A new bill introduced in the U.S. Senate could mark a turning point for biomass-based carbon removal. The Carbon Removal and Emissions Storage Technologies (CREST) Act, proposed by Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, aims to support carbon management efforts by offering a dedicated federal tax credit for projects that capture and securely store carbon from biogenic sources.

The CREST Act would introduce a targeted incentive for biomassBiomass is a complex biological organic or non-organic solid product derived from living or recently living organism and available naturally. Various types of wastes such as animal manure, waste paper, sludge and many industrial wastes are also treated as biomass because like natural biomass these More carbon removal and storage (BiCRS) systems. These include approaches such as combustion, gasificationGasification is a high-temperature, thermochemical process that converts carbon-based materials into a gaseous fuel called syngas and solid by-products. It takes place in an oxygen-deficient environment at temperatures typically above 750°C. Unlike combustion, which fully burns material to produce heat and carbon dioxide (CO2​), gasification More, and pyrolysis—processes often overlooked by existing carbon policy. Unlike the existing Section 45Q tax credit, which mainly applies to carbon captured from fossil fuel sources, this new legislation would focus specifically on biogenic carbon removal. Qualifying storage methods would include both geological sequestration and the production of durable carbon-based materials such as biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More and biocarbon.

Supporters argue that the bill could provide critical financial certainty to developers of BiCRS projects. By reducing reliance on volatile voluntary carbon markets, the CREST Act could help scale technologies that are key to long-term climate goals.

Although the bill is still in the early stages of the legislative process, it has already generated interest among clean tech investors and environmental groups. These stakeholders view it as a much-needed policy step to enhance the credibility and bankability of biomass-based carbon removal.

Senator Heinrich emphasized the bill’s role in achieving climate targets: “To meet our net-zero targets, we must accelerate carbon removal technologies and build the infrastructure to store those emissions securely. The CREST Act ensures that biomass-based solutions have the support they need to scale.”

If enacted, the CREST Act could offer the kind of policy stability and recognition that biomass carbon removal technologies have long lacked, potentially positioning the U.S. as a leader in negative emissions development.