S. 4420Senate117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

CREST Act of 2022

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Updated February 8, 2026 at 4:10 PM UTC

The CREST Act (Carbon Removal and Emissions Storage Technologies Act) directs the Department of Energy to boost research, development, and commercialization of a wide range of carbon‑removal methods—including biomass, geological mineralization, ocean‑based removal, and direct‑air‑capture—and to set up a program that purchases verified carbon‑removal services. It also creates a federal effort to measure and report the net carbon removed by these technologies.

Key Provisions

Defines “carbon removal” and the various approaches such as direct air capture, soil sequestration, biomass, mineralization, ocean removal, and afforestation.
Mandates research programs for algal and other biomass carbon removal, including coordination with existing DOE offices.
Establishes pilot projects and national assessments for carbon mineralization in rocks, mine tailings, and industrial waste, with specific funding authorizations through 2027.
Creates an ocean carbon removal mission, a direct‑ocean‑capture assessment, and an offshore carbon‑storage assessment program, each with dedicated funding.
Launches a direct‑air‑capture manufacturing research program to improve component design, scaling, and cost‑effective production.
Adds a carbon‑removal quantification program that funds universities, labs, and industry to assess technical, economic, and environmental impacts of removal pathways.
Sets up a carbon‑removal purchasing pilot program that uses reverse auctions, two permanence tiers (100‑1,000 years and 1,000+ years), cost caps, and funding to buy verified carbon‑removal services from eligible U.S. entities.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

SenateCommittee Latest Action

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 117-523.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

December 1, 2022

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

June 16, 2022

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3004-3005)

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

June 16, 2022

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 117-523.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

December 1, 2022

Floor Debate

3 members

What members said about S. 4420 on the floor

1 Republican2 Democrats

Sen. Susan M. CollinsR-ME · Jun 16, 2022

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Carbon Removal and Emissions Storage Technologies Act, the CREST Act. I am pleased to be partnering with Senator Cantwell on this bill. Our bipartisan…

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Carbon Removal and Emissions Storage Technologies Act, the CREST Act. I am pleased to be partnering with Senator Cantwell on this bill. Our bipartisan bill would direct the Department of Energy to research and evaluate the feasibility of innovative carbon removal and storage pathways. The name the CREST Act alludes to the fact that we have reached the ``crest'' of our emissions and we must work to bring them down.

With more and more private and public sector commitments to reach net-zero emissions within certain timeframes, companies are scrambling to invest in quantifiable, durable, and verifiable carbon removal solutions. Microsoft, for example, has made a commitment to be carbon negative by 2030. Even though Microsoft plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by more than half, it will need to remove the rest of its carbon emissions. In order to do this, Microsoft plans to invest $1 billion in carbon removal technologies, such as direct air capture, forestation, and carbon mineralization.

Despite the growing number of companies that are looking to offset their emissions, current cost estimates show that private sector investment alone will not be sufficient to research and deploy carbon removal pathways. I strongly supported the Energy Act of 2020, which authorized the first comprehensive Federal carbon removal research and development program, and the bipartisan infrastructure, which invested $3.6 billion in direct air capture. Although these investments have been significant, more work is needed in further research, increased testing, and enhanced public-private partnerships to help aid in scaling carbon removal technologies.

The CREST Act would expand the Department of Energy's carbon removal research and development programs to include carbon removal pathways that can permanently sequester carbon dioxide or use carbon dioxide to produce biofuels or products. The key areas of focus for research and development in our legislation are biomass carbon removal and storage, geological removal, atmospheric and aquatic removal, carbon dioxide storage, and carbon dioxide removal quantification.

Our legislation also aims to accelerate the commercialization of innovative carbon solutions through a pilot program at the Department of Energy. This pilot program would be charged with accelerating the deployment of affordable and proven carbon removal technologies. This reverse-auction style pilot program would position the government to purchase innovative and promising technologies, subject to certain criteria, and reduce the costs of those technologies. This would allow companies that may not have as much purchasing power as Microsoft to participate in carbon removal to help offset emissions.

