inclusions
The term “natural gas electric generation facility” includes without limitation a new or existing—
(i) simple cycle plant;
(ii) combined cycle plant;
(iii) combined heat and power plant; or
(iv) steam methane reformer that produces hydrogen from natural gas for use in the production of electric energy.
(4) Program
The term “program” means the program established under subsection (b)(1).
(5) Transformational technology
(A) In general
The term “transformational technology” means a technology that represents a significant change in the methods used to convert energy that will enable a step change in performance, efficiency, cost of electricity, and reduction of emissions as compared to the technology in existence on December 27, 2020.
(B) Inclusions
The term “transformational technology” includes a broad range of potential technology improvements, including—
(i) thermodynamic improvements in energy conversion and heat transfer, including—
(I) advanced combustion systems, including oxygen combustion systems and chemical looping; and
(II) the replacement of steam cycles with supercritical carbon dioxide cycles;
(ii) improvements in steam or carbon dioxide turbine technology;
(iii) improvements in carbon capture, utilization, and storage systems technology;
(iv) improvements in small-scale and modular coal-fired technologies with reduced carbon output or carbon capture that can support incremental power generation capacity additions;
(v) fuel cell technologies for low-cost, high-efficiency modular power systems;
(vi) advanced gasification systems;
(vii) thermal cycling technologies; and
(viii) any other technology the Secretary recognizes as transformational technology.
(b) Carbon capture technology program
(1) In general
The Secretary shall establish a carbon capture technology program for the development of transformational technologies that will significantly improve the efficiency, effectiveness, costs, emissions reductions, and environmental performance of coal and natural gas use, including in manufacturing and industrial facilities.
(2) Requirements
The program shall include—
(A) a research and development program;
(B) large-scale pilot projects;
(C) demonstration projects, in accordance with paragraph (4); and
(D) a front-end engineering and design program.
(3) Program goals and objectives
In consultation with the interested entities described in paragraph (6)(C), the Secretary shall develop goals and objectives for the program to be applied to the transformational technologies developed within the program, taking into consideration the following:
(A) Increasing the performance of coal electric generation facilities and natural gas electric generation facilities, including by—
(i) ensuring reliable, low-cost power from new and existing coal electric generation facilities and natural gas electric generation facilities;
(ii) achieving high conversion efficiencies;
(iii) addressing emissions of carbon dioxide and other air pollutants;
(iv) developing small-scale and modular technologies to support incremental capacity additions and load following generation, in addition to large-scale generation technologies;
(v) supporting dispatchable operations for new and existing applications of coal and natural gas generation; and
(vi) accelerating the development of technologies that have transformational energy conversion characteristics.
(B) Using carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration technologies to decrease the carbon dioxide emissions, and the environmental impact from carbon dioxide emissions, from new and existing coal electric generation facilities and natural gas electric generation facilities, including by—
(i) accelerating the development, deployment, and commercialization of technologies to capture and sequester carbon dioxide emissions from new and existing coal electric generation facilities and natural gas electric generation facilities;
(ii) supporting sites for safe geological storage of large volumes of anthropogenic sources of carbon dioxide and the development of the infrastructure needed to support a carbon dioxide utilization and storage industry;
(iii) improving the conversion, utilization, and storage of carbon dioxide produced from fossil fuels and other anthropogenic sources of carbon dioxide;
(iv) lowering greenhouse gas emissions for all fossil fuel production, generation, delivery, and use, to the maximum extent practicable;
(v) developing carbon utilization technologies, products, and methods, including carbon use and reuse for commercial application;
(vi) developing net-negative carbon dioxide emissions technologies; and
(vii) developing technologies for the capture of carbon dioxide produced during the production of hydrogen from natural gas.
(C) Decreasing the non-carbon dioxide relevant environmental impacts of coal and natural gas production, including by—
(i) further reducing non-carbon dioxide air emissions; and
(ii) reducing the use, and managing the discharge, of water in power plant operations.
(D) Accelerating the development of technologies to significantly decrease emissions from manufacturing and industrial facilities, including—
(i) nontraditional fuel manufacturing facilities, including ethanol or other biofuel production plants or hydrogen production plants; and
(ii) energy-intensive manufacturing facilities that produce carbon dioxide as a byproduct of operations.
(E) Entering into cooperative agreements to carry out and expedite demonstration projects (including pilot projects) to demonstrate the technical and commercial viability of technologies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions released from coal electric generation facilities and natural gas electric generation facilities for commercial deployment.
