1. ClearPath at Science Committee’s IPCC hearing next week

  

The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee will be examining the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports and recommendations to deploy clean energy innovations on April 28.

ClearPath’s Chief Strategy Officer Jeremy Harrell will testify as the Republican witness at the hearing, entitled: Now or Never: The Urgent Need for Ambitious Climate Action.

Jeremy will focus on the need to deploy commercially available technologies and catalyze American innovation worldwide.

Plug in: The IPCC report has come in three parts:

• Working Group One focused on reaching net-zero or net-negative emissions;
• Working Group Two focused on climate impacts to communities; and
• Working Group Three considers the most effective ways to reduce and reverse emissions and next steps to take on innovation.

2. America needs a domestic critical minerals supply chain

  

This week, the Biden Administration reversed efforts to streamline the federal permitting process, which now has the potential to slow permitting of clean energy infrastructure and projects to develop American resources.

One big area where we need to focus is on critical minerals. Our Senior Program Director Alex Fitzsimmons appeared on NTD Television last week to discuss:

• The importance of establishing a domestic critical minerals supply chain, rather than sourcing from foreign adversaries like Russia or China, and
• The need to modernize the permitting process for critical minerals projects in the U.S. so clean energy projects can get built faster.

Plug in: Watch Alex’s interview on Capitol Report with Steve Lance here.

What’s clear: Federal policy should focus on innovating across the domestic critical minerals supply chain, from mining to refining. Technological innovation is wasted if new projects can’t get permits, so it is necessary to modernize the permitting process.
 

3. New partnership supporting American advanced nuclear

 

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Canadian power company Ontario Power Generation (OPG) are teaming up