This pilot program would also support companies that are leading the way in carbon removal technology, like Running Tide in Maine, in bringing down the cost of its product. Running Tide captures carbon dioxide using kelp microforests, sun, ocean currents, and gravity. This new and exciting company grows floating kelp microforest attached to biodegradable buoys that sink as they break down. The carbon captured through the floating microforest is effectively removed for hundreds of years once it hits the ocean floor. Running Tide hopes to soon be selling ``kelp carbon credits'' to help offset private entities' emissions. They are currently working to commercialize quickly. These innovative solutions are the kinds that our new pilot program would seek to encourage.

Mr. President, climate change is a significant environmental challenge that requires innovative and global solutions to reduce greenhouse gas pollution. While carbon removal and storage is only a small part of the solution, it is critical that we expand our country's work in this area. Our bipartisan bill has earned endorsements from Bipartisan Policy Center Action, ClearPath Action, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions, and many others. I urge my colleagues to join Senator Cantwell and me in supporting this legislation.

Sen. Susan M. CollinsR-ME · Jun 16, 2022

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Carbon Removal and Emissions Storage Technologies Act, the CREST Act. I am pleased to be partnering with Senator Cantwell on this bill. Our bipartisan…

Sen. Alex PadillaD-CA · Jun 16, 2022

Mr. President, I rise to introduce the bipartisan Recreation and Public Purposes Tribal Parity Act to correct a long- standing and unjust oversight that prevents Tribal governments from having the…

Mr. President, I rise to introduce the bipartisan Recreation and Public Purposes Tribal Parity Act to correct a long- standing and unjust oversight that prevents Tribal governments from having the same opportunities as State and local governments do to buy and lease public lands for recreational purposes.

Current law allows the Bureau of Land Management to lease or sell certain public lands to State and local governments or qualifying nonprofits if those lands will be used for explicit public and recreational purposes. These lands are used for a variety of public and recreational purposes, like historic monument sites, schools, firehouses, law enforcement facilities, courthouses, health facilities, hospitals, and parks. However, the law does not allow the BLM to sell or lease these lands to Tribal governments.

Our bill would allow Tribal governments to participate in the program in the same way that State and local governments do. Doing so would help ensure Tribal nations enjoy the same opportunities for land acquisition as State and local governments and nonprofit organizations do.

Tribal governments were not considered when the Recreation and Public Purposes Act became law in 1926. The omission leaves Tribes without the same opportunities as other governments to use public lands for these beneficial purposes. This disadvantage is clear, as the sale and lease of public lands is often at a discount compared to fair market value. This issue is part of the greater need to correct longstanding barriers that undermine the sovereignty of Tribal governments and our efforts to right historic wrongs.

The Federal Government owns about 640 million acres of land, about 28% of the total land in the United States. Public lands potentially available for disposal by the Bureau of Land Management alone are located across at least 18 States. The exclusion of Indian Tribes from qualifying for acquisition of these lands is not based on any clear policy rationale.

As our Nation works to strengthen Tribal sovereignty and self- determination, it is important that we ensure our laws treat Tribal governments in equal regard as State and local governments and ensure they have the opportunity for positive and productive land use activity.

I thank Senator Feinstein for introducing this legislation with me in the Senate, and Congressman LaMalfa for championing this effort in the House of Representatives. I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact this commonsense bill as quickly as possible.

Sen. Richard J. DurbinD-IL · Jun 16, 2022

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued June 16, 2022

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4420

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 16, 2022

Ms. Collins (for herself and Ms. Cantwell) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

To provide for advancements in carbon removal research, quantification, and commercialization, including by harnessing natural processes, and for other purposes.

Short title; table of contents

(a)

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Carbon Removal and Emissions Storage Technologies Act of 2022 or the CREST Act of 2022.

(b)

Table of contents

The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Sec. 2. Definitions.

TITLE I—Carbon removal research and development

Subtitle A—Biomass carbon removal

Sec. 101. Biomass carbon removal programs.

Sec. 102. Biological carbon dioxide conversion programs.

Subtitle B—Geological carbon removal

Sec. 111. Carbon mineralization pilot projects.

Sec. 112. Carbon mineralization resource assessment.

Sec. 113. Tailings and waste mineralization program.

Subtitle C—Aquatic carbon removal

Sec. 121. Ocean carbon removal mission.

