U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Tex.) recently introduced legislation that would require the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a research, development and implementation program for carbon capture technologies at natural gas-fired power plants.The bill aims to create a partnership with the private sector for demonstration project and accelerate development and commercial application of natural gas carbon capture technologies.
“The US leads the world in emissions reduction, but to build on that success, we need to incentivize innovation and partner with the private sector to create affordable solutions,” Cornyn said in a press release. “Instead of a one-size-fits-all mandate that would bankrupt our country, this bill encourages the continued use of natural gas so we can protect the environment and remain a global leader in energy innovation.”
DOE will soon be required to solicit applications for demonstration projects – submitting a report to Congress detailing legislative recommendations, applicant evaluation methods, expected goals, estimations of project costs, and timelines for construction.