Senate Passes the Bipartisan USE IT Act to Support Next-Generation Carbon Capture and Utilization Technologies

June 28, 2019 | Legislation

Carbon Capture Coalition Co-Director Brad Crabtree has released the following statement:

“Yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed S. 383, the Utilizing Significant Emissions with Innovative Technologies Act (USE IT), as part of the National Defense Authorization Act by a vote of 86-3. Its passage in the full Senate, following unanimous approval by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, provides further evidence of growing bipartisan support and momentum for carbon capture. It also represents an important next step in advancing a broader portfolio of federal carbon capture policies to build on last year’s congressional enactment of the FUTURE Act to reform and expand the Section 45Q tax credit.

The USEIT Act will help develop and deploy the next generation of carbon capture and utilization technologies to transform carbon dioxide (CO2) into a beneficial resource and economic opportunity while reducing emissions. It will facilitate the development of the infrastructure needed to transport CO2 from industrial facilities and power plants where it is captured to where it can be geologically stored or put to beneficial use.

The USE IT Act is a top legislative priority of the Carbon Capture Coalition, and the Coalition’s industry, labor and NGO participants are grateful to Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and the other Senate co-sponsors from both political parties who have supported this legislation. The Coalition also recognizes Senator Inhofe (R-OK), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, for his leadership in advancing the USE It Act as part of the National Defense Authorization Act.

The Carbon Capture Coalition now stands ready to help secure passage of the USE IT Act in the House of Representatives and get it to the President’s desk.”