Sec. 122. Direct ocean capture assessment.

Sec. 123. Offshore carbon storage program and assessment.

Subtitle D—Atmospheric carbon removal

Sec. 131. Direct air capture technology manufacturing research program.

Subtitle E—Carbon removal quantification

Sec. 141. Carbon removal quantification.

TITLE II—Carbon removal purchasing pilot program

Sec. 201. Carbon removal purchasing pilot program.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Carbon removal

The term carbon removal means the intentional removal, including by harnessing natural processes, of carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere or upper hydrosphere and subsequent storage of the carbon dioxide in geological, biobased, or ocean reservoirs or in value-added products that results in a net removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, as measured on a lifecycle basis.

(2)

Carbon removal technology or approach

The term carbon removal technology or approach includes—

(A)

direct air capture with durable storage;

(B)

soil carbon sequestration;

(C)

biomass carbon removal and storage;

(D)

enhanced mineralization;

(E)

ocean-based carbon dioxide removal; and

(F)

afforestation or reforestation.

(3)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy.

Carbon removal research and development

Biomass carbon removal

101.

Biomass carbon removal programs

(a)

Office of science

Section 306 of the Department of Energy Research and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 18644) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(e)

Algal biomass carbon removal

(1)

In general

The Director shall carry out a research and development program to gain understanding of the underlying biology of algal biomass systems and the possible use of algal biomass systems as a means of carbon removal (as defined in section 2 of the Carbon Removal and Emissions Storage Technologies Act of 2022) from the air and aquatic sources.

(2)

Requirements

The program carried out under paragraph (1) shall—

(A)

support efforts to reduce long-term technical barriers for algal biomass with carbon capture; and

(B)

coordinate closely with the Bioenergy Technologies Office and the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management.

(b)

Office of energy efficiency and renewable energy

Section 932 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16232) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (b)—

(A)

in paragraph (5), by striking and after the semicolon;

(B)

in paragraph (6), by striking the period and inserting ; and; and

(C)

by adding at the end the following:

(7)

biological carbon removal (as defined in section 2 of the Carbon Removal and Emissions Storage Technologies Act of 2022).

; and

(2)

by inserting after subsection (e) the following:

(f)

Biological carbon removal

(1)

Definition of carbon removal

In this subsection, the term carbon removal has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Carbon Removal and Emissions Storage Technologies Act of 2022.

(2)

Goals

The goals of the biological carbon removal program under subsection (b)(7) shall be to develop and deploy, in partnership with industry and institutions of higher education—

(A)

improved tools and understanding of feedstocks, supplies, and logistics with respect to carbon removal using biomass sources;

(B)

technologies for the optimized conversion of aquatic and terrestrial biomass for carbon removal;

(C)

cost-competitive carbon capture technologies applied to bioenergy, including—

(i)

algal, terrestrial, and marine biomass;

(ii)

biofuels; and

(iii)

bioproducts; and

(D)

applied research on best practices in macroalgae cultivation and phenotype selection, including by carrying out aquatic pilot projects.

(3)

Coordination

Activities conducted under this subsection shall be coordinated with the relevant programs of the Office of Science, the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, and the Department of Agriculture.

(c)

Office of fossil energy and carbon management

Section 962(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16292(b)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (1), by striking performance of and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting the following: “performance of—

(A)

coal and natural gas use;

(B)

biomass with carbon capture for utilization or permanent storage; and

(C)

manufacturing and industrial facilities.

; and

(2)

in paragraph (3)—

(A)

in subparagraph (A)—

(i)

in clause (v), by striking and after the semicolon;

(ii)

in clause (vi), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(iii)

by adding at the end the following:

(vii)

developing advanced boilers to enable net-negative lifecycle carbon emissions through co-firing with biomass.

; and

(B)

by adding at the end the following:

(G)

Developing carbon capture technologies applied to bioenergy systems that result in net-negative lifecycle carbon emissions, including—

(i)

biofuels production;

(ii)

bioproducts;

(iii)

biomass used in power systems and industrial applications; and

(iv)

fossil fuel power systems and industrial systems co-fired with biomass.

