§16298a Carbon utilization program

Summary

The Secretary must set up a research, development, and demonstration program on using carbon. The program will check how new methods change lifecycle carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental safety signs when used with enhanced hydrocarbon recovery. It will find new commercial uses for carbon and carbon oxides, work with other federal agencies and standards groups to create needed standards and certifications, study carbon capture for industrial systems, and look for ways to use raw and processed coal that do not cause significant emissions. Within 180 days after December 27, 2020, the Secretary must start a 2-year demonstration program in each of the two major U.S. coal-producing regions to speed commercial use of coal-carbon products. No later than 1 year after November 15, 2021, the Secretary must start a grant program for States, local governments, and public utilities or agencies. Grants must buy products made from human-caused carbon oxides that show significant net lifecycle greenhouse gas reductions. Projects must follow the cost-sharing rules in section 16352. The Secretary must also create and run a national Carbon Utilization Research Center to focus on early-stage work like capture before and after combustion, advanced compression for fossil-fuel plants, converting CO2 to products, and storage methods. The Center will be chosen competitively, give priority to centers existing on December 27, 2020, and get support for up to 5 years (renewable once on merit and subject to appropriations). The law authorizes these funds: $41,000,000 for FY2022; $65,250,000 for FY2023; $66,562,500 for FY2024; $67,940,625 for FY2025; and $69,387,656 for FY2026. The Secretary must coordinate these activities with the program under section 16298 as one consolidated Department program. Carbon Utilization Research Center: a national center focused on early-stage carbon capture, conversion, and storage research.