As carbon management technologies gain traction in climate policy, a new report from the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania offers a framework to ensure these tools are deployed responsibly and equitably.
The digest, “Elevating Carbon Management: A Policy Decision-Making Framework for the 21st Century,” co-authored by Jennifer Wilcox, Noah Deich, and Holly Jean Buck, introduces a 10-point rubric to help evaluate carbon capture and removal policies — including carbon capture and storage (CCS), direct air capture (DAC), and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) — against goals like fossil fuel phaseout, environmental safeguards, community benefit, and affordability.
Carbon management can support climate goals — but only if it’s done right, the authors note.
They define “ensuring carbon management policies effectively decarbonize tough industries without prolonging fossil fuel reliance, harming communities, or burdening consumers with higher energy costs” as one of the key challenges at hand.
Each policy is scored from 1 to 4 across ten dimensions. Investors may focus on project finance and stability, while communities prioritize engagement and safety. Advocates, meanwhile, emphasize secure storage and the need to fully transition from unabated fossil fuels.
Applying the framework to US carbon policy as of early 2025 reveals a mixed picture: a score of 2.6 out of 4 suggests moderate progress but persistent gaps.
Relevant: Pennsylvania’s Path To Industrial Decarbonization: A Focus On Steel With Carbon Capture
Key shortcomings include limited community engagement, unclear fossil fuel phaseout pathways, and potential risks to consumers through rising utility costs.
The report offers targeted recommendations: extend and diversify 45Q tax credits, strengthen EPA emissions standards, streamline permitting, ensure community consent and local hiring, and require CCS projects to add new renewable capacity rather than drawing from existing clean power sources.
While current federal support for carbon management may be wavering, the authors stress that states, companies, and future administrations can still move forward.
Read more: 45Q Carbon Management Incentive Preserved In Latest Budget Proposal
The framework provides a roadmap for designing carbon capture policies that are aligned with long-term climate and equity goals.
Ultimately, the message is clear: carbon management should be a bridge — not a crutch — on the path to a cleaner, more just energy future.