(d)

Office of energy efficiency and renewable energy

(1)

In general

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17001 et seq.) is amended by striking section 228 (121 Stat. 1535) and inserting the following:

228.

Aquatic biomass

(a)

In general

The Director of the Bioenergy Technologies Office shall carry out applied research on—

(1)

microalgae and macroalgae cultivation and phenotype selection; and

(2)

optimization of aquatic biomass conversion pathways.

(b)

Requirements

The research carried out under subsection (a) shall support efforts—

(1)

to develop best practices in microalgae and macroalgae cultivation and phenotype selection, including by carrying out aquatic pilot projects—

(A)

on microalgae and macroalgae; and

(B)

in freshwater and seawater; and

(2)

to optimize aquatic biomass conversion pathways that result in carbon removal (as defined in section 2 of the Carbon Removal and Emissions Storage Technologies Act of 2022) for biopower, biofuels, and other uses.

(c)

Funding

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section—

(1)

$3,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(2)

$8,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; and

(3)

$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2027.

(2)

Clerical amendment

The table of contents for the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (Public Law 110–140; 121 Stat. 1493) is amended by striking the item relating to section 228 and inserting the following:

Sec. 228. Aquatic biomass..

102.

Biological carbon dioxide conversion programs

(a)

In general

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 is amended by inserting after section 977 (42 U.S.C. 16317) the following:

977A.

Biological carbon dioxide conversion programs

(a)

Genetic modeling and tools; bioprospecting

(1)

In general

The Director of the Office of Science shall establish a program to improve genetic modeling and manipulation for carbon dioxide conversion.

(2)

Methodology

The program established under paragraph (1) shall—

(A)

support efforts to improve carbon dioxide uptake and conversion through genetic manipulation of crops and trees, including—

(i)

soil enhancements;

(ii)

enhanced photosynthesis, including microbial soil amendments and perennialization; and

(iii)

root growth; and

(B)

support efforts to bioprospect using tools and high-throughput screening methods for organisms with unique attributes related to carbon dioxide conversion.

(3)

Coordination

In carrying out the program established under paragraph (1), the Director of the Office of Science shall coordinate with the National Science Foundation and the Agricultural Research Service.

(b)

New materials development and application

(1)

Definition of carbon removal

In this subsection, the term carbon removal has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Carbon Removal and Emissions Storage Technologies Act of 2022.

(2)

Program

The Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall establish a program to develop new biologically based carbon dioxide utilization products and coproducts that result in carbon removal.

(3)

Methodology

The program established under paragraph (2) shall—

(A)

support efforts to develop new carbon dioxide utilization products that result in carbon removal;

(B)

prioritize products that have the potential to be deployed at a large scale; and

(C)

support efforts to develop valorization of coproducts for—

(i)

feed;

(ii)

fuel; and

(iii)

other uses.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of contents for the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–58; 119 Stat. 600) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 977 the following:

Sec. 977A. Biological carbon dioxide conversion programs.

Geological carbon removal

111.

Carbon mineralization pilot projects

(a)

In general

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 is amended by inserting after section 963 (42 U.S.C. 16293) the following:

963A.

Carbon mineralization pilot projects

(a)

In general

The Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Director of the United States Geological Survey, shall conduct field experiments of ex situ and in situ carbon mineralization approaches for the purposes of advancing carbon removal technologies or approaches (as defined in section 2 of the Carbon Removal and Emissions Storage Technologies Act of 2022).

(b)

Activities

In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

(1)

conduct field experiments of ex situ carbon mineralization—

(A)

using desalination brine treatment; and

(B)

through the broadcast of reactive minerals on—

(i)

soils;

(ii)

beaches; and

(iii)

shallow oceans; and

(2)

conduct field experiments of in situ carbon mineralization, including through drilling and injection in reactive formations for—

(A)

mantle peridotite;

(B)

basalt; and

(C)

other relevant formations.

(c)

Field experiment goals and objectives

The Secretary shall develop goals and objectives for field experiments carried out under this section to decrease the energy requirements and costs to produce the resulting mineralized carbon.

(d)

Environmental impact

In carrying out field experiments under this section, the Secretary shall comply with all applicable environmental laws and regulations.

