Much Needed NEPA Modernization

This week, the White House’s Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) finalized regulations regarding the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which would reduce red tape from strict regulations on a number of clean energy development projects. Read more

RICH’S TAKE

“The Administration is working to reduce unnecessary regulatory hurdles that needlessly slow down energy projects. The efficient permitting of projects is essential to the efficient use of scant taxpayer resources and rapidly scaling clean energy deployment. We can only put energy workers of all stripes on the job as fast as we can permit the projects.”

Biden-Sanders Climate Plan to Mandate Zero-Emissions
from Power Sector by 2035

This week, former Vice President Joe Biden announced a plan calling for a $2 trillion investment over four years on climate change and a mandate to fully decarbonize the U.S. power sector by 2035, which reportedly was crafted with a task force that included Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Republican Leader Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) released the following comment:

“Joe Biden has fallen into the trap set by the left to use ‘climate change’ as the justification for completely restructuring the American economy in hope of ushering in a Soviet-style socialist state.

“Instead of unleashing American entrepreneurs and lowering the economic burden on American families, his approach relies on increased taxes and more expensive energy, housing, and transportation, which will inflict disproportionate harm on the poor, minorities, and the working class — people who can least afford increased economic burdens in a post-COVID world. The government should be helping families weather the COVID storm, not making things worse.

“Don’t be fooled by the rhetoric, look at the facts contained in the plan — if you care about our country or the environment, this plan should scare you. If you want America to be more reliant on China, Russia and child labor in Africa, then this plan is for you.”

Read his statement

DOE Releases Energy Storage Grand Challenge Roadmap

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released the Energy Storage Grand Challenge Draft Roadmap and a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input. DOE announced the Energy Storage Grand Challenge in January to help accelerate the development, commercialization, and utilization of next-generation energy storage. The Draft Roadmap outlines a Department-wide strategy to accelerate innovation across a range of storage technologies based on three concepts: Innovate Here, Make Here, Deploy Everywhere. Read more

RICH’S TAKE

“DOE’s Energy Storage Grand Challenge will turbocharge energy storage development from basic R&D through commercialization. By bringing together DOE, world class researchers from the National Labs, as well as private sector innovators, the Grand Challenge will not only help integrate more renewable resources onto the grid, but also reduce global emissions.”

Recently Rich and James Newcomb wrote an op-ed for the Morning Consult entitled, "Scaling Energy Storage Is a Climate Action Enabler."

Energy & Commerce Advances the RIVER Act

The House Energy and Commerce Committee held a markup this week and passed a number of bills including, H.R. 3361, the Reliable Investment in Vital Energy Reauthorization (RIVER) Act, authored by Rep. David McKinley (R-WV). The RIVER act would amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to reauthorize the Hydroelectric Incentive Program, which provides funding for retrofitting dams with hydroelectric generating capabilities, as well as the Hydroelectric Efficiency Improvement Program. ClearPath Action has endorsed the RIVER Act stating that, “powering non-powered dams has the potential to add 3.6 GW of clean and affordable hydropower electricity to the U.S. grid.” Read more

ARPA-E Announces 12 New Projects Selected in FLECCS Program

On Monday, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $11.5 million in funding for 12 projects as part of Phase 1 of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy’s (ARPA-E) FLExible Carbon Capture and Storage (FLECCS) program. FLECCS project teams will work to develop carbon capture technologies optimized for future energy systems. Read more

House Appropriations Committee Advances Essential
Legislation for Clean Energy Innovation

This week, the House Appropriations Committee voted 30-21 to advance its FY2021 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies bill, which provides funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of the Interior programs, the Department of Energy (DOE), and other related agencies. Read more

IN THE HEARING ROOM

This week: The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing titled, “Oversight of DOE During the Covid-19 Pandemic,” where U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Dan Brouillette testified. Read more

Washington Times: How U.S. and allies can stop global energy dominance by China and Russia

Robert McFarlane, who served as National Security Adviser under President Ronald Reagan (from 1983-87), penned an op-ed in the Washington Times on the need for American leadership to stop China and Russia from dominating the global energy sector. Read the op-ed

£40 million to kick start next-gen nuclear technology

The UK government last Friday committed £40 million to “develop the next generation of nuclear energy technology,” a definition that includes both advanced fission and fusion. £30 million will support 3 start-up projects across the United Kingdom (UK): Tokamak Energy (fusion), Westinghouse UK (fission, lead-cooled fast reactor), and U-Battery (fission, high temperature gas-cooled reactor). An additional £10 million will be put toward developing new manufacturing processes to support the emerging advanced nuclear industry. Read more

THE PATH AHEAD

Today: The Subcommittee on Energy of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee will hold a hearing at 1:30pm ET on, "From Lab to Market: Accelerating Our Progress Toward Economic Recovery and a Clean Energy Future."

July 22: The International Association for Energy Economics is hosting a webinar at 10:00am ET on, “Nuclear Power, Recycling and Advanced Reactors.” More details and register here

July 23: Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) Forum is hosting an online event from 12:00pm – 1:00pm, “How do conservatives plan to tackle climate change?” More details and register here