Correction: A previous version of the article incorrectly stated that the lawmakers were from both parties.
A group of U.S. lawmakers has reintroduced the Carbon Dioxide Leadership Act, a bill that would direct the Department of Energy to purchase increasing amounts of carbon removal through direct air capture and other durable carbon dioxide removal technologies in an effort to accelerate commercialization and lower costs.
The bill (summary available here) was introduced by Representatives Paul Tonko of New York and Scott Peters of California, alongside Senators Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Chris Coons of Delaware. Supporters say the measure would use federal purchasing power to create long-term demand for carbon removal technologies, helping developers secure investment while building a domestic industry.
If enacted, the legislation would require the Department of Energy to procure growing volumes of durable carbon dioxide removal over time while establishing strict requirements for measurement, monitoring, reporting and verification.
It also calls for meaningful public engagement, a declining maximum price per ton of carbon removed to encourage cost reductions and a dedicated allocation for emerging carbon removal technologies to ensure a diverse pipeline of projects. The proposal also prioritizes domestic job creation, environmental justice and community benefits.
“We must use every tool at our disposal to tackle the climate crisis,” Tonko said, adding that the bill would address carbon dioxide emissions while “creating good-paying jobs, supporting innovation, and investing in a clean energy economy.”
Whitehouse said “the fight against climate change will not succeed without carbon removal,” arguing the legislation would help put “the planet on a pathway to climate safety.”
Coons said investment in carbon removal technologies is essential to economic growth and climate action, adding the bill would help ensure “the United States is the global leader in carbon capture,” while supporting jobs and local communities.
The reintroduction of the bill has also drawn a positive response from the industry. John Milko, Senior Managing Policy Advisor, Carbon180 said: “Representatives Tonko and Peters and Senators Whitehouse and Coons continue to demonstrate their leadership in providing the type of policy support needed to accelerate the development and deployment of carbon removal through this reintroduction. Thoughtful additions in the latest version will help ensure this vital industry scales responsibly, creating a broad suite of benefits for US developers, workers, communities, and global environmental health.”
The proposal builds on earlier versions of the legislation by using federal procurement as a market signal rather than relying solely on grants or tax incentives. Under the framework, DOE would have flexibility to support a range of durable carbon removal approaches, including newer technologies that have yet to achieve commercial scale, while gradually reducing the allowable purchase price as the industry matures.
The U.S. Department of Energy has identified carbon removal as a critical component of long-term decarbonization and continues to support research and demonstration projects aimed at lowering costs and scaling deployment. Industry analysts also view government procurement as a potential catalyst for private investment, similar to the role federal purchasing played in accelerating markets for renewable energy and advanced technologies.
Read more: New Bipartisan Legislation Supports mCDR Development In The US
