Direct Air Capture Briefing on Capitol Hill

News & Events

On May 9, Rhodium Director John Larsen presented first-of-its-kind modeling of the role of direct air capture technology in US midcentury decarbonization strategy.

Direct air capture is an innovative technology that removes carbon dioxide directly from the air, allowing it to be turned into commercial products or stored permanently. Models, including the recent United Nations IPCC 1.5C Special Report, have shown that the technology is a critical part of the climate solution set. It also represents an enormous opportunity for economic growth and continued U.S. clean energy leadership. To build on a recent National Academies report that outlined the need for robust federal R&D on direct air capture, the Rhodium Group conducted first-of-its-kind modeling to identify the most impactful near- and long-term policy mechanisms to get this technology to scale.

During a May 2019 event on Capitol Hill, organized by the Bipartisan Policy Center and Carbon180, lead author John Larsen presented the findings of this new report. The briefing was followed by a discussion on the policy opportunities and barriers to direct air capture technology advancement with leading experts, businesses, and policymakers to learn how direct air capture can build a cleaner and more efficient economy, bolster our technology leadership, and reduce carbon pollution.