DOE Releases Strategy to Restore American
Nuclear Energy Leadership

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released the Nuclear Fuel Working Group Report outlining a Strategy to Restore American Nuclear Energy Leadership. ClearPath endorsed the strategy to create new clean energy market opportunities.

RICH’S TAKE

“The administration has taken the wise, long view that a strong nuclear fuel supply industry will not exist without thriving, growing demand for that fuel, in the U.S. and abroad. Supporting R&D, demonstrations of moonshot technology, and robust American exports will create new clean energy market opportunities for American innovators -- while maintaining competitiveness against China and Russia.”

Read the Report
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Lead. Care. Adapt Video Series on The Role of Carbon Capture
and Storage Around The World

Rich joined The International CCS Knowledge Center in their video series "Lead. Care. Adapt." video series discussing his outlook for clean energy innovation and carbon capture projects in the COVID era. Watch the video here

The segments connect viewers with sustainability experts explaining how they are choosing to lead, care and adapt their organizations and projects through COVID-19 and beyond. Valuable insights into caring for people, our work and our planet, while tackling the tough questions around what’s needed now, more than ever, to advance all aspects of climate action including the role of carbon capture and storage around the world.

Safe Geologic Storage of Captured Carbon Dioxide

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a report, “Safe Geologic Storage of Captured Carbon Dioxide: Two Decades of DOE’s Carbon Storage R&D Program in Review."

DOE, the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) near Pittsburgh, other national laboratories, research organizations, and industry stakeholders are working on breakthrough technologies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and industrial facilities that use fossil fuels. Safely storing the captured carbon is key to success of the technology.

Read the report from DOE and NETL

Harnessing Heat:
How the Federal Government Can Advance Geothermal Energy

ClearPath and the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation partnered on a report, Harnessing Heat: How the Federal Government Can Advance Geothermal Energy.

There is a virtually limitless supply of renewable energy right beneath us: geothermal heat. The Earth’s core produces heat that radiates out to the subsurface. This heat , which can be harnessed for a variety of uses including electricity generation, heating and cooling of buildings, and other industrial and hybrid applications. Geothermal energy is clean, safe, and renewable and can provide multiple economic benefits. Because geothermal electricity is reliable, always-on energy, it is an excellent match for a grid replete with intermittent renewables like wind and solar energy.

The U.S Department of Energy (DOE) published a report called GeoVision that shows incredible growth opportunities for the technology. The report estimates geothermal electricity generation could increase up to 60 GW and provide heating or cooling services for more than 73 million homes by 2050. Currently, we have 2.5 GW of geothermal capacity.

Read the report by Faith M. Smith and Robert Rozansky here

Google Launches Carbon-Intelligent Computing

Google announced it is working towards 24x7 carbon-free energy at their data centers. Their “carbon-intelligent computing" platform will shift the timing of many computing tasks to when low-carbon power sources are more available. Their plan is to shift load in based on both time and location to maximize the reduction in grid-level CO2 emissions.

The Renewable Oldies but Goodies: Hydropower & Geothermal

Like any new gadget, trend or song the latest and greatest are what people talk about. In the energy world, renewable energy has become the hip new item for the last few decades. For most people, wind and solar immediately come to mind, but renewable energy sources have been around for much longer than the last few decades. But, like your Spotify playlist, you never want to leave out the “oldies but goodies” — in the case of renewable energy, that’s hydropower and geothermal. The first hydropower dam was operational in 1882, while the first geothermal power plant came online in 1904. In fact, there are over 200 hydropower plants that have operated since the early 1900s!

ClearPath published a new column last week entitled, The Renewable Oldies but Goodies: Hydropower & Geothermal.

Read the column here

Powell Discusses Clean Energy Deployment, Sustainable Finance, and Stimulus Efforts During the COVID Crisis

The Atlantic Council Global Energy Center recently hosted web panels on the coronavirus and oil price impacts on the clean energy future. Rich Powell, executive director at ClearPath joined other panelists discussing the future of clean energy deployment, sustainable finance, and stimulus efforts during the COVID crisis.

Read the recap

New Poll: “Clean Energy Innovation” Very Popular With Voters

Wondering what constituents in your state think of clean energy innovation? ClearPath launched a new nationwide poll recently, with data for every state and every Congressional District.

A 3,000 person nationwide survey conducted by Kristen Soltis Anderson’s firm Echelon Insights shows respondents across the country, including in some of the most conservative parts, believe clean energy innovation is a better path than government regulation.

Clean Energy Poll Highlights:

89% Believe it is possible for the U.S. to develop cleaner energy sources that can also provide more affordable energy.
87% Believe clean energy is an issue that Republicans in Congress SHOULD care about, only 50% believe they do.
58% Say that instead of regulation, they believe more innovation and better technology that lets us reduce carbon emissions is the best way to fight climate change.

THE PATH AHEAD

Every Thursday in April: The University of Houston Center for Carbon Management in Energy is hosting a Webinar Series on carbon capture and sequestration technology. Stay tuned for registration details. Register here

May 13: Save the Date. Industry and Congressional leaders representing Texas energy interests will be hosting an online event, Managing the Critical Importance of Energy in America in a COVID-19 World. Stay tuned for registration details.