The Carbon Dioxide Removal Leadership Act of 2026 requires the Department of Energy to purchase and remove carbon dioxide directly from the air and seawater in escalating amounts, starting with 50,000 metric tons annually in 2026-2027, increasing to 10 million metric tons per year by 2036 and beyond. The Secretary must accomplish this through contracts with private companies at declining cost targets, ranging from a maximum of $750 per metric ton initially down to $150 per metric ton by 2037, with all removal verified by independent third parties. At least 20 percent of removed carbon dioxide must come from small projects, and the law prioritizes projects that support job creation, serve communities affected by fossil fuel industries, minimize environmental impacts, and use domestic supply chains. The legislation authorizes whatever funding is necessary to meet these removal targets and requires the Energy Department to submit progress reports to Congress every two years starting in 2029, along with a separate study on scaling the program to remove a billion metric tons annually by 2050.
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