(e)

Funding

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section—

(1)

$4,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(2)

$9,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;

(3)

$18,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; and

(4)

$30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of contents for the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–58; 119 Stat. 600) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 963 the following:

Sec. 963A. Carbon mineralization pilot projects.

112.

Carbon mineralization resource assessment

(a)

In general

The Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this section as the Secretary) shall complete a national assessment of the potential for using carbon mineralization for carbon removal, in accordance with the methodology developed under subsection (b).

(b)

Methodology

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Director of the United States Geological Survey, shall develop a methodology to assess geological resources, mine tailings, and other alkaline industrial wastes to identify sustainable sources of reactive minerals suitable for carbon mineralization, while taking into consideration minerals and mineral classes with high reactivity and fast kinetics.

(c)

Coordination

(1)

Federal coordination

To ensure the maximum usefulness and success of the assessment under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

(A)

consult with the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency on the format and content of the assessment; and

(B)

share relevant data with the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.

(2)

State coordination

The Secretary shall consult with State geological surveys and other relevant entities to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, the usefulness and success of the assessment under subsection (a).

(d)

Report

(1)

In general

Not later than 180 days after the date on which the assessment under subsection (a) is completed, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report describing the findings under the assessment, including the locations and available quantities of suitable reactive minerals.

(2)

Public availability

Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary submits the report under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall make the report publicly available.

113.

Tailings and waste mineralization program

(a)

Tailings and waste mineralization program

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall conduct field experiments to examine the use of mine tailings and industrial wastes for the purpose of carbon mineralization.

(2)

Activities

The field experiments using mine tailings and industrial wastes conducted under paragraph (1) shall assess—

(A)

the reusing of industrial slags and mine tailings in manufacturing; and

(B)

other industrial wastes that may have carbon mineralization properties.

(b)

Study on environmental impacts of mineralization products

(1)

In general

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct, and submit to Congress a report that describes the results of, a study on the environmental impacts of—

(A)

broadcasting materials and distributing piles of mine tailings at various scales for the purposes of enhanced carbon mineralization; and

(B)

additional mining for the purposes of carbon mineralization.

(2)

Requirements

The study under paragraph (1) shall include an analysis of—

(A)

the relative carbon removal potential associated with various scales of carbon mineralization;

(B)

the cost of environmental mitigation of the environmental impacts identified under the study; and

(C)

opportunities—

(i)

for remediation;

(ii)

to co-extract reactive minerals with conventional mining operations; and

(iii)

for the use of reactive minerals in mining remediation.

Aquatic carbon removal

121.

Ocean carbon removal mission

Section 969D of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16298d) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a) by inserting and aquatic sources after atmosphere; and

(2)

in subsection (c)—

(A)

in paragraph (5), by striking and after the semicolon;

(B)

in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and

(C)

by adding at the end the following:

(7)

ocean carbon removal and strategies, such as—

(A)

blue carbon, which is the management of vegetated coastal habitats (including mangroves, tidal marshes, seagrasses, kelp forests, and other tidal, freshwater, or saltwater wetlands) that sequester carbon (including autochthonous carbon and allochthonous carbon) from the atmosphere, accumulate carbon in biomass, and store the carbon in soils;

(B)

direct ocean capture (as described in section 122(a) of the Carbon Removal and Emissions Storage Technologies Act of 2022);

(C)

microalgae and macroalgae cultivation for—

(i)

biofuels;

(ii)

bioproducts; and

(iii)

carbon storage; and

(D)

ocean alkalinity enhancement; and

(8)

any combination of activities described in paragraphs (1) through (7) that have the potential for significant carbon removal (as defined in section 2 of the Carbon Removal and Emissions Storage Technologies Act of 2022).

122.

Direct ocean capture assessment

(a)

In general

The Secretary shall conduct a comprehensive assessment of the potential for removing carbon dioxide directly from the oceans.

(b)

Methodology

In conducting the assessment under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider the potential and relative merits of—

(1)

pathways, methods, and technologies that are able to directly remove carbon dioxide from the oceans through engineered or inorganic processes; and

(2)

technologies such as filters, membranes, phase change systems, chemical conversion, or other technological pathways.

(c)

Inclusion

In conducting the assessment under subsection (a), the Secretary shall incorporate any information on the results of activities conducted under section 223 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (10 U.S.C. 4001 note; Public Law 116–92).

