McKinley Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Create Jobs and Support Infrastructure to Reduce Carbon Emissions

Press Release

Today, U.S. Representatives David B. McKinley (R-W.Va.) and Marc Veasey (D-TX), Pete Stauber (R-MN), and Cheri Bustos (D-IL) introduced the "Storing CO2 and Lowering Emissions" or "SCALE" Act. The bill will support the buildout of the infrastructure necessary to transport CO2 from where it is captured to where it can be utilized in manufacturing or safely and securely sequestered underground.

"The development of storage infrastructure is a key component of supporting the deployment of carbon capture and utilization projects," Congressman McKinley said. "The U.S. power sector alone generates nearly 2 billion tons of CO2 each year. For carbon capture to work, we need to have some place to put that. We will need pipelines to transport the CO2 to geologic storage or consumers who can use it. This legislation will help build that out."

"Carbon Capture and the associated infrastructure is essential for the United States to reach net-zero emissions by mid-century," Congressman Marc Veasey said. "If we successfully deploy CO2 transport and storage infrastructure, we can help certain industrial sectors of our economy dramatically reduce their emissions while creating thousands of good jobs."

"The climate crisis provides us with an opportunity to utilize the wealth of resources rural America has to offer and create good good-paying jobs to grow the local economy," Congresswoman Bustos said. "Through the SCALE Act, we can advance carbon capture technology and develop infrastructure to create a cleaner environment. I'm pleased introduce this bipartisan legislation today and will continue to look for ways to mobilize our region to meet the challenge of a changing climate"

"I'm proud to join my bipartisan colleagues in introducing The SCALE Act to help develop carbon capture technology. It's crucial northern Minnesota and the rest of the country remains a global leader in mining, logging, manufacturing, and industrial development," Congressman Stauber said. "The SCALE Act helps us remain on top by supporting the buildout of the infrastructure necessary for carbon capture with a low-interest loan program, establishing a carbon capture pilot center, and building on an existing Department of Energy grant program. The bill will create high-quality union jobs, as projects that receive funding under the bill will be required to Buy American and will adhere to Davis-Bacon prevailing wages."

"Carbon capture is a key technology for maintaining good manufacturing jobs as the global economy decarbonizes to move towards the industry of the future. The SCALE Act enables the buildout of CO2 transport and storage infrastructure, with Buy America requirements, that is necessary for large-scale deployment of carbon capture at industrial facilities across our vast country," said Roxanne Brown, Vice President at Large of the United Steel Workers.

"CURC congratulates Congressmen Veasey and McKinley on the introduction of the Storing CO2 and Lowering Emissions (SCALE) Act. When combined with the Section 45Q tax credit, the policies included in the SCALE Act would support commercial-scale deployment of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) projects by overcoming barriers against the buildout of critical CO2 transport and storage infrastructure in the United States. Infrastructure to transport and store CO2 from industrial sources is also imperative to deliver on the substantial environmental benefits that can be achieved by CCUS, which energy and climate authorities project will have a substantial role if domestic and global decarbonization objectives are to be achieved. We thank Congressmen Veasey and McKinley for their continued leadership on these important issues," said Shannon Angielski, Executive Director of the Carbon Utilization Research Council.

Background:

Without carbon capture investments, the United States is at risk of losing innovation leadership. Governments in places like the European Union, United Kingdom, Norway, Australia, and Canada have recently announced large investment in the development of connected infrastructure to collect CO2 from multiple capture sources and deliver it to shared CO2 storage sites. Unlike them, the U.S. does not have a program or policy catalyzing investment in CO2 transport and storage infrastructure. This hinders the scale-up of carbon capture, removal, and storage of CO2 emissions.

The SCALE Act would:

Establish a Carbon-to-Value Research, Development, and Demonstration center, similar to existing carbon capture test centers, to support RD&D of things like advanced fuels, chemicals, and materials produced from carbon oxide emissions. It would also authorize the U.S. Department of Energy to provide grants to states and municipalities for procuring carbon utilization products for infrastructure projects.
Create a new program called the CO2 Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (CIFIA) to provide low interest loans and grants for CO2 transport infrastructure, based on the successful, bipartisan TIFIA and WIFIA programs that finance highway and water infrastructure projects.
Build upon the existing DOE CarbonSAFE program to provide cost share for deployment of commercial-scale saline geologic storage projects. It would give priority to geologic storage projects with larger storage capacities and those that will serve as hubs storing CO2 from multiple carbon capture facilities.
Authorize increased funding to EPA for to thoroughly review permit applications in a timely manner for Class VI CO2 storage wells and provide grants for states to establish and operate their own Class VI permitting programs. These increased resources would ensure rigorous and efficient CO2 storage site permitting.
###