Biden-Harris Administration Announces Up To $1.2 Billion For Nation’s First Direct Air Capture Demonstrations in Texas and Louisiana

U.S. Department of Energy Announces $1.2 Billion Investment in Direct Air Capture Facilities

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a $1.2 billion investment to develop two commercial-scale direct air capture (DAC) facilities in Texas and Louisiana. These projects, funded by the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, are part of the Regional DAC Hubs program, which aims to establish a network of large-scale carbon removal sites to address carbon dioxide pollution and support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The DAC Hubs will contribute to the President’s Justice40 Initiative and are expected to remove over 2 million metric tons of CO2 emissions annually, creating 4,800 jobs in Texas and Louisiana.

Significance of the Projects

This investment represents the largest ever made in engineered carbon removal and will remove more than 250 times the amount of CO2 compared to the largest DAC facility currently operating. The development of these hubs will inform future investments and accelerate efforts to achieve a net-zero economy by 2050, in line with the SDGs.

Statement from U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm

“Cutting back on our carbon emissions alone won’t reverse the growing impacts of climate change; we also need to remove the CO2 that we’ve already put in the atmosphere,” said Secretary Granholm. “With this investment, DOE is laying the foundation for a direct air capture industry crucial to tackling climate change, transforming local economies, and delivering healthier communities.”

About Direct Air Capture

DAC is a process that separates CO2 from the air, reducing atmospheric CO2 levels. The captured CO2 can be stored underground or converted into useful carbon-containing products. The widespread deployment of DAC and other carbon capture technologies is essential for combating climate change and enhancing America’s global competitiveness in the zero-carbon economy.

Selected Projects

• Project Cypress (Calcasieu Parish, LA) – Battelle, Climeworks Corporation, and Heirloom Carbon Technologies, Inc. aim to capture over 1 million metric tons of CO2 annually and store it underground. The project will create approximately 2,300 jobs and prioritize hiring workers from the fossil fuel industry.

• South Texas DAC Hub (Kleberg County, TX) – 1PointFive, Carbon Engineering Ltd., and Worley plan to develop a DAC facility capable of removing up to 1 million metric tons of CO2 per year. The project will create around 2,500 jobs and establish a Citizen Advisory Board for community engagement.

Community Engagement and Justice40 Initiative

DOE is committed to ensuring that the DAC Hub projects deliver community benefits and contribute to the Justice40 Initiative. The selected projects will engage with local stakeholders through community briefings and prioritize the inclusion of disadvantaged communities affected by pollution and underinvestment.

Potential Future DAC Hub Studies

In addition to the selected projects, DOE has announced 19 additional projects for award negotiations. These projects will support feasibility assessments and front-end engineering and design studies for potential DAC Hubs.

Carbon Negative Shot Pilots

DOE plans to publish funding opportunities for projects and prizes focused on carbon dioxide removal technologies. These efforts are part of the Carbon Negative Shot, which aims to remove CO2 from the atmosphere at meaningful scales and support innovation in the carbon dioxide removal industry.

DOE’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations and Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management will oversee the Regional DAC Hubs Program and ensure the projects’ environmental safety and community benefit plans.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 15: Life on Land

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
• SDG 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable.
• SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
• SDG 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce degradation of natural habitats.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Amount of CO2 emissions removed from the atmosphere annually (indicator for SDG 13.2)
• Number of jobs created in the direct air capture industry (indicator for SDG 9.4)

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: energy.gov

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