The Carbon Dioxide Removal Leadership Act of 2026 requires the Secretary of Energy to directly remove carbon dioxide from the air and seawater in increasing amounts over time, starting with 50,000 metric tons annually in 2026-2027 and scaling up to 10 million metric tons annually by 2036 and beyond. The Secretary must accomplish this removal through contracts with private companies and projects using eligible technologies, but only if the cost per metric ton falls within specified price limits that gradually decrease from $750 per ton in 2026-2027 down to $150 per ton by 2037. The legislation affects carbon removal companies, energy firms, and communities where removal projects operate, with particular attention to fossil fuel-dependent regions that could benefit economically. The law sets aside at least 20 percent of removal requirements for small projects and prioritizes those creating domestic jobs, supporting minority-owned businesses, and providing community benefits. The Secretary must report to Congress every two years starting in 2029 on progress, costs, technologies used, and environmental impacts, and must also conduct a study on designing a larger federal carbon removal program that could operate at gigaton scale by 2050.
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