Good morning and thank you to our witnesses for being with us today. Today’s hearing is on a topic that stands to increase in relevance as technology develops: marine carbon dioxide removal, otherwise known as mCDR. It is also a special hearing because I am co-chairing it with my friend, Mr. Williams, the chair of the Energy Subcommittee, as we are conducting this as a joint Environment and Energy Subcommittee hearing.
The field of mCDR presents a unique opportunity not only because of its immense potential benefits, but also because it builds off existing knowledge and research for land-based carbon removal that is already delivering results.
Yet, at this very early stage of research, it is important to encourage involvement from a blend of federal agencies, private sector companies, and academia. In order for the field to grow, we must ensure that public-private partnerships work together to prevent duplicative efforts.
In a step towards that, the Department of Energy and NOAA signed a memorandum of agreement that will establish a joint effort to enhance coordination, research, and technology development to advance the state of mCDR science. This is crucial to combatting wasteful government spending. Combining NOAA’s ocean science expertise with DOE’s research and infrastructure will allow the federal government to operate efficiently and have the greatest possible impact.
We cannot rely solely on federal agencies, however, as a robust private sector exploring all different types of removal techniques is critical to practical advancements.
One of our witnesses today is representing Ebb Carbon, a private company that is pioneering one of the largest scale and lowest cost approaches to carbon removal by accelerating the ocean’s natural ability to capture and store carbon.
As a native Ohioan representing the 7th district of the Buckeye State, I recognize the potential mCDR holds to the state’s economy. The Great Lakes are the largest freshwater system on Earth, holding 95% of the U.S.’s freshwater supply. They are some of the largest carbon sinks in the world, second only to the oceans.
NOAA has established a constant presence in the Great Lakes with their acidification research and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. This work has been crucial to ensuring a successful future for the significant fisheries and recreational tourism that create income and jobs for the region. It is my belief that studying how to remove and sequester that carbon will also prove critical to the long-term viability of the Great Lakes region.
As we continue to innovate, it is important that the investments we are making have the best path to commercialization. By having the federal and commercial sector utilize the research academia is producing, we will lay the groundwork for successful implementation.
Through conversations like today’s, we can ensure that everyone is moving in the right direction, together.
I look forward to working with Chairman Willaims and members of the committee to establish common sense legislation that will create a well-rounded approach into this under-utilized market. I want to thank all our witnesses for