(d)

Report

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall submit to the Committees on Energy and Natural Resources and Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report describing the results of the assessment under subsection (a).

(e)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section—

(1)

$2,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(2)

$4,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; and

(3)

$8,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2027.

123.

Offshore carbon storage program and assessment

(a)

Carbon dioxide impacts and fate in the ocean

(1)

In general

The Department of Energy Carbon Capture and Sequestration Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 2007 (Public Law 110–140; 121 Stat. 1704) is amended by adding at the end the following:

709.

Carbon dioxide impacts and fate in the ocean

(a)

In general

The Secretary shall establish a program to monitor, research, and model the ecological impacts of ocean carbon dioxide removal and storage techniques.

(b)

Coordination

In carrying out the program established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall coordinate with the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

(c)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section—

(1)

$2,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; and

(2)

$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2027.

(2)

Clerical amendment

The table of contents for the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (Public Law 110–140; 121 Stat. 1496) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 708 the following:

Sec. 709. Carbon dioxide impacts and fate in the ocean.

(b)

Outer continental shelf resource assessment

(1)

In general

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall—

(A)

expand the CarbonSAFE Initiative of the Department of Energy to complete a national carbon mineralization assessment that examines the full range of carbon mineralization storage potential for the outer Continental Shelf region; and

(B)

submit to the Committees on Energy and Natural Resources and Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report describing the results of the assessment.

(2)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this subsection $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.

(c)

Assessment To determine the potential for offshore carbon storage

(1)

In general

The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall conduct a comprehensive assessment of the potential for offshore carbon storage, including an assessment of—

(A)

the potential for offshore carbon storage—

(i)

in deep offshore sub-seabed locations, such as in geological formations;

(ii)

at the seabed, such as through biomass sinking; and

(iii)

within the oceans, such as liquid carbon dioxide storage; and

(B)

other relevant methods of offshore carbon storage.

(2)

Inclusion

The assessment under paragraph (1) shall include recommendations of measures that the Department of Energy may take to improve the ease, safety, and security of offshore carbon dioxide storage.

(3)

Reporting

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Energy and Natural Resources and Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report describing the results of the assessment under paragraph (1).

Atmospheric carbon removal

131.

Direct air capture technology manufacturing research program

(a)

Initiative

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall establish a program for the research, development, and demonstration of manufacturing techniques for direct air capture technologies (referred to in this section as the program).

(2)

Coordination

In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall leverage expertise and resources from—

(A)

the Office of Science;

(B)

the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; and

(C)

the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management.

(b)

Contactor design

(1)

In general

In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall conduct research on applied technology development of air contactor design.

(2)

Requirements

The research under paragraph (1) shall support efforts to improve air contactors with—

(A)

low pressure drop;

(B)

high surface area; and

(C)

high longevity.

(c)

Manufacturing improvement

(1)

In general

In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall conduct research scaling-up manufacturing of direct air capture components.

(2)

Requirements

The research under paragraph (1) shall—

(A)

support efforts to improve techniques for low-cost manufacturing of direct air capture components and materials; and

(B)

be coordinated with private industry and universities.

(d)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary—

(1)

to carry out subsection (b)—

(A)

$3,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(B)

$7,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; and

(C)

$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2027; and

(2)

to carry out subsection (c)—

(A)

$2,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(B)

$5,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; and

(C)

$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2027.

Carbon removal quantification

141.

Carbon removal quantification

(a)

In general

Title V of the Energy Act of 2020 (42 U.S.C. 16298e et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

5003.

Quantifying the benefits of carbon removal

(a)

Purposes

The purposes of this section are—

(1)

to quantify the net carbon removed through atmospheric and aquatic carbon removal pathways;

(2)

to determine the current and projected carbon removal capacity of atmospheric and aquatic carbon removal pathways;

(3)

to determine the current and likely future technical readiness of carbon removal technologies or approaches for large-scale carbon removal deployment; and

(4)

to aid in the commercialization of carbon removal technologies or approaches.

(b)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Carbon removal; carbon removal technology or approach

The terms carbon removal and carbon removal technology or approach have the meanings given the terms in section 2 of the Carbon Removal and Emissions Storage Technologies Act of 2022.