(F) Identifying any barriers to the commercial deployment of any technologies under development for the capture of carbon dioxide produced by coal electric generation facilities and natural gas electric generation facilities.
(4) Demonstration projects
(A) In general
In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall establish a demonstration program under which the Secretary, through a competitive, merit-reviewed process, shall enter into cooperative agreements by not later than September 30, 2025, for demonstration projects to demonstrate the construction and operation of 6 facilities to capture carbon dioxide from coal electric generation facilities, natural gas electric generation facilities, and industrial facilities.
(B) Technical assistance
The Secretary, to the maximum extent practicable, shall provide technical assistance to any eligible entity seeking to enter into a cooperative agreement described in subparagraph (A) for the purpose of obtaining any necessary permits and licenses to demonstrate qualifying technologies.
(C) Eligible entities
The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements under subparagraph (A) with industry stakeholders, including any industry stakeholder operating in partnership with the National Laboratories, institutions of higher education, multiinstitutional collaborations, and other appropriate entities.
(D) Commercial-scale demonstration projects
(i) In general
In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall establish a carbon capture technology commercialization program to demonstrate substantial improvements in the efficiency, effectiveness, cost, and environmental performance of carbon capture technologies for power, industrial, and other commercial applications.
(ii) Requirement
The program established under clause (i) shall include funding for commercial-scale carbon capture technology demonstrations of projects supported by the Department, including projects in addition to the projects described in subparagraph (A), including funding for not more than 2 projects to demonstrate substantial improvements in a particular technology type beyond the first of a kind demonstration and to account for considerations described in subparagraph (G).
(E) Requirement
Of the demonstration projects carried out under subparagraph (A)—
(i) 2 shall be designed to capture carbon dioxide from a natural gas electric generation facility;
(ii) 2 shall be designed to capture carbon dioxide from a coal electric generation facility; and
(iii) 2 shall be designed to capture carbon dioxide from an industrial facility not purposed for electric generation.
(F) Goals
Each demonstration project under the demonstration program under subparagraph (A)—
(i) shall be designed to further the development, deployment, and commercialization of technologies to capture and sequester carbon dioxide emissions from new and existing coal electric generation facilities, natural gas electric generation facilities, and industrial facilities;
(ii) shall be financed in part by the private sector; and
(iii) if necessary, shall secure agreements for the offtake of carbon dioxide emissions captured by qualifying technologies during the project.
(G) Applications
(i) In general
To be eligible to enter into an agreement with the Secretary for a demonstration project under subparagraphs (A) and (D), an entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
(ii) Review of applications
In reviewing applications submitted under clause (i), the Secretary, to the maximum extent practicable, shall—
(I) ensure a broad geographic distribution of project sites;
(II) ensure that a broad selection of electric generation facilities are represented;
(III) ensure that a broad selection of technologies are represented; and
(IV) leverage existing public-private partnerships and Federal resources.
(H) GAO study and report
(i) Study and report
(I) In general
Not later than 1 year after December 27, 2020, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct, and submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the results of, a study of the successes, failures, practices, and improvements of the Department in carrying out demonstration projects under this paragraph.
(II) Considerations
In conducting the study under subclause (I), the Comptroller General of the United States shall consider—
(aa) applicant and contractor qualifications;
(bb) project management practices at the Department;
(cc) economic or market changes and other factors impacting project viability;
(dd) completion of third-party agreements, including power purchase agreements and carbon dioxide offtake agreements;
(ee) regulatory challenges; and
(ff) construction challenges.
(ii) Recommendations
The Secretary shall—
(I) consider any relevant recommendations, as determined by the Secretary, provided in the report required under clause (i)(I); and
(II) adopt such recommendations as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(I) Report
(i) In general
Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary solicits applications under subparagraph (G), 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 a detailed description of how the applications under the demonstration program established under subparagraph (A) were or will be solicited and how the applications were or will be evaluated, including—
(I) a list of any activities carried out by the Secretary to solicit or evaluate the applications; and
(II) a process for ensuring that any projects carried out under a cooperative agreement entered into under subparagraph (A) are designed to result in the development or demonstration of qualifying technologies.
