1. Implement the Energy Act of 2020
The bipartisan bill includes several new authorizations for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to support low-carbon industrial manufacturing projects. It sets a goal for the Department to fund at least two carbon capture demonstration projects at industrial manufacturing facilities.
2. Diversify carbon capture R&D
The U.S. carbon capture research program is almost exclusively focused on power plant applications, although it has begun to include some industrial sector work. More dedicated research is needed to advance industrial sector applications.
Background
Cement production creates carbon dioxide emissions in two main ways. First, it requires ultra-hot heat, typically provided by fossil fuels. Second, it produces ‘process emissions’ from baking limestone (a necessary ingredient in cement). Similar to how an elementary school science project volcano creates carbon dioxide from mixing baking soda and vinegar, baking limestone also creates carbon dioxide. Thus, managing cement’s process emissions with the time-tested recipe necessitates some amount of carbon capture – even if fossil energy combustion was removed.

Around the world, about eight percent of carbon emissions can be traced back to cement and concrete production.
Many technology developers and cement makers are exploring how to apply carbon capture technologies to new and existing cement facilities. In the United States, up to 90 cement plants are eligible for the federal 45Q carbon capture tax credit, and two are partnering with the Department of Energy to study how to apply carbon capture equipment to their facilities. Elsewhere around the world, one plant in China is already online capturing tens of thousands of tons of carbon dioxide per year, and several other commercial-scale carbon capture projects at cement facilities around the world are under development.