(2)

Eligible entity

The term eligible entity means any of the following entities:

(A)

An institution of higher education.

(B)

A National Laboratory.

(C)

A Federal research agency.

(D)

A State research agency.

(E)

A nonprofit research organization.

(F)

An industrial entity.

(G)

A consortium of 2 or more entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (F).

(3)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy.

(c)

Carbon removal footprint program

(1)

Establishment

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish a program to carry out the purposes described in subsection (a), including by providing financial assistance to eligible entities to examine the technological, economic, and environmental impacts of carbon removal pathways and technologies.

(2)

Eligible activities

Activities eligible to receive financial assistance under this section include—

(A)

assessments of technological or economic barriers to the widescale deployment of carbon removal pathways and technologies; and

(B)

lifecycle assessments for carbon removal pathways and technologies, including gathering data in partnership with a direct air capture test center authorized under section 969D(f)(1) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16298d(f)(1)).

(3)

Applications

An eligible entity seeking financial assistance under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application that includes a description of—

(A)

the applicable project;

(B)

the software programs, consultants, and general methodologies to be used to conduct the assessment;

(C)

the location of any applicable facility or project;

(D)

expected feedstocks and other inputs; and

(E)

the expected use of carbon removed.

(4)

Priority

In selecting eligible entities to receive financial assistance under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that—

(A)

make the assessment publicly available, with confidential business information redacted or removed; and

(B)

have not previously received financial assistance under this section.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of contents for the Energy Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–260; 134 Stat. 2419) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 5002 the following:

Sec. 5003. Quantifying the benefits of carbon removal.

Carbon removal purchasing pilot program

201.

Carbon removal purchasing pilot program

(a)

In general

Subtitle F of title IX of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16291 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

969E.

Carbon removal purchasing pilot program

(a)

Purposes

The purposes of this section are—

(1)

to accelerate the deployment and commercialization of carbon removal pathways and technologies;

(2)

to stimulate the development and commercialization of low-carbon products made with carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere or oceans; and

(3)

to support the development of technologies relating to carbon removal.

(b)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Additional

The term additional, with respect to carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere or upper hydrosphere, means that carbon dioxide was removed pursuant to an intentional carbon removal activity that delivers a net removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, measured on a lifecycle basis, that would not have occurred without the carbon removal activity.

(2)

All-in cost

The term all-in cost means the total cost of—

(A)

the capture, transport, and storage of carbon dioxide; and

(B)

the measurement, reporting, and verification of carbon dioxide removed on a net ton carbon dioxide equivalent basis.

(3)

Eligible entity

The term eligible entity means a carbon removal facility that—

(A)

is located in the United States;

(B)

meets all applicable Federal and State permitting requirements; and

(C)

meets financial and technical criteria established by the Secretary.

(4)

Removal

The term removal means—

(A)

the capture of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or upper hydrosphere through a chemical, physical, or other process; and

(B)

the subsequent permanent storage or use of the carbon dioxide in a manner that ensures that the carbon dioxide does not reenter the atmosphere or upper hydrosphere.

(5)

Upper hydrosphere

The term upper hydrosphere means the total liquid water existing on the surface level of the earth, including—

(A)

oceans;

(B)

lakes;

(C)

rivers; and

(D)

other surface bodies of water.

(c)

Program

(1)

Establishment

The Secretary shall establish a competitive purchasing pilot program under which the Secretary shall purchase from eligible entities carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere or upper hydrosphere.

(2)

Purchase

In carrying out the pilot program under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall purchase, subject to the availability of appropriations, removed carbon dioxide from eligible entities—

(A)

until the date on which the first reverse auction is held under paragraph (3), by making a payment per net ton carbon equivalent basis to account for lifecycle greenhouse gas inputs to carbon removal in an amount determined by the Secretary; and

(B)

beginning with the first reverse auction held under paragraph (3), in accordance with the reverse auction procedures described in that paragraph.

