Capito’s bipartisan bill would create federal carbon tech program

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) on Dec. 12 introduced bipartisan legislation that would require the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a carbon technologies program that eventually would get carbon-derived products to the commercial market.

Sen. Capito cosponsored the Creating Opportunities And Leveraging Technologies for Coal Carbon Act, or the COAL TeCC Act, S. 3047, with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) and fellow home-state cosponsor U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), ranking member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

“Coal-to-materials manufacturing is a growing high-tech market for coal and its byproducts,” Sen. Capito said on Friday.

If enacted, S. 3047 would aim to advance research and promote coal-derived carbon products, such as carbon fiber, graphite and carbon foam, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Capito’s office.

“This legislation will advance research and development, as well as commercial deployment for technologies like graphene and carbon fiber,” said Sen. Capito, who added that such research at West Virginia University and the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), both in Morgantown, W.Va., have put the state “at the forefront of this industry in Appalachia.”

Under the bill, the DOE’s ongoing work, which is being carried out through NETL, would be bolstered toward utilizing coal for value-added products having alternative, advance uses, according to the bill summary.

For example, NETL engineers currently are researching how to produce cost-competitive, high-value carbon fibers and new materials for use in products like building materials, energy storage technologies, 3D printing materials, and carbon composites, according to the summary, which noted that additional revenue streams from such products could enhance the economics of coal as a higher-value fuel in carbon-producing states like West Virginia.

The bill also would direct DOE to establish a $4 million pilot and demonstration program in Appalachia to help coal-derived carbon products reach the commercialization phase.

“Coal will continue to play an important role in the economy and this important research will ensure we are getting the most value from this important natural resource,” said Sen. Manchin.