The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has earmarked $500 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to bolster carbon dioxide (CO2) transportation infrastructure across the nation. This move aims to support the growth of the carbon capture and storage industry, crucial for reducing CO2 emissions and achieving a net-zero economy by 2050.
Brad Crabtree, Assistant Secretary of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, emphasized the importance of expanding infrastructure to accommodate the increasing volumes of captured CO2. With plans to capture and store millions of tons of CO2 annually, the U.S. needs to enhance its transportation network significantly over the next decade.
The funding opportunity announcement (FOA) under DOE’s Carbon Dioxide Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation (CIFIA) program will provide grants for designing and building CO2 transport capacity. These grants will ensure that the infrastructure is ready to support future carbon capture facilities and storage sites as they come online.
Projects eligible for funding must connect CO2 emitting sources to conversion sites or storage facilities through pipelines, rail, trucks, barges, or ships. DOE is particularly interested in projects that offer insights into transport costs, modes, network configurations, and regulatory considerations across different regions.
To promote environmental justice and equity, funding applicants must address societal impacts and engage with communities early in the project planning process. The selected projects will be required to prioritize economic and environmental benefits, diversity, equity, inclusion, and workforce development.
Since January 2021, FECM has invested over $842 million in projects advancing carbon transport and storage, driving economic development, innovation, and job creation. These efforts align with DOE’s commitment to minimizing environmental impacts and achieving net-zero emissions.
To learn more about DOE’s initiatives in carbon dioxide transport and storage, visit the FECM website and sign up for news announcements.