(ii) Inclusions
The Secretary shall include—
(I) in the first report required under clause (i), a detailed list of technical milestones for the development and demonstration of each qualifying technology pursued under the demonstration program established under subparagraph (A);
(II) in each subsequent report required under clause (i), a description of the progress made towards achieving the technical milestones described in subclause (I) during the applicable period covered by the report; and
(III) in each report required under clause (i)—
(aa) an estimate of the cost of licensing, permitting, constructing, and operating each carbon capture facility expected to be constructed under the demonstration program established under subparagraph (A);
(bb) a schedule for the planned construction and operation of each demonstration or pilot project under the demonstration program; and
(cc) 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 described in item (aa).
(5) Intraagency coordination for carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration activities
The carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration activities described in paragraph (3)(B) shall be carried out by the Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy, in coordination with the heads of other relevant offices of the Department and the National Laboratories.
(6) Consultations required
In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall—
(A) undertake international collaborations, taking into consideration the recommendations of the National Coal Council and the National Petroleum Council;
(B) use existing authorities to encourage international cooperation; and
(C) consult with interested entities, including—
(i) coal and natural gas producers;
(ii) industries that use coal and natural gas;
(iii) organizations that promote coal, advanced coal, and natural gas technologies;
(iv) environmental organizations;
(v) organizations representing workers; and
(vi) organizations representing consumers.
(c) Report
(1) In general
Not later than 18 months after December 27, 2020, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing the program goals and objectives adopted under subsection (b)(3).
(2) Update
Not less frequently than once every 2 years after the initial report is submitted under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing the progress made towards achieving the program goals and objectives adopted under subsection (b)(3).
(d) Funding
(1) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section, to remain available until expended—
(A) for activities under the research and development program component described in subsection (b)(2)(A)—
(i) $230,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 and 2022; and
(ii) $150,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2025;
(B) subject to paragraph (2), for activities under the large-scale pilot projects program component described in subsection (b)(2)(B)—
(i) $225,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 and 2022;
(ii) $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 and 2024; and
(iii) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
(C) for activities under the demonstration projects program component described in subsection (b)(2)(C)—
(i) $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 though 2024; and
(ii) $600,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; and
(D) for activities under the front-end engineering and design program described in subsection (b)(2)(D), $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2024.
(2) Cost sharing for large-scale pilot projects
Activities under subsection (b)(2)(B) shall be subject to the cost-sharing requirements of section 16352(b) of this title.
(e) Carbon capture test centers
(1) In general
Not later than 2 years after December 27, 2020, the Secretary shall award grants to 1 or more entities for the operation of 1 or more test centers (referred to in this subsection as a “Center”) to provide distinct testing capabilities for innovative carbon capture technologies.
(2) Purpose
Each Center shall—
(A) advance research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of carbon capture technologies;
(B) support large-scale pilot projects and demonstration projects and test carbon capture technologies; and
(C) develop front-end engineering design and economic analysis.
(3) Selection
(A) In general
The Secretary shall select entities to receive grants under this subsection according to such criteria as the Secretary may develop.
(B) Competitive basis
The Secretary shall select entities to receive grants under this subsection on a competitive basis.
(C) Priority criteria
In selecting entities to receive grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall prioritize consideration of applicants that—
(i) have access to existing or planned research facilities for carbon capture technologies;
(ii) are institutions of higher education with established expertise in engineering for carbon capture technologies, or partnerships with such institutions of higher education; or
(iii) have access to existing research and test facilities for bulk materials design and testing, component design and testing, or professional engineering design.
(D) Existing centers
In selecting entities to receive grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall prioritize carbon capture test centers in existence on December 27, 2020.
(4) Formula for awarding grants
The Secretary may develop a formula for awarding grants under this subsection.
(5) Schedule
(A) In general
Each grant awarded under this subsection shall be for a term of not more than 5 years, subject to the availability of appropriations.
(B) Renewal
The Secretary may renew a grant for 1 or more additional 5-year terms, subject to a competitive merit review and the availability of appropriations.
(6) Termination
To the extent otherwise authorized by law, the Secretary may eliminate, and terminate grant funding under this subsection for, a Center during any 5-year term described in paragraph (5) if the Secretary determines that the Center is underperforming.
(7) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.
(Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 962, as added Pub. L. 116–260, div. Z, title IV, § 4002(a), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2528.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: Prior Provisions
text: A prior section 16292, Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 962, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 890, related to coal and related technologies program, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 116–260, div. Z, title IV, § 4002(a), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2528.