Today, Representatives Marc Veasey (D-TX), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Conor Lamb (D-PA), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) introduced the Fossil Energy Research and Development Act of 2019 (H.R. 3607). CURC is pleased to support this legislation, which authorizes funding for carbon capture research, development, and demonstration consistent with the recommendations of the 2018 CURC-EPRI Advanced Fossil Energy Technology Roadmap.
"The Carbon Utilization Research Council (CURC) commends Representatives Marc Veasey (D-TX), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Conor Lamb (D-PA), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) on the introduction of the Fossil Energy Research and Development Act of 2019. Similar legislation was introduced during the last Congress, and CURC appreciates the continued leadership in the House in support of the public-private partnerships needed to accelerate innovative technology solutions for the responsible use of our domestic energy resources.
The Fossil Energy Research and Development Act of 2019 authorizes a new research, development and demonstration program at the Department of Energy (DOE) that would accelerate deployment of carbon capture, utilization, and storage and transformational advanced power cycles for coal and natural gas applications. The bill also encourages federal support of large-scale pilot and commercial demonstration testing, which is critical for private sector adoption of these new technologies. Each of these provisions align with the recommendations of the 2018 CURC-EPRI Advanced Fossil Energy Technology Roadmap.
'The landscape for technologies like carbon capture has changed substantially in the time since DOE’s Fossil Energy program was last authorized,' said CURC-Co Chair Holly Krutka, Vice President of Coal Generation and Emission Technologies at Peabody. 'The Fossil Energy Research and Development Act would provide a much-needed update to the program by aligning it with the current needs for technology development as projected in the CURC-EPRI Roadmap and authorizing funding to set these important technologies further on the path towards commercialization.'
CURC is pleased to support provisions in the bill that align with the technology recommendations of the 2018 CURC-EPRI Roadmap and we look forward to working further with the House Science, Space and Technology Committee to incorporate additional language that will address the effect of implementation of new technologies funded through this program for purposes of setting emission standards.
'The Fossil Energy Research and Development Act provides necessary direction and robust investment in RD&D for technologies like carbon capture that will ensure dispatchable sources of generation are developed, which are necessary to support the growth of renewables and maintain a diverse portfolio of electricity generation sources in the fleet of the future,' said CURC Executive Director Shannon Angielski. 'However, to ensure private sector adoption, it is important that these new technologies not serve as a basis for regulating emissions standards until they can be demonstrated to be economic and technically viable. CURC looks forward to continued dialogue with the Committee and other stakeholders to ensure the original intent of Congress is maintained in the newly authorized program.'"