The US Department of Energy is reportedly preparing to cancel funding for two large-scale direct air capture projects, originally allocated over $1 billion through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The South Texas Direct Air Capture Hub, led by Occidental Petroleum’s 1PointFive subsidiary, and Project Cypress, a collaboration between Battelle, Climeworks, and Heirloom in Louisiana, are impacted. Approximately $50 million of initial funding has been terminated, but whether full funding cancellation will follow is not yet clear.
Official responses from the Department of Energy and the project collaborators have been limited or noncommittal, with some parties noting no official communication has occurred. The potential termination raises concerns about the US losing competitive ground internationally in carbon removal technologies. Moreover, it risks undermining commitments made to local communities and stakeholders in Texas and Louisiana.
The cancellations could disrupt the Biden administration’s goals for scaling direct air capture via regional hubs, hindering progress on climate change mitigation initiatives. Stakeholders emphasize the implications for climate policy credibility and investments in carbon capture infrastructure. This situation is developing, and updates are expected as more information emerges.
👉 Pročitaj original: MIT Technology Review
