The United States is pledging a substantial $1.2 billion to support the development of direct air capture (DAC) technology, envisioning the creation of two hubs with the capacity to extract millions of tons of CO2 from the atmosphere annually.
The US Department of Energy is set to construct these cutting-edge facilities in both Texas and Louisiana, marking a historic move as the foremost government entity to endorse emerging DAC technology. Over the next decade, plans are in place for the establishment of an additional two DAC plants, with allocated funding to explore an additional 19 potential locations.
Advocates of DAC emphasize its potential to reduce emissions without the land requirements associated with natural carbon removal techniques such as tree planting. However, critics counter that this technology-driven approach is costly, inefficient, and demands substantial energy input for CO2 capture and storage, potentially diverting focus from emission reduction efforts.
Jennifer Granholm, the US Secretary of Energy, lauded this investment as a "once-in-a-generation" opportunity, one that will "pave the way for the emergence of a direct air capture industry that is essential in the battle against climate change."
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