Carbon Dioxide Removal Leadership Act of 2026

This bill would require the Secretary of Energy to remove carbon dioxide directly from the air or seawater and store it long-term, in amounts rising from 50,000 metric tons per year in 2026 and 2027 to 10 million metric tons per year starting in 2036. These amounts apply only when removal can be done at or below set prices per ton, which drop from $750 to $150 over time. The Secretary may sign contracts of up to 15 years, must aim for at least 20 percent of removals from small projects, and must hire independent third parties to measure and verify removals. The bill excludes carbon dioxide used for enhanced oil recovery and requires reports to Congress every two years. It also requires a study on how a federal program could reach removal at a gigaton scale each year by 2050.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Christopher A. Coons Democrat sponsor
• 1 cosponsors