II
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1679
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 23 (legislative day, May 22), 2019
Mr. Whitehouse (for himself, Mr. Reed, and Mr. Sullivan) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Defense to carry out the Direct Air Capture and Blue Carbon Removal Technology Program, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Securing Energy for our Armed Forces Using Engineering Leadership Act of 2019
or the SEA FUEL Act of 2019
.
Direct Air Capture and Blue Carbon Removal Technology Program
Program required
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.
Program goals
The goals of the program established under paragraph (1) are as follows:
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.
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.
To develop direct air capture technologies for use—
at military installations or facilities of the Department of Defense; or
in modes of transportation by the Navy or the Coast Guard.
Phases
The program established under paragraph (1) shall be carried out in two phases as follows:
The first phase shall consist of research and development and shall be carried out as described in subsection (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.
Designation
The program established under paragraph (1) shall be known as the Direct Air Capture and Blue Carbon Removal Technology Program
(in this section referred to as the Program
).
Research and development phase
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).
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—
at military installations or facilities of the Department of Defense; or
in modes of transportation by the Navy or the Coast Guard.
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.
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.
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.
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the research and development phase of the Program—
$8,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; and
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023.
Testing and evaluation phase
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.
Direct air capture
The testing and evaluation phase of the Program may include demonstration projects for direct air capture to produce fuel for use—
at military installations or facilities of the Department of Defense; or
in modes of transportation by the Navy or the Coast Guard.
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.
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.
Locations
The Secretary shall carry out the testing and evaluation phase of the Program at military installations or facilities of the Department of Defense.
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.
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.
Definitions
In this section:
Blue carbon capture
The term blue carbon capture means the removal of dissolved carbon dioxide from seawater through engineered or inorganic processes, including filters, membranes, or phase change systems.
Direct air capture
In general
The term direct air capture, with respect to a facility, technology, or system, means that the facility, technology, or system uses carbon capture equipment to capture carbon dioxide directly from the air.
Exclusion
The term direct air capture does not include any facility, technology, or system that captures carbon dioxide—
that is deliberately released from a naturally occurring subsurface spring; or
using natural photosynthesis.
Eligible laboratory
The term eligible laboratory means—
a National Laboratory (as defined in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801)); or
a laboratory of the Department of Defense.