Capito-Whitehouse Proposal to Reduce Industrial Emissions Approved Energy & Natural Resources Committee

Statement

U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) today applauded passage of the Clean Industrial Technology Act (CITA) by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. CITA would support research to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from industrial sources, and help make American companies more competitive in the global economy. The legislation is also sponsored by Senators Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.).

"I applaud the committee's passage of our bipartisan Clean Industrial Technology Act today," Senator Capito said. "I have been a champion of commonsense policies that advance the deployment of carbon capture technologies to protect the environment and advance our economy; and while we have made great strides in supporting carbon capture in the field of power generation, less attention has been given to industrial sectors like steel and cement manufacturing. This legislation will help jumpstart that effort by facilitating coordination between the Department of Energy and the private sector to get this important technology developed and out into the field."

"I thank Chairman Murkowski and Ranking Member Manchin for their support of the Clean Industrial Technology Act today," said Senator Whitehouse. "Industrial sources are responsible for a significant share of all emissions, and this legislation would help explore pathways to reduce that carbon footprint and make American industry more competitive internationally."

Around 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions come from hard-to-reduce industrial sources, including heavy road and rail transport, shipping, aviation, chemical production, steel and cement production, and heat production. There are few technologies that would substantially reduce emissions from these sources, and the limited existing solutions remain costly. Spurring innovation that could be adopted by these industries would create an economic advantage and export opportunities as countries around the world expand emission reduction policies.

Under CITA, the Department of Energy in consultation with the Office of Science and Technology Policy would establish a new advisory council to coordinate funding for developing innovative technologies for industrial processes. The council would work with other federal agencies, National Laboratories, industry, and higher education institutions to advance research and demonstration projects for reducing emissions in the industrial sector. The Department of Energy would also establish a technical assistance program to help states, local governments, and tribal organizations implement the low carbon technologies.

CITA is supported by a broad range of industry and environmental groups, including the Environmental Defense Fund, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, Industrial Energy Consumers of America, Carbon180, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, Clean Air Task Force, Third Way, National Association of Manufacturers, Natural Resources Defense Council, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Chemistry Council, The Niskanen Center, The Nature Conservancy, BlueGreen Alliance, United Steelworkers, Occidental Petroleum, ArcelorMittal, National Audubon Society, Bipartisan Policy Center, National Wildlife Federation, and the American Chemical Society.

U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (D-Ill.), David McKinley (R-W.Va.), Aumua Amata (R-A.S.-At Large), and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) are the lead sponsors of CITA in the House. The legislation has cleared the House Science Energy Subcommittee.