Capito bill aims to help remove GHG emissions from planet

Toward removing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the land, air, and sea, a bill introduced on June 14 by U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) would establish the Interagency Group on Large-Scale Carbon Management in the National Science and Technology Council and a Federal Carbon Removal Initiative.

Sen. Capito signed on as an original cosponsor of the bipartisan Carbon Removal, Efficient Agencies, Technology Expertise (CREATE) Act, S. 2002, which is sponsored by U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) to boost research and development of carbon removal technologies, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.

“In order to advance carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies, we need an informed effort from the federal level, and that’s exactly what the CREATE Act seeks to accomplish,” said Sen. Capito, ranking member of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “Our local economies, workers in energy-producing states, and the protection of our environment all stand to benefit from this bipartisan legislation, which lays the foundation for commonsense carbon capture policy in the future.”

If enacted, S. 2002 would develop a comprehensive federal initiative for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) by also establishing four working groups within the Large-Scale Carbon Management interagency group to pursue a technological and detailed CDR research and demonstration initiative across several federal agencies, the summary says.

Under S. 2002, the working groups would coordinate with the Office of Management and Budget to enhance existing research programs and establish new ones to deliver commercial-ready CDR innovations within a decade.

They also would be required to focus on carbon removal in the oceans, atmosphere, and land using both natural and technological approaches, states the summary.

“Our bipartisan bill boosts innovative technologies to keep our air clean, protect Arizonans’ health, and grow our economy, ensuring our state remains a safe place to call home for generations to come,” Sen. Sinema said.