Donald Trump’s early days in office were marked by attempts to roll back climate policies—from withdrawing from the Paris Agreement to scaling back clean energy funding. Yet amid these reversals, there remains one area that both parties agree we should advance: capturing carbon. This rare bipartisan opening can mitigate climate risks while boosting American competitiveness.
Capturing carbon intercepts emissions at industrial facilities or removes them directly from ambient air. I saw its potential firsthand while guiding research and demonstrations at the U.S. Department of Energy. These technologies can slash stubborn emissions and anchor new economic opportunities.
Lawmakers must seize this moment. States like Ohio, West Virginia, Louisiana, and Texas are already pursuing carbon capture—through CarbonSAFE grants, direct air capture hubs, and new Class VI permits. Federal support, including enhancements to the 45Q credit, will help finance large-scale projects and keep U.S. manufacturing strong in a low-carbon future.
This is not just about reducing emissions; it’s about revitalizing communities. Upgrading a cement plant in Pennsylvania or a steel mill in Indiana to capture carbon can create thousands of skilled jobs, from construction to engineering. A recent Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory report projects over 200,000 new jobs nationwide if carbon removal approaches like direct air capture scales.
Congress can ensure these benefits flow equitably by requiring strong community benefits agreements. Record floods, hurricanes, and wildfires show climate extremes strike everywhere, regardless of politics. Simply cutting new emissions won’t suffice; we must also address billions of tons already in our skies.
That’s why the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says active carbon removal is vital. Despite Trump’s early moves against climate policies, carbon capture has enjoyed bipartisan support for years. Funding expanded under President George W. Bush, and more recent enhancements to 45Q drew broad backing.
That cooperation can continue, even in polarized times. Congress and the administration should enhance incentives, streamline permitting, and fund emerging carbon capture hubs, especially where renewables alone can’t cut industrial emissions. We still must expand clean energy, but capturing carbon complements that effort.
It can protect industries, create jobs, and unite Republicans and Democrats—all while confronting a climate crisis. No single solution can address our intertwined economic and environmental challenges. But carbon management is a rare area of common ground—one that can help safeguard American livelihoods, competitiveness, and communities.
Jennifer Wilcox is the Presidential Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering and Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. Most recently, Wilcox served as a political appointee in the U.S. Department of Energy during the Biden-Harris Administration for 3.5 years, overseeing carbon capture and removal programs. Wilcox also works with Isometric as their Chief Scientist and is a senior fellow at the World Resources Institute, where she leverages her expertise to help accelerate policy support and investments in research, development, and deployment of industrial decarbonization and carbon removal solutions to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. She is the author of the first textbook on carbon capture and, most recently, the CDR Primer. In 2023, she was named one of the TIME 100 most influential climate leaders in business.
