[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5864 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5864
To establish and support the research, development, and demonstration
of advanced carbon capture and utilization technologies at the
Department of Energy, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 12, 2020
Mr. Crenshaw introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish and support the research, development, and demonstration
of advanced carbon capture and utilization technologies at the
Department of Energy, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``New Energy Frontiers Through Carbon
Innovation Act of 2020''.
SEC. 2. CARBON UTILIZATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND
INFRASTRUCTURE.
(a) Section 963 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16293)
is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 963. CARBON UTILIZATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INFRASTRUCTURE.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out a program to
conduct basic and fundamental research in materials science, chemistry,
subsurface instrumentation, and data analysis to inform the research,
development, and demonstration of carbon capture, storage, and
utilization technologies and techniques, and to facilitate the
translation of basic research results to industry.
``(b) Coordination.--In carrying out the program under subsection
(a), the Secretary shall leverage expertise and resources and
facilitate collaboration and coordination between--
``(1) the Office of Fossil Energy; and
``(2) the Office of Science.
``(c) Carbon Utilization Energy Innovation Hub.--In carrying out
the program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall establish and
operate a national Carbon Utilization Energy Innovation Hub (referred
to in this section as the `Hub'), which shall focus on early stage
research and development activities including--
``(1) post-combustion and pre-combustion capture of carbon
dioxide;
``(2) advanced compression technologies for new and
existing fossil fuel-fired power plants;
``(3) technologies to convert carbon dioxide to valuable
products and commodities; and
``(4) advanced carbon dioxide storage technologies that
consider a range of storage regimes.
``(d) Selection.--The Secretary shall select the Hub under this
section on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis. The Secretary shall
consider applications from National Laboratories, institutions of
higher education, multi-institutional collaborations, and other
appropriate entities.
``(e) Duration.--The Hub established under this section shall
receive support for a period of not more than 5 years, subject to the
availability of appropriations.
``(f) Renewal.--Upon the expiration of any period of support of the
Hub, the Secretary may renew support for the Hub, on a merit-reviewed
basis, for a period of not more than 5 years.
``(g) Termination.--Consistent with the existing authorities of the
Department, the Secretary may terminate the Hub for cause during the
performance period.
``(h) Funding.--For each of fiscal years 2020 through 2025, out of
any amounts appropriated to the Department to carry out fossil energy
research and development activities and not otherwise obligated, the
Secretary may use to carry out the Hubs under this section not more
than $25,000,000.''.
(b) Section 1(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801)
by amending the item relating to section 963 to read as follows:
``Sec. 963. Carbon Utilization Research and Development
Infrastructure.''.
SEC. 3. NATURAL GAS CARBON CAPTURE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND
DEMONSTRATION 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:
``SEC. 969. NATURAL GAS CARBON CAPTURE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Natural gas.--The term `natural gas' includes 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) any product derived directly from natural
gas, including hydrogen.
``(2) Qualifying electric generation facility.--The term
`qualifying electric generation facility' means a facility that
generates electric energy through the use of natural gas.
``(3) Qualifying technology.--The term `qualifying
technology' means any technology to capture carbon dioxide
produced during the generation of electricity from natural gas
power systems.
``(b) Establishment of Research, Development, and Demonstration
Program.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a program
under which the Secretary shall, through a competitive, merit-
reviewed process, award grants to eligible entities to conduct
research, development, and demonstration of qualifying
technologies.
``(2) Objectives.--The objectives of the program
established under paragraph (1) shall be--
``(A) to conduct research to accelerate the
development of qualifying technologies to reduce the
quantity of carbon dioxide emissions released from
qualifying electric generation facilities, including--
``(i) pre- and post-combustion capture
technologies; and
``(ii) technologies to improve the
thermodynamics, kinetics, scalability,
durability, and flexibility of carbon capture
technologies for use during the generation of
electricity from natural gas power systems;
``(B) to expedite and carry out demonstration
projects (including pilot projects) for qualifying
technologies in partnership with qualifying electric
generation facilities in order to demonstrate the
technical feasibility and economic potential for
commercial deployment of technologies developed
pursuant to subparagraph (A); and
``(C) to identify any barriers to the commercial
deployment of any qualifying technologies under
development pursuant to research conducted pursuant to
subparagraph (A).
