26 USC 45Q - Credit for carbon oxide sequestration

U.S Code last checked for updates: May 18, 2024

§ 45Q.

Credit for carbon oxide sequestration

(a)

General rule

For purposes of section 38, the carbon oxide sequestration credit for any taxable year is an amount equal to the sum of—

(1)

$20 per metric ton of qualified carbon oxide which is—

(A)

captured by the taxpayer using carbon capture equipment which is originally placed in service at a qualified facility before the date of the enactment of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, and

(B)

disposed of by the taxpayer in secure geological storage and not used by the taxpayer as described in paragraph (2)(B),

(2)

$10 per metric ton of qualified carbon oxide which is—

(A)

captured by the taxpayer using carbon capture equipment which is originally placed in service at a qualified facility before the date of the enactment of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, and

(B)

(i)

used by the taxpayer as a tertiary injectant in a qualified enhanced oil or natural gas recovery project and disposed of by the taxpayer in secure geological storage, or

(ii)

utilized by the taxpayer in a manner described in subsection (f)(5),

(3)

the applicable dollar amount (as determined under subsection (b)(1)) per metric ton of qualified carbon oxide which is—

(A)

captured by the taxpayer using carbon capture equipment which is originally placed in service at a qualified facility on or after the date of the enactment of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, during the 12-year period beginning on the date the equipment was originally placed in service, and

(B)

disposed of by the taxpayer in secure geological storage and not used by the taxpayer as described in paragraph (4)(B), and

(4)

the applicable dollar amount (as determined under subsection (b)(1)) per metric ton of qualified carbon oxide which is—

(A)

(B)

(i)

used by the taxpayer as a tertiary injectant in a qualified enhanced oil or natural gas recovery project and disposed of by the taxpayer in secure geological storage, or

(ii)

utilized by the taxpayer in a manner described in subsection (f)(5).

(b)

Applicable dollar amount; additional equipment; election

(1)

Applicable dollar amount

(A)

In general

Except as provided in subparagraph (B) or (C), the applicable dollar amount shall be an amount equal to—

(i)

for any taxable year beginning in a calendar year after 2016 and before 2027—

(I)

for purposes of paragraph (3) of subsection (a), $17, and

(II)

for purposes of paragraph (4) of such subsection, $12, and

(ii)

for any taxable year beginning in a calendar year after 2026—

(I)

for purposes of paragraph (3) of subsection (a), an amount equal to the product of $17 and the inflation adjustment factor for such calendar year determined under section 43(b)(3)(B) for such calendar year, determined by substituting “2025” for “1990”, and

(II)

for purposes of paragraph (4) of such subsection, an amount equal to the product of $12 and the inflation adjustment factor for such calendar year determined under section 43(b)(3)(B) for such calendar year, determined by substituting “2025” for “1990”.

(B)

Special rule for direct air capture facilities

In the case of any qualified facility described in subsection (d)(2)(A) which is placed in service after December 31, 2022, the applicable dollar amount shall be an amount equal to the applicable dollar amount otherwise determined with respect to such qualified facility under subparagraph (A), except that such subparagraph shall be applied—

(i)

by substituting “$36” for “$17” each place it appears, and

(ii)

by substituting “$26” for “$12” each place it appears.

(C)

Applicable dollar amount for additional carbon capture equipment

In the case of any qualified facility which is placed in service before January 1, 2023, if any additional carbon capture equipment is installed at such facility and such equipment is placed in service after December 31, 2022, the applicable dollar amount shall be an amount equal to the applicable dollar amount otherwise determined under this paragraph, except that subparagraph (B) shall be applied—

(i)

by substituting “before January 1, 2023” for “after December 31, 2022”, and

(ii)

by substituting “the additional carbon capture equipment installed at such qualified facility” for “such qualified facility”.

