Utilizing Significant Emissions with Innovative Technologies (USE IT) Act - S.383 / H.R.1166

Overview
Purpose
"To support carbon dioxide utilization and direct air capture research, to facilitate the permitting and development of carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration projects and carbon dioxide pipelines, and for other purposes."
Primary Sponsors
Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) / Reps. Scott Peters (D-CA) and David McKinley (R-WV)
Final outcome

Incorporated into the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1166/text
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/383/text
Committee Reports
S.Rept. 116-38
Summary of Selected Provisions
  • Directs the Environmental Protection Agency to offer financial awards for direct air capture technology projects that are designed to collect at least 10,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year at a price of less than $200 per ton. Recommends $35 million be appropriated for the program
  • Creates a Direct Air Capture Technology Advisory Board with expertise in climate science, physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, economics, and business management
  • Directs EPA to create a carbon dioxide utilization R&D program that supports “existing and new technologies that transform carbon dioxide generated by industrial processes into a product of commercial value, or as an input to products of commercial value.” Recommends $50 million be appropriated for the program
  • Directs the Council on Environmental Quality to develop guidance to simplify the environmental review and permitting process for infrastructure that captures, utilizes, or sequesters carbon dioxide
Actions
Actions on the House bill
Bill introduced
02/13/2019
Actions on the Senate bill
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved bill
04/10/2019
Bill introduced
02/07/2019
Status update

Incorporated into the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020

Relevant FYI Bulletins

Congress Sets New Goals for DOE Technology Programs

A product of two years of legislative work, the Energy Act of 2020 overhauls policy across the Department of Energy’s applied energy and fusion R&D programs, including by recommending substantial funding increases and greatly expanding efforts aimed at reducing carbon emissions.

FY21 NDAA: Environmental Resilience, STEM Workforce, and Defense Research Proposals

The House and Senate versions of the fiscal year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act continue multi-year efforts to address national security risks related to climate change, bolster and diversify the defense STEM workforce, and increase defense labs’ ability to collaborate and innovate.

Senate Energy Innovation Push Gains Steam

Efforts in the Senate to promote technology innovation as a way to combat climate change are beginning to progress. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) has renewed his push to “double energy research funding,” while the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has begun to develop legislation to promote technology development and commercialization.