House Republicans Release Carbon Capture Piece of Climate Plan

House Republicans rolled out the first piece of their plan to tackle climate change. The plan will consist of three key solutions: carbon capture, clean energy, and conservation.

This week they rolled out four carbon capture bills:

Carbon capture and sequestration tax credit extension (Reps. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) and David Schweikert (R-AZ))

Extends and enhances the Section 45Q tax credit for carbon use and sequestration.

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New Energy Frontiers Through Carbon Innovation Act of 2020 (Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX))

Requires the Secretary of Energy to establish a carbon utilization research hub and a program for the research, development, and demonstration of commercially viable technologies for the capture of carbon dioxide produced during the production of natural gas-generated power.

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Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) Innovation Act (Rep. David McKinley (R-WV))

Promotes the development and deployment of carbon capture, utilization and storage technologies, including direct air capture, through permitting reform, financial incentives, and federal technical support.

Trillion Trees Act (Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR))

Authorizes programs to invest in national and international reforestation, and reforms to improve forest management, utilize wood products, and increase carbon sequestration.

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RICH’S TAKE

“Too often, climate policy is oversimplified to false choices: renewables versus fossils, economy versus environment, immediate reductions at home versus inaction. Leader McCarthy and the conference are focusing on solutions that can make clean energy more affordable while preserving economic growth and reflecting the global nature of the challenge."

“Any debate on climate change must be rooted in political and technical realism, as well as economic competitiveness. We appreciate their moonshot approach to carbon capture innovation that will make clean energy affordable. It’s a good strategy to focus on policies that facilitate breakthroughs relevant for the developing world, instead of divisive policies that would make traditional energy more expensive and only aid deployment of existing technologies.”

Dominion Energy Plans to be Net Zero Emissions by 2050

Dominion Energy announced a new commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Their goal includes electricity generation and gas infrastructure operations. Read more here

Dominion joins a growing list of major U.S. utilities planning to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Xcel Energy, Duke, DTE Energy, and Arizona Public Service Co. are others that have made similar commitments.

House Science Passes Key Clean Energy Bills

The House Science, Space & Technology Committee passed several key innovation bills including the Better Energy Storage Technology (BEST) Act and the Advanced Geothermal Research and Development Act. Both have strong bipartisan support.

The BEST Act, led by Reps. Bill Foster (D-IL), Sean Casten (D-IL), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), and Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH) will reorient the federal grid scale storage research, development, and demonstration program around ambitious technology goals necessary to facilitate important breakthroughs for grid of the future.

The Advanced Geothermal Research and Development Act, led by Reps. Frank Lucas (R-OK), and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), would catalyze the Department of Energy’s (DOE) geothermal research, development, and demonstration programs to facilitate technological breakthroughs needed to unlock the United States’ immense geothermal potential.

Advanced Nuclear, Energy Storage Included in White House Budget

The White House released their FY21 budget this week, which is the first step in a process that ultimately involves Congress. The White House inclusion of the Versatile Test Reactor, Energy Storage Grand Challenge and the grid storage launchpad is a positive signal they will be priority programs. The most recent spending bills from Congress have embraced clean energy innovation investments when they were complete. Here’s more on the most recent FY20 bill.

Read the FY 2021 Department of Energy’s Budget Request to Congress.

Vogtle Nuclear Plant Plans to Load Fuel This Fall

Southern Nuclear Operating Company notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) that they plan on beginning to load nuclear fuel into the Vogtle Unit 3 reactor in Waynesboro, Ga. in late November 2020. Before fuel load, the NRC will determine that Southern has completed inspections and other required actions. More details here.

ClearPath Joins US NIC at Advanced Reactor Summit

The U.S. Nuclear Industry Council (USNIC) hosted an advanced reactor summit this week. ClearPath Managing Director of Policy, Jeremy Harrell, joined a panel on the political landscape and federal policy momentum around advanced nuclear technologies.

IN THE HEARING ROOM THIS WEEK

On Wednesday, February 12 The Subcommittee on Energy of the Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing entitled, "Saving Energy: Legislation to Improve Energy Efficiency and Storage." The hearing featured DOE Under Secretary Mark W. Menezes and several grid scale storage bills.

THE PATH AHEAD

February 26, 2020: The due date for responses to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Request for Information/Notice of Inquiry (RFI/NOI) for the new Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. Click here for the RFI/NOI.