(3)

Reverse auction procedures

(A)

In general

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall conduct a reverse auction under which—

(i)

the Secretary shall solicit bids from eligible entities in each tier described in subparagraph (B)(ii) (referred to in this section as a permanence tier); and

(ii)

eligible entities shall submit to the Secretary sealed bids describing—

(I)

a desired price for the removed carbon dioxide on a per net ton carbon dioxide equivalent basis;

(II)

the estimated net ton carbon dioxide equivalent removed by the eligible entity annually that the eligible entity desires the Secretary to purchase at the desired price;

(III)

details of the permanence of the removed carbon dioxide;

(IV)

details on the purity, location, and transportation options for the removed carbon dioxide to be purchased by the Secretary for purposes of the all-in costs;

(V)

a lifecycle assessment of the operation to quantify the net carbon dioxide removed, while accounting for greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of the inputs necessary for the carbon dioxide removal and storage processes; and

(VI)

any other details the Secretary may require.

(B)

Selection

(i)

In general

The Secretary shall—

(I)

examine the bids submitted under subparagraph (A)(ii) to determine which bids are acceptable under the criteria established by the Secretary for the applicable permanence tier; and

(II)

of the bids determined to be acceptable under subclause (I), select the bids containing the lowest desired price for carbon dioxide until the amount of funds available for the applicable permanence tier of the reverse auction is obligated.

(ii)

Permanence tiers

In selecting bids under clause (i), the Secretary shall group the permanence of each carbon removal bid into 1 of the following 2 tiers:

(I)

Medium-term tier for bids providing for the removal of carbon dioxide for at least 100 years, but fewer than 1,000 years.

(II)

Long-term tier for bids providing for the removal of carbon dioxide for 1,000 years or more.

(iii)

Priority

In any case in which the desired price in 2 or more bids submitted under subparagraph (A)(ii) for an applicable permanence tier is equal, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that demonstrate outstanding potential for local and regional economic development in carrying out projects to remove carbon dioxide from ambient air or aquatic sources.

(4)

Cost cap

(A)

In general

Subject to subparagraph (B), for purposes of a reverse auction under paragraph (3), the Secretary shall—

(i)

determine the current average market price per net ton carbon dioxide equivalent basis to account for lifecycle greenhouse gas inputs of removed carbon within each permanence tier; and

(ii)

set that price as the maximum price per ton to be paid under the reverse auction within each permanence tier.

(B)

Increased cap

In the case of an eligible entity that uses a technology that has the potential to eventually remove carbon dioxide at an all-in cost of less than $100 per net ton carbon dioxide equivalent, the Secretary shall double the maximum price per net ton carbon dioxide equivalent established under subparagraph (A)(ii) with respect to the eligible entity.

(5)

Requirement

In purchasing removed carbon dioxide under the program under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall determine that the carbon dioxide—

(A)

is additional;

(B)

shall be delivered not later than 5 years after the date of the purchase;

(C)

shall have a monitoring, reporting, and verification plan approved by the Department of Energy; and

(D)

has not less than a 99 percent likelihood of being stored for not fewer than 100 years.

(d)

Use of carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide purchased under the pilot program under subsection (c), at the discretion of the Secretary, may be used or stored in any manner that ensures that the carbon dioxide does not reenter the atmosphere or upper hydrosphere during the time period associated with the applicable permanence tier.

(e)

Pilot program coordination

Amounts made available under this section may be made available to carry out pilot and demonstration projects described in section 969D(f)(2)(B) and section 969D(g).

(f)

Confidentiality

The Secretary shall establish procedures to ensure that any confidential, private, proprietary, or privileged information that is included in a sealed bid submitted under this section is not publicly disclosed or otherwise improperly used.

(g)

Authorization of appropriations

(1)

In general

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section—

(A)

$20,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(B)

$30,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; and

(C)

$60,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2027.

(2)

Allocation

Amounts made available under paragraph (1) for each fiscal year shall be allocated between the permanence tiers as follows:

(A)

70 percent shall be allocated for the permanence tier described in subsection (c)(3)(B)(ii)(II).

(B)

30 percent shall be allocated for the permanence tier described in subsection (c)(3)(B)(ii)(I).

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of contents for the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–59; 119 Stat. 600; 134 Stat. 2550) is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to subtitle F of title IX the following:

Sec. 969E. Carbon removal purchasing pilot program.