Low Carbon Asphalt Bill Sent to House Floor for Debate

On March 20^th the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee passed H.R. 7685, the Innovative Mitigation Partnerships for Asphalt and Concrete Technologies (IMPACT) Act, by a vote of 38 – 0.  The legislation was introduced by U.S. Congressman Max Miller (R-OH) and Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (D-NC).  The legislation will be scheduled for House debate in the very near future. 

The bill was first introduced in the House on March 15 and follows a similar bill introduced in the U.S. Senate late last year by Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC). That bill, S. 3439, would direct federal resources to accelerate research, development, demonstration, and commercialization of low-emissions concrete and asphalt technologies, including by creating a domestic market for the products.

The IMPACT Act aims to reduce emissions in the asphalt, cement, and concrete, industries through increased research, development, and innovation. This bipartisan legislation is another step towards driving down carbon emissions in the construction materials’ industry and is supported by both parties in the House of Representatives and in the U.S. Senate. 

The bill would establish a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) program for research, development, and demonstration in innovative, low-emissions asphalt and concrete.  As part of the program, the DOE would focus on materials, technologies, inputs, and processes that produce fewer GHG gases during production, use and end use of asphalt and, at the same time provide durability equal to or greater than materials currently in wide use today (e.g., aramid fiber.)

“Cement, concrete, and asphalt production practices are critically important to the industrial sector and play a fundamental role in supporting U.S. infrastructure, national defense, and economic security,” said Congressman Miller at Wednesday’s markup. “The IMPACT Act recognizes that role and will enable domestic production to reach peak efficiency for decades to come.” 

Specifically, the IMPACT Act: 

• Enables industry and DOE to work collaboratively on fundamental research that will enhance existing production methods and unlock new innovative techniques; and 
• Enables DOE, in consultation with other federal agencies, to offer technical assistance to entities seeking to promote the commercial application of low-emission asphalt, cement, and concrete.

Video of Congressman Miller’s remarks is available here.