``(3) Eligible entities.--An entity eligible to receive a
grant under this subsection is--
``(A) a National Laboratory;
``(B) an institution of higher education;
``(C) a research facility;
``(D) a multi-institutional collaboration; or
``(E) another appropriate entity or combination of
any of the entities specified in subparagraphs (A)
through (D).
``(c) Carbon Capture Facilities Demonstration Program.--
``(1) Establishment.--As part of the program established
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall establish a
demonstration program under which the Secretary shall, through
a competitive, merit-reviewed process, enter into cooperative
agreements with entities that submit applications pursuant to
paragraph (4) for demonstration or pilot projects to construct
and operate, by not later than September 30, 2025, up to five
facilities to capture carbon dioxide from qualifying electric
generation facilities. The Secretary shall, to the maximum
extent practicable, provide technical assistance to any entity
seeking to enter into such a cooperative agreement in obtaining
any necessary permits and licenses to demonstrate qualifying
technologies.
``(2) Cooperative agreements.--The Secretary may enter into
a cooperative agreement under this subsection with industry
stakeholders, including any such industry stakeholder operating
in partnership with National Laboratories, institutions of
higher education, multi-institutional collaborations, and other
appropriate entities.
``(3) Goals.--Each demonstration or pilot project carried
out pursuant to the demonstration program under this subsection
shall--
``(A) be designed to further the development of
qualifying technologies that may be used by a
qualifying electric generation facility;
``(B) be financed in part by the private sector;
``(C) if necessary, secure agreements for the
offtake of carbon dioxide emissions captured by
qualifying technologies during the project; and
``(D) support energy production in the United
States.
``(4) Request for applications.--Not later than 120 days
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
solicit applications for cooperative agreements for projects--
``(A) to demonstrate qualifying technologies at up
to five qualifying electric generation facilities; and
``(B) to construct and operate three or more
facilities to capture carbon dioxide from a qualifying
electric generation facility.
``(5) Review of applications.--In considering applications
submitted under paragraph (4), the Secretary, to the maximum
extent practicable, shall--
``(A) ensure a broad geographic distribution of
project sites;
``(B) ensure that a broad selection of qualifying
electric generation facilities are represented;
``(C) ensure that a broad selection of qualifying
technologies are represented;
``(D) require information and knowledge gained by
each participant in the demonstration program to be
transferred and shared among all participants in the
demonstration program; and
``(E) leverage existing--
``(i) public-private partnerships; and
``(ii) Federal resources.
``(d) Cost Sharing.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary
shall require cost sharing in accordance with section 988.
``(e) Fee Title.--The Secretary may vest fee title or other
property interests acquired under cooperative agreements entered into
under subsection (b)(4) in any entity, including the United States.
``(f) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date on which the
Secretary solicits applications under subsection (c)(3), 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--
``(1) a detailed description of how applications for
cooperative agreements under subsection (b) will be solicited
and evaluated, including--
``(A) a list of any activities carried out by the
Secretary to solicit or evaluate applications; and
``(B) a process for ensuring that any projects
carried out under a cooperative agreement are designed
to result in the development or demonstration of
qualifying technologies;
``(2)(A) in the case of the first report under this
subsection, a detailed list of technical milestones for the
development and demonstration of each qualifying technology
pursued under subsection (b); and
``(B) in the case of each subsequent report under this
subsection, the progress made towards achieving such technical
milestones during the period covered by the report; and
``(3) with respect to the demonstration program established
under subsection (c), includes--
``(A) an estimate of the cost of licensing,
permitting, constructing, and operating each carbon
capture facility expected to be constructed under that
demonstration program;
``(B) a schedule for the planned construction and
operation of each demonstration or pilot project; and
``(C) 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.
``(g) Funding.--For each of fiscal years 2020 through 2025, out of
any amounts appropriated to the Department to carry out fossil energy
research and development activities and not otherwise obligated, the
Secretary may use to carry out this section not more than
$50,000,000.''.
(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 968 the following:
``Sec. 969. Natural gas carbon capture research, development, and
demonstration program.''.
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