CLEAR Act Carbon Limiting Emissions At Refineries Act
Impact
The bill mandates the Secretary of Energy to provide a comprehensive report within 180 days following its enactment. This report must detail potential opportunities for developing technologies that can substantially reduce carbon footprints at fuel production sites. Furthermore, it establishes a program directed at advancing the readiness of these technologies, including investigating energy-use reductions and employing advanced catalysts or carbon capture methods. The proposed budget for implementing these directives is set at $200 million for fiscal year 2024 and subsequently for each year thereafter.
Summary
House Bill 3182, known as the CLEAR Act (Carbon Limiting Emissions At Refineries Act), aims to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005. It instructs the Secretary of Energy to formulate a strategy for implementing research, development, and commercialization projects that can achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions or the carbon intensity of qualified fuel production facilities, primarily targeting petroleum refineries and facilities that manufacture commercial amounts of drop-in fuels. This initiative is a response to heightened concerns regarding climate change and the need for cleaner energy production methods.
Contention
While the CLEAR Act has been presented as a significant stride towards improving energy policy and combatting climate change, it is not without contention. Critics might raise concerns about the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed technologies, particularly when it comes to the potential costs and investment needed for implementation. Additionally, there may be arguments about whether the federal government should intervene in regulating emissions at the state and local level or if this might impose undue burdens on smaller fuel production facilities trying to adapt to new requirements.
Innovative Mitigation Partnerships for Asphalt and Concrete Technologies Act or the IMPACT ActThis bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a temporary program that supports advanced production of low-emissions cement, concrete, and asphalt.Specifically, the program must support research, development, and commercial application of production processes for low-emissions cement, concrete, and asphalt that are more cost-effective, durable, or resource-efficient (i.e., advanced production). The program must particularly focus on carbon capture technologies, energy-efficient processes, research involving novel materials, and other specified technologies and innovative processes.DOE must select entities to implement relevant demonstration projects; eligible entities include government, nonprofit, educational, and private sector entities. DOE may terminate these projects if it determines that sufficient amounts of low-emissions cement, concrete, and asphalt that are produced through advanced production are commercially available at reasonable prices.The program terminates seven years after the bill is enacted.