(D)

Rounding

(2)

Installation of additional carbon capture equipment on existing qualified facility

In the case of a qualified facility placed in service before the date of the enactment of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, for which additional carbon capture equipment is placed in service on or after the date of the enactment of such Act, the amount of qualified carbon oxide which is captured by the taxpayer shall be equal to—

(A)

for purposes of paragraphs (1)(A) and (2)(A) of subsection (a), the lesser of—

(i)

the total amount of qualified carbon oxide captured at such facility for the taxable year, or

(ii)

the total amount of the carbon dioxide capture capacity of the carbon capture equipment in service at such facility on the day before the date of the enactment of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, and

(B)

for purposes of paragraphs (3)(A) and (4)(A) of such subsection, an amount (not less than zero) equal to the excess of—

(i)

the amount described in clause (i) of subparagraph (A), over

(ii)

the amount described in clause (ii) of such subparagraph.

(3)

Election

(c)

Qualified carbon oxide

For purposes of this section—

(1)

In general

The term “qualified carbon oxide” means—

(A)

any carbon dioxide which—

(i)

is captured from an industrial source by carbon capture equipment which is originally placed in service before the date of the enactment of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018,

(ii)

would otherwise be released into the atmosphere as industrial emission of greenhouse gas or lead to such release, and

(iii)

is measured at the source of capture and verified at the point of disposal, injection, or utilization,

(B)

any carbon dioxide or other carbon oxide which—

(i)

is captured from an industrial source by carbon capture equipment which is originally placed in service on or after the date of the enactment of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018,

(ii)

would otherwise be released into the atmosphere as industrial emission of greenhouse gas or lead to such release, and

(iii)

is measured at the source of capture and verified at the point of disposal, injection, or utilization, or

(C)

in the case of a direct air capture facility, any carbon dioxide which—

(i)

is captured directly from the ambient air, and

(ii)

is measured at the source of capture and verified at the point of disposal, injection, or utilization.

(2)

Recycled carbon oxide

(d)

Qualified facility

For purposes of this section, the term “qualified facility” means any industrial facility or direct air capture facility—

(1)

the construction of which begins before January 1, 2033, and either—

(A)

construction of carbon capture equipment begins before such date, or

(B)

the original planning and design for such facility includes installation of carbon capture equipment, and

(2)

which—

(A)

in the case of a direct air capture facility, captures not less than 1,000 metric tons of qualified carbon oxide during the taxable year,

(B)

in the case of an electricity generating facility—

(i)

captures not less than 18,750 metric tons of qualified carbon oxide during the taxable year, and

(ii)

with respect to any carbon capture equipment for the applicable electric generating unit at such facility, has a capture design capacity of not less than 75 percent of the baseline carbon oxide production of such unit, or

(C)

in the case of any other facility, captures not less than 12,500 metric tons of qualified carbon oxide during the taxable year.

(e)

Definitions

For purposes of this section—

(1)

Applicable electric generating unit

(2)

Baseline carbon oxide production

(A)

In general

The term “baseline carbon oxide production” means either of the following:

(i)

In the case of an applicable electric generating unit which was originally placed in service more than 1 year prior to the date on which construction of the carbon capture equipment begins, the average annual carbon oxide production, by mass, from such unit during—

(I)

in the case of an applicable electric generating unit which was originally placed in service more than 1 year prior to the date on which construction of the carbon capture equipment begins and on or after the date which is 3 years prior to the date on which construction of such equipment begins, the period beginning on the date such unit was placed in service and ending on the date on which construction of such equipment began, and

(II)

in the case of an applicable electric generating unit which was originally placed in service more than 3 years prior to the date on which construction of the carbon capture equipment begins, the 3 years with the highest annual carbon oxide production during the 12-year period preceding the date on which construction of such equipment began.

(ii)

In the case of an applicable electric generating unit which—

(I)

as of the date on which construction of the carbon capture equipment begins, is not yet placed in service, or

(II)

was placed in service during the 1-year period prior to the date on which construction of the carbon capture equipment begins,

the designed annual carbon oxide production, by mass, as determined based on an assumed capacity factor of 60 percent.

(B)

Capacity factor

(3)

Direct air capture facility

(A)

In general

(B)

Exception

The term “direct air capture facility” shall not include any facility which captures carbon dioxide—

(i)

which is deliberately released from naturally occurring subsurface springs, or

(ii)

using natural photosynthesis.

