Congressman Gonzalez Announces Historic Investment of up to $600 Million for Direct Air Capture Facility in Kleberg County
KLEBERG COUNTY, TEXAS – Last week, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will invest $1.2 billion for the development of the nation’s first two commercial-scale direct air capture facilities. One of the facilities will be built in Kleberg County, Texas, and is slated to receive up to $600 million for its development. This is part of the Biden Administration’s Direct Air Capture (DAC) Hubs program which will create a national network of carbon removing facilities. Funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which Congressman Gonzalez helped shepherd through the House of Representatives in 2021, DAC facilities will remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and store it permanently underground or convert it into carbon-containing products, like concrete.
“Cutting back on our carbon emissions alone won’t reverse the growing impacts of climate change; we also need to remove the CO2 that we’ve already put in the atmosphere—which nearly every climate model makes clear is essential to achieving a net-zero global economy by 2050,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “With this once-in-a-generation investment made possible by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, DOE is laying the foundation for a direct air capture industry crucial to tackling climate change—transforming local economies and delivering healthier communities along the way.”
“Kleberg County will be home to the development of a modern, commercial facility to remove carbon emissions straight from our atmosphere – an achievement made possible by federal investment in our community and public-private partnerships,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “This consequential technology is not only critical in our fight against CO2 emissions, extreme weather, and the associated environmental risks to public safety and health – it also provides South Texas a direct role in improving our community and our planet’s future. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these facilities will eventually be in towns and cities across the country. I am proud South Texas will host one of the first operations of this kind, leading the way to a better future as we are meant to!”
“Kleberg County is excited to support and work hand-in-hand with 1PointFive, OXY and the King Ranch with its South Texas Direct Air Capture Hub. The benefits that this project will bring to our region and the entire world are amazing!” said Kleberg County Judge, Rudy Madrid.
The direct air capture facility in Kleberg County is designed to remove approximately 1 million metric tons of CO2 annually, the world’s first facility designed with this capacity. The facility’s construction, maintenance, and operation will also create approximately 2,500 new jobs for the surrounding area and has existing agreements to ensure local hiring.
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