That includes a $35 million government procurement program for carbon removal credits, and funding for 14 feasibility studies and 5 engineering and design studies for earlier-stage hub projects. Worsening climate change and inadequate efforts to cut emissions have thrust carbon removal into the spotlight. Although most environmental activists acknowledge that carbon removal will be needed for global climate targets to be met, they are concerned companies could use carbon removal development to give fossil fuel companies cover to maintain production, especially in minority and low-income areas. Erin Burns, director of carbon removal advisory firm Carbon180, said the United States is positioning itself as a leader in this technology. "This is the first major federal investment from any country on carbon removal at this level," Burns said.

---

Persons: Worley, Jennifer Granholm, Vicki Hollub, Erin Burns, Carbon180, Burns, Valerie Volcovici, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, Occidental Petroleum Corp, WASHINGTON, U.S . Department of Energy, Department of Energy, DOE, Battelle, Climeworks Corporation, Carbon, Inc, South, South Texas DAC, Occidental 1PointFive, Carbon Engineering Ltd, DAC, Energy Department, United Arab, Occidental, Thomson Locations: Handout, Texas, Louisiana, Cypress, South Texas, Kleberg County , Texas, United Arab Emirates, United States