(4)

(5)

Tertiary injectant

(f)

Special rules

(1)

Only qualified carbon oxide captured and disposed of or used within the united states taken into account

The credit under this section shall apply only with respect to qualified carbon oxide the capture and disposal, use, or utilization of which is within—

(A)

the United States (within the meaning of section 638(1)), or

(B)

a possession of the United States (within the meaning of section 638(2)).

(2)

Secure geological storage

(3)

Credit attributable to taxpayer

(A)

In general

Except as provided in subparagraph (B) or in any regulations prescribed by the Secretary, any credit under this section shall be attributable to—

(i)

in the case of qualified carbon oxide captured using carbon capture equipment which is originally placed in service at a qualified facility before the date of the enactment of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, the person that captures and physically or contractually ensures the disposal, utilization, or use as a tertiary injectant of such qualified carbon oxide, and

(ii)

in the case of qualified carbon oxide captured using carbon capture equipment which is originally placed in service at a qualified facility on or after the date of the enactment of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, the person that owns the carbon capture equipment and physically or contractually ensures the capture and disposal, utilization, or use as a tertiary injectant of such qualified carbon oxide.

(B)

Election

If the person described in subparagraph (A) makes an election under this subparagraph in such time and manner as the Secretary may prescribe by regulations, the credit under this section—

(i)

shall be allowable to the person that disposes of the qualified carbon oxide, utilizes the qualified carbon oxide, or uses the qualified carbon oxide as a tertiary injectant, and

(ii)

shall not be allowable to the person described in subparagraph (A).

(4)

Recapture

(5)

Utilization of qualified carbon oxide

(A)

In general

For purposes of this section, utilization of qualified carbon oxide means—

(i)

the fixation of such qualified carbon oxide through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, such as through the growing of algae or bacteria,

(ii)

the chemical conversion of such qualified carbon oxide to a material or chemical compound in which such qualified carbon oxide is securely stored, or

(iii)

the use of such qualified carbon oxide for any other purpose for which a commercial market exists (with the exception of use as a tertiary injectant in a qualified enhanced oil or natural gas recovery project), as determined by the Secretary.

(B)

Measurement

(i)

In general

For purposes of determining the amount of qualified carbon oxide utilized by the taxpayer under paragraph (2)(B)(ii) or (4)(B)(ii) of subsection (a), such amount shall be equal to the metric tons of qualified carbon oxide which the taxpayer demonstrates, based upon an analysis of lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions and subject to such requirements as the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, determines appropriate, were—

(I)

captured and permanently isolated from the atmosphere, or

(II)

displaced from being emitted into the atmosphere,

through use of a process described in subparagraph (A).

(ii)

Lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions

(6)

Election for applicable facilities

(A)

In general

(B)

Applicable facility

For purposes of this paragraph, the term “applicable facility” means a qualified facility—

(i)

which was placed in service before the date of the enactment of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, and

(ii)

for which no taxpayer claimed a credit under this section in regards to such facility for any taxable year ending before the date of the enactment of such Act.

(7)

Inflation adjustment

In the case of any taxable year beginning in a calendar year after 2009, there shall be substituted for each dollar amount contained in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a) an amount equal to the product of—

(A)

such dollar amount, multiplied by

(B)

the inflation adjustment factor for such calendar year determined under section 43(b)(3)(B) for such calendar year, determined by substituting “2008” for “1990”.

(8)

Credit reduced for tax-exempt bonds

(9)

Election

For purposes of paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (a), a person described in paragraph (3)(A)(ii) may elect, at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may prescribe, to have the 12–year period begin on the first day of the first taxable year in which a credit under this section is claimed with respect to carbon capture equipment which is originally placed in service at a qualified facility on or after the date of the enactment of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (after application of paragraph (6), where applicable) if—

(A)

no taxpayer claimed a credit under this section with respect to such carbon capture equipment for any prior taxable year,

(B)

the qualified facility at which such carbon capture equipment is placed in service is located in an area affected by a federally-declared disaster (as defined by section 165(i)(5)(A)) after the carbon capture equipment is originally placed in service, and

(C)

such federally-declared disaster results in a cessation of the operation of the qualified facility or the carbon capture equipment after such equipment is originally placed in service.

