1. Celebrating 10 years of Clean Energy Innovation

 
ClearPath celebrated 10 years of clean energy innovation this week.

We are grateful for the chance to celebrate the clean energy champions whose efforts have helped advance policies that accelerate innovations to reduce and remove global energy emissions.

Huge thanks to our clean energy champions in attendance!

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Reps. Frank Lucas (R-OK), Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), Bob Latta (R-OH), Buddy Carter (R-GA), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Darin LaHood (R-Il), Randy Weber (R-TX), John Curtis (R-UT), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Greg Murphy (R-NC), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Carol Miller (R-WV), Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Garret Graves (R-LA) and Brad Wenstrup (R-OH).

And a special thanks to Sen. Collins and Rep. Lucas for your kind remarks and leadership in advancing clean energy innovation.

Plug in: Take a look at what 10 years of clean energy innovation looks like here.
 

2. FY24 Approps wins for clean energy

Last week, the House and Senate passed an FY24 Appropriations package of six spending bills, including the Energy and Water Development and Department of Interior bills signed into law. This legislation included several wins to advance American clean energy innovation:

• $2.72 billion for nuclear fuel needed for the next generation of advanced reactors
• $316 million for the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program
• $20 million to continue the CDR competitive purchasing pilot program
• Direction to streamline the transition of Class II Wells to Class VI wells used for long-term geologic storage of CO2
• Direction to coordinate clean industrial RD&D activities at the Department of Energy

What’s clear: This Appropriations package provides necessary resources and direction for more American innovation, research and development of clean energy technologies while advancing U.S. global energy leadership.
 

3. NEW report: Deep dive into marine CDR

Policy Advisor Jasmine Yu and Senior Program Manager Savita Bowman co-authored a marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) report that identifies supportive policies at each stage of mCDR innovation through to deployment.

What’s clear: To maintain U.S. leadership in the nascent mCDR sector, further R&D through field trials and enhanced regulatory clarity is needed to keep mCDR innovators in the U.S. Policy tools like federal procurement could expand the mCDR sector as solutions become ready for deployment.

Plug in: Check out ClearPath’s webpage for the policy sequencing necessary to expand CDR efforts.
 

4. Senate bill advancing geothermal

Sens. Risch (R-ID), Heinrich (D-NM), Lee (R-UT) and Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced the Geothermal Energy Optimization (GEO) Act. This bill would allow geothermal energy producers to more efficiently explore new in-ground resources by streamlining the permitting review process by:

• Providing additional resources for field offices by creating a Geothermal Ombudsman and Strike Team for technical assistance and dispute mediation.
• Setting a new geothermal lease sale target for federal lands.
• Requiring the Bureau of Land Management to hold a land auction every year instead of every two years.

What’s clear: Geothermal technologies can play a major role in providing clean, firm, and flexible electricity and help address climate concerns moving forward. To do this, however, permitting reforms like those outlined in the GEO Act are critical. More in BGOV here.
 

5. DOE to deploy $750M for clean hydrogen projects

The DOE announced the first phase of award selections for two IIJA programs, the Clean Hydrogen Electrolysis Program and Clean Hydrogen Recycling and Manufacturing R&D Activities. $750 million for 52 projects across 24 states to support:

• Electrolyzer manufacturing, supply chains and components,
• Fuel cell manufacturing and supply chains,
• And a recycling consortium.

What’s clear: The selection of these projects is crucial to bolstering American leadership in manufacturing and producing clean hydrogen.
 

6. America’s global energy leadership plan

ClearPath Advisory Board Member DJ Nordquist contributed to the National Action Plan for U.S. Leadership in next-generation energy, calling for America to utilize its resources and secure its energy dominance rather than ceding the future to competitors like China.

Plug in: Check out the full piece by The Special Competitive Studies Project to see how the U.S. can position itself as the global leader in next-gen energy.
 

7. Accelerating low-carbon concrete and asphalt deployment

This week, Sens. Chris Coons (D-DE) and Mike Braun (R-IN), co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus, hosted a meeting focused on accelerating the deployment of low-carbon concrete and asphalt.

“This event was a good opportunity to hear from materials industry leaders about their plans to innovate in the concrete and asphalt manufacturing process,” said Sen. Braun.
 

8. ClearPath at Aspen Ideas: Climate

This week, ClearPath CEO Rich Powell moderated a panel titled When Climate Projects Meet Private Capital at Aspen Ideas: Climate in Miami, Florida to discuss private capital’s role in climate finance.
 

9. ICYMI

• The Federal Highway Administration launched a $2 billion program to help state and local governments buy low-carbon materials like concrete.
• Check out “Vertian Capital Podcast, C.O.B.Tuesday” featuring ClearPath Advisory Board Member Paul Dabbar.
• Lithium Americas to get a $2.26 billion loan for its Thacker Pass mine.
• DOE FECM plans to launch the CO2 Removal Purchasers Challenge (“CO2RP Challenge”).