The USE IT Act will Support Innovation and Incentivize Carbon Capture Development and Deployment.  

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), released the following statement on the president signing the Utilizing Significant Emissions with Innovative Technologies (USE IT) Act into law. The USE IT Act passed Congress as part of the legislation to fund the government. The Omnibus also extended the 45Q tax credit for carbon capture projects for two years.

“President Trump has signed important legislation to help grow Wyoming’s economy and reduce carbon emissions through innovation,” said Barrasso. “Wyoming is already leading the way on carbon capture research. At the Integrated Test Center in Gillette, researchers are developing innovative solutions that will allow us to keep using Wyoming’s natural resources. The USE IT Act will lead to considerably more groundbreaking research. By converting carbon emissions into valuable and marketable products, we can help address a changing climate and boost Wyoming’s economy at the same time.”

The USE IT Act will:

• Narrowly amend the Clean Air Act to direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to support carbon utilization and direct air capture research;
• Clarify that CCUS projects and CO2 pipelines are eligible for the streamlined permitting review process established by the FAST Act;
• Direct the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to establish guidance to expedite the development of CCUS facilities and CO2 pipelines; and
• Establish task forces to hear input from affected stakeholders for updating and improving guidance over time.

The 45Q tax credit incentivizes utilities and other industrial sources to build-out CCUS projects, including Class VI wells. The projects will reduce the energy sector’s and industrial sector’s carbon footprint.

Background Information: 

On August 19, 2020, the EPW Committee held a field hearing titled “Energy and Environmental Innovation: Wyoming’s Leadership in Using and Storing Carbon Dioxide Emissions” at the Integrated Test Center in Gillette, WY. 

On July 23, 2020, the U.S. Senate passed S. 383, the Utilizing Significant Emissions with Innovative Technologies (USE IT) Act, as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). 

On June 27, 2019, the USE IT Act passed the Senate as part of the 2019 NDAA.

On April 10, 2019, the EPW Committee unanimously passed the USE IT Act at an EPW Committee business meeting. 

On February 27, 2019, the EPW Committee held a legislative hearing on S. 383. All three witnesses testified in support of the bill: Paul Sukut, General Manager & CEO, Basin Electric Power Cooperative; Steve Oldham, CEO, Carbon Engineering; and Kurt Waltzer, Managing Director, Clean Air Task Force. 

On February 7, 2019, Barrasso joined with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) to reintroduce the USE IT Act. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tom Carper (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Tina Smith (D-MN), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Mike Enzi (R-WY) also joined as original cosponsors.

The USE IT Act was first introduced during the 115^th Congress. The EPW Committee also advanced the legislation unanimously in 2018.