Edison Electric Institute’s (EEI) Annual Convention Spurs Productive Conversation on Clean Energy Solutions

Earlier this week ClearPath Executive Director, Rich Powell was a member of a panel at the annual Edison Electric Institute’s (EEI) conference. He, as well as others, discussed the federal government’s role in addressing climate change and focusing on solutions that are realistic. Rich highlighted to the EEI panel attendees that he recently testified before the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change and the House Ways and Means Committee and described the consensus surrounding climate change at those hearings. “I think that there was generally consensus that climate change is real, that global-industrial activities from anthropogenic sources is a significant contributor to that and that the federal government ought to take significant ambitious action beyond what it’s doing now to tackle that challenge.” Read more here
 

ClearPath welcomes Luke Bolar as Managing Director  – External Affairs

A Capitol Hill and PR agency veteran, Luke will work closely with the policy and legislative teams as well as lead external relations and communications. Bolar joins ClearPath from Edelman where he was Senior Vice President of their energy practice leading communications strategy and public affairs campaigns for energy companies, trade associations and government entities.

RICH’S TAKE

“Luke’s deep Capitol Hill background and experience leading public affairs campaigns for some of the nation’s leading energy institutions will help us grow our presence advocating and messaging conservative clean energy policies.” Click here to read the full press release
 

IN THE HEARING ROOM THIS WEEK:

Hearing on “Oversight of FERC: Ensuring Its Actions Benefit Consumers and the Environment”

The FERC Commissioners testified before the Energy Subcommittee of the House Energy & Commerce Committee this week to discuss the status of several docket items on FERC’s agenda. Chairman Chatterjee emphasized the implementation of Order No. 841, which would allow participation of energy storage in RTOs and ISOs. Chatterjee expects to see an increase in the deployment of storage resources once review of the December 2018 filings from RTOs and ISOs is complete. This order is expected to impact deployment of energy storage in wholesale electricity markets.

Commissioner McNamee focused on the work the Commission has done to approve four new LNG export projects - an achievement that will help pave the way for U.S exports. This will enable natural gas to continue to help decarbonize power systems around the world. Both Republican Representatives Walden and McMorris Rodgers were interested in the efforts the Commission is making on the relicensing of existing hydropower projects. Chairman Chatterjee echoed their desire to see the relicensing process streamlined and cited a final rulemaking FERC recently made that expedites relicensing for many hydropower projects. To watch the full hearing click here

The House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change held a hearing this week entitled, “Cleaning Up Communities: Ensuring Safe Storage and Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel.”

Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) emphatically stated, “We have to solve this,” in regards to the 70,000 tonnes of spent nuclear fuel that has been awaiting a permanent storage solution for the past 20 years. In the hearing, Robert Halsted representing the Nevada governor’s office notably warned that action will likely be met with more litigation while others in the hearing pushed to move forward with the NRC licensing process. Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX) highlighted that it is more cost effective to move forward than spend $10B on a new repository. Ranking member, Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL), proposes adjudication as the solution to the dilemma saying, “The last part of this process is to go before judges, who are scientists, to address the contentions that Nevada has that says those boxes of science, and that review by the NRC is not adequate enough.” This adjudicatory solution would end the twenty years of waiting for action on Yucca Mountain. More from Rep. Shimkus 
 

Trump Administration Sees Energy Storage as a National Security Tool:

The Trump administration is a strong supporter of energy storage technologies - from its ability to provide resiliency and security to black start capabilities. DOE’s Assistant Secretary for the Office of Electricity, Bruce Walker, at EEI’s annual convention earlier this week was asked about storage. He believes energy storage “is more strategic than that [being just about renewables], it allows for the benefit of further integration of renewables…...and (can) add resilience to the electric grid.” In the same interview, he continued to discuss the added benefits of energy storage from cyber security to physical threats. Full article
 

Related Read:

Why DOE’s FY20 Budget Request Has Exciting News for Storage

At ClearPath, it is our belief that energy storage technologies have the potential to modernize the U.S. electricity system. Energy storage is an investment in the future of every clean energy source – from renewables to nuclear – supporting reliability and improving grid efficiency while reducing consumer costs. Across the country, utilities are deploying lithium ion batteries to meet some of its needs, but that technology has its limitations. As we forecast needs, it is clear the future grid will need a suite of different technology solutions that have not yet been commercialized. This is why the Department of Energy’s research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) programs are so important. Read the Faith’s full take here
 

Portman, Bennet Reintroduce Bill to Reduce Overall Carbon Emissions and Boost Domestic Energy Production

Senators Portman and Bennet reintroduced the Carbon Capture Improvement Act which provides a carbon capture projects eligibility for a low cost financing mechanism available for other types of infrastructure projects. Senator Portman said "This bipartisan measure is supported by business groups, energy groups, and environmental groups alike, and I urge all of my colleagues to support it". Read more here
 

Take a listen:
Newest podcast out from Karen Harbert President and CEO of the American Gas Association.

In the newest podcast episode of Columbia Energy Exchange, host Bill Loveless is joined by Karen Harbert, the president and CEO of the American Gas Association. They discuss the US natural gas industry, climate change, emissions, as well as the Green New Deal, methane, carbon sequestration and more. Click here to take a listen
 

International Energy Agency Overview of Broad Energy Trends and Carbon Dioxide Emissions

The world’s appetite for energy continued its march upward, driven by a growing global economy and the increased use of air conditioning in parts of the world. The growing energy needs were met by contributions from virtually every energy source, with fossil energy supplying about 70% of the total. The impacts of the shale gas revolution are still unfolding: the United States made up a quarter of new demand propelled by a record increase in natural gas consumption. Read more here
 

New report by Global Nexus Initiative expresses confidence in future of Advanced Nuclear security regimes

Advanced nuclear could be a means of creating relationships that “last up to a century” with international allies, but American innovation needs to exceed the rapidly-growing pace of Russia and China. The report examines the design, inherent safeguards, and deployment considerations. It recommended using below-ground designs, intensified cyber-security, and standardized international safety measures to accelerate commercialization of the three most promising advanced reactors. These innovative technologies help address the “vital challenges of cutting carbon emissions, supporting the global demand for electric power, and ensuring the continued peaceful use of nuclear energy in the 21st century.” Read the full report here
 

THE PATH AHEAD

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