A Policy Framework for Scaling Up Permanent Carbon Dioxide Removal in the United States

The report argues that the U.S. needs approximately 1 billion metric tons of permanent CDR annually by 2050 to reach net zero, but current policies are insufficient. It introduces an Innovation Technology Framework that categorizes technology development into R&D, Early Output, and Commercialization stages, each requiring different policy levers: lowering costs, improving access to finance, reducing project development time, and removing ecosystem barriers. The authors recommend tripling DOE CDR R&D funding, implementing a technology-neutral production tax credit for the Early Output phase, and transitioning toward long-term regulatory drivers like a carbon takeback obligation or removals trading system. Key ecosystem recommendations include establishing an interagency task force for monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) and streamlining EPA Class VI well permitting to 12 months.

• The United States requires approximately 1 billion metric tons (1 Gt) of permanent carbon dioxide removal (CDR) annually by 2050 to achieve net zero emissions, with a suggested 'Take-off Point' of 250-500 Mtpa by 2036 to keep this goal feasible.
• Current U.S. policies are deemed insufficient to reach the necessary scale of deployment, as planned direct air capture (DAC) capacity is projected to reach only 76.2 Mtpa by 2035.

APA

Thompson, J., Lockwood, T., Childs, Q., Bowers, S., Sanders-DeMott, R., & Kirley, M. (2025). A Policy Framework for Scaling Up Permanent Carbon Dioxide Removal in the United States. Clean Air Task Force. https://www.catf.us/resource/policy-framework-scaling-permanent-carbon-dioxide-removal-united-states/

Chicago

Thompson, John, Toby Lockwood, Quincy Childs, Sam Bowers, Rebecca Sanders-DeMott, and Matthew Kirley. A Policy Framework for Scaling Up Permanent Carbon Dioxide Removal in the United States. Clean Air Task Force, 2025. https://www.catf.us/resource/policy-framework-scaling-permanent-carbon-dioxide-removal-united-states/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Thompson |first1=John |last2=Lockwood |first2=Toby |last3=Childs |first3=Quincy |last4=Bowers |first4=Sam |last5=Sanders-DeMott |first5=Rebecca |last6=Kirley |first6=Matthew |title=A Policy Framework for Scaling Up Permanent Carbon Dioxide Removal in the United States |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=13 February 2025 |url=https://www.catf.us/resource/policy-framework-scaling-permanent-carbon-dioxide-removal-united-states/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{thompson2025policy, author = {Thompson, John and Lockwood, Toby and Childs, Quincy and Bowers, Sam and Sanders-DeMott, Rebecca and Kirley, Matthew}, title = {{A Policy Framework for Scaling Up Permanent Carbon Dioxide Removal in the United States}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2025}, month = feb, url = {https://www.catf.us/resource/policy-framework-scaling-permanent-carbon-dioxide-removal-united-states/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }