Happy Friday!

1. Palisades nuclear plant receives funding to reopen

Palisades Energy LLC, a subsidiary of Holtec International, is officially receiving a $1.5 billion federal loan from the DOE to reopen Michigan’s Palisades nuclear power plant in late 2025.

• Palisades’ 800 MW reactor capacity will belong to Wolverine Power Cooperative, a non-profit electricity provider for rural Michigan.
• Next step: gaining approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

What’s clear: On track to be the first reactor restart in the U.S. after shutting down just two years ago, Palisades is a trailblazer for American nuclear energy. Holtec plans to almost double capacity at the Palisades’ site in the 2030s with the addition of two Holtec SMR-300 small modular reactors, signaling the importance of new nuclear energy to America’s clean energy future.

Plug in: In the Washington Examiner, ClearPath CEO Jeremy Harrell co-authored an op-ed with Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) on investing in and advancing nuclear energy to ensure Americans’ growing demands are met with reliable, affordable and clean energy.  

2. Carbon management education: Coastal Blue Carbon 101

Blue carbon is the term used to describe the “watery” nature of carbon captured by the ocean and coastal ecosystems. Coastal blue carbon ecosystems include salt marshes, mangrove forests and seagrass meadows. These ecosystems are:

• The world’s most efficient carbon sinks, sequestering carbon 10 times faster than mature forests;
• A solution for economic and environmental resiliency, creating flood-resilient communities… providing economic benefits by supporting fisheries… enhancing property values… and improving nutrient cycling; and
• Subject to loss and degradation, emitting carbon dioxide (CO2) back into the atmosphere and reducing future carbon sequestration potential.

What’s clear: Coastal blue carbon ecosystems are one of the world’s greatest natural tools to address climate-related challenges today and a necessary pathway to naturally remove excess carbon from the atmosphere.

Plug in: Check out our new technology 101 about this promising natural carbon removal solution by Senior Policy Advisor Jasmine Yu and former Intern Jake Marrs.
 

3. Kairos expands manufacturing facility

ClearPath’s CEO, Jeremy Harrell, and Managing Director of International and Nuclear Policy, Niko McMurray, visited Albuquerque, New Mexico this week to see the dedication of Kairos Power’s new engineering center to support the development of its advanced reactor technology.

The Manufacturing Development Campus:

• Is designed to test high-temperature salt technology, which continues, enhances, and expands Kairos’ work at its headquarters and R&D lab in California.
• Is in New Mexico because of state support and proximity to two national laboratories.

Kairos Power’s Co-Founder and CEO, Mike Laufer, and Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Ed Blandford, dedicating their Manufacturing Development Campus.

4. Google searching for nuclear

This week, we learned that Google may follow in the footsteps of Amazon, Microsoft, and others by embracing nuclear energy to power its growing data centers, according to CEO Sundar Pichai.

The company is looking to invest more in clean energy to achieve net-zero emissions goals by 2030, including evaluating small modular reactor technology.

What’s clear: Nuclear power can provide reliable, 24/7, clean power, making it a great option to power data centers and energy-intensive manufacturing. Private corporations across various industries like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Nucor and others are increasingly interested in nuclear power to help meet their lower emissions goals and to meet the coming demand crunch.

Plug in: Check out this blog by Nuclear Program Manager Jake Kincer and former Intern Joey Labrie for more on how private industry is betting on nuclear.
 

5. ICYMI

• DOE’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) to fund up to $1.3 billion to catalyze investments in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies. This funding, made available through the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, will support carbon capture demonstration and pilot-scale projects.
• DOE issued a NOI for up to $1.8 billion to fund mid- and large-scale commercial direct air capture (DAC) facilities that remove carbon dioxide from the air.