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US Carbon Removal Hubs Secure Vital DOE Funding
18 Apr
Summary
- DOE will continue funding major carbon direct air capture projects.
- Two direct air capture hubs previously targeted for cancellation will retain funding.
- These hubs aim to remove over 2 million metric tons of carbon annually.
The Department of Energy (DOE) has decided to continue funding major carbon direct air capture (DAC) projects, reversing a decision from last year to potentially cancel these awards. This week, the agency sent a list to Congress indicating that nearly 2,000 projects, including two significant DAC hubs, will retain their funding.
Previously, the DOE had considered cancelling billions of dollars in clean energy programs. The two DAC hubs, South Texas DAC Hub and Project Cypress in Louisiana, had received awards totaling $1.2 billion from the Biden administration. These projects are integral to the U.S. strategy to scale up carbon removal technology.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright confirmed that the reviewed projects "had a credible way to be helpful." Once fully operational, the South Texas and Project Cypress hubs are projected to remove more than 2 million metric tons of carbon emissions from the atmosphere each year. Some captured carbon will be utilized in producing jet fuel and other fuels.
The DOE's Hydrocarbons Geothermal and Energy Office (HGEO) will oversee the next phases of deployment and fund release for these critical hubs.