(g)

Application of section for certain carbon capture equipment

In the case of any carbon capture equipment placed in service before the date of the enactment of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, the credit under this section shall apply with respect to qualified carbon oxide captured using such equipment before the earlier of January 1, 2023, and the end of the calendar year in which the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, certifies that, during the period beginning after October 3, 2008, a total of 75,000,000 metric tons of qualified carbon oxide have been taken into account in accordance with—

(1)

subsection (a) of this section, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, and

(2)

paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a) of this section.

(h)

Increased credit amount for qualified facilities and carbon capture equipment

(1)

In general

(2)

Requirements

The requirements described in this paragraph are that—

(A)

with respect to any qualified facility the construction of which begins on or after the date that is 60 days after the Secretary publishes guidance with respect to the requirements of paragraphs (3)(A) and (4), as well as any carbon capture equipment placed in service at such facility—

(i)

subject to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3), the taxpayer satisfies the requirements under subparagraph (A) of such paragraph with respect to such facility and equipment, and

(ii)

the taxpayer satisfies the requirements under paragraph (4) with respect to the construction of such facility and equipment,

(B)

with respect to any carbon capture equipment the construction of which begins on or after the date that is 60 days after the Secretary publishes guidance with respect to the requirements of paragraphs (3)(A) and (4), and which is installed at a qualified facility the construction of which began prior to such date—

(i)

subject to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3), the taxpayer satisfies the requirements under subparagraph (A) of such paragraph with respect to such equipment, and

(ii)

the taxpayer satisfies the requirements under paragraph (4) with respect to the construction of such equipment, or

(C)

the construction of carbon capture equipment begins prior to the date that is 60 days after the Secretary publishes guidance with respect to the requirements of paragraphs (3)(A) and (4), and such equipment is installed at a qualified facility the construction of which begins prior to such date.

(3)

Prevailing wage requirements

(A)

In general

The requirements described in this subparagraph with respect to any qualified facility and any carbon capture equipment placed in service at such facility are that the taxpayer shall ensure that any laborers and mechanics employed by the taxpayer or any contractor or subcontractor in—

(i)

the construction of such facility or equipment, and

(ii)

with respect to any taxable year, for any portion of such taxable year which is within the period described in paragraph (3)(A) or (4)(A) of subsection (a), the alteration or repair of such facility or such equipment,

shall be paid wages at rates not less than the prevailing rates for construction, alteration, or repair of a similar character in the locality in which such facility and equipment are located as most recently determined by the Secretary of Labor, in accordance with subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40, United States Code. For purposes of determining an increased credit amount under paragraph (1) for a taxable year, the requirement under clause (ii) of this subparagraph is applied to such taxable year in which the alteration or repair of qualified facility occurs.

(B)

Correction and penalty related to failure to satisfy wage requirements

(4)

Apprenticeship requirements

(5)

Regulations and guidance

(i)

Regulations

The Secretary may prescribe such regulations and other guidance as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out this section, including regulations or other guidance to—

(1)

ensure proper allocation under subsection (a) for qualified carbon oxide captured by a taxpayer during the taxable year ending after the date of the enactment of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018,

(2)

determine whether a facility satisfies the requirements under subsection (d)(1) during such taxable year, and

(3)

for purposes of subsection (d)(2)(B)(ii), adjust the baseline carbon oxide production with respect to any applicable electric generating unit at any electricity generating facility if, after the date on which the carbon capture equipment is placed in service, modifications which are chargeable to capital account are made to such unit which result in a significant increase or decrease in carbon oxide production.

(Added Pub. L. 110–343, div. B, title I, § 115(a), Oct. 3, 2008, 122 Stat. 3829; amended Pub. L. 111–5, div. B, title I, § 1131(a), (b), Feb. 17, 2009, 123 Stat. 325; Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, § 209(j)(1), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4030; Pub. L. 115–123, div. D, title II, § 41119(a), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 162; Pub. L. 116–260, div. EE, title I, § 121, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 3051; Pub. L. 117–58, div. H, title IV, § 80402(e), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1334; Pub. L. 117–169, title I, § 13104(a)(1), (2)(A), (b)–(h), Aug. 16, 2022, 136 Stat. 1924–1928.)

cite as: 26 USC 45Q