Murkowski, Sinema Continue Bipartisan Effort to Strengthen the Economy by Supporting the Development of Innovative Energy Technologies
The bipartisan CREATE Act aims to protect clean air through comprehensive research and development programs
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) reintroduced bipartisan legislation with U.S. Senators Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) supporting the development of innovative technologies that boost Alaska’s economy while ensuring cleaner air and a healthier environment.
“Our bipartisan bill boosts innovative technologies that will grow Arizona’s job opportunities, while protecting Arizonans’ health by keeping our air clean,” said Senator Sinema.
“In Alaska, we see the effects of climate change on our natural environment firsthand and up-close, whether that’s coastal erosion or diminishing sea ice. Reducing our carbon emissions will be an essential component of mitigating the impacts of climate change. Fortunately, over the past few years, America has made significant progress in our understanding of carbon removal. New technologies are being developed that can remove carbon dioxide from the air and the oceans in ways we never imagined. Those technologies are worthy of federal investment,” said Senator Murkowski. “I’m proud to join Senator Sinema in reintroducing the CREATE Act, which will provide support for the development of innovative carbon removal and negative emissions technologies. Better coordination and cooperation amongst our federal agencies to address carbon reduction will help lead to a healthier environment and a more robust economy.”
“It’s critical we enact policies supporting carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), including through direct air capture technologies and afforestation to remove CO2 from the atmosphere,” Senator Capito said. “The CREATE Act establishes a congressionally-directed working group on CCUS subject to Congressional oversight, and demonstrates the continued multi-jurisdictional interest of CCUS.”
“Scientists from our own National Academies say that removing carbon from the atmosphere and oceans will likely be needed to keep global temperatures from rising to dangerous levels,” said Senator Whitehouse. “Our bipartisan bill would bring scientists from across the federal government together to fight climate change by developing negative emissions technologies.”
Research shows that Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) can play a significant role addressing excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Since CDR is early in its development, robust use of CDR calls for a new comprehensive federal research, development and demonstration program. The bipartisan CREATE Act develops a comprehensive federal initiative for CDR by:
- Creating within the National Science and Technology Council, a new Large-Scale Carbon Management program that will be co-chaired by the Associate Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and officials from the Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture, Department of Defense, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
- Establishing four working groups within the Large-Scale Carbon Management program to pursue a technological and detailed CDR research and demonstration initiative across several federal agencies. The working groups will coordinate with the Office of Management and Budget to enhance existing research programs as well establishing new ones to deliver commercial-ready CDR innovations within a decade.
- Requiring that the working groups focus on carbon removal in the oceans, atmosphere, and land using both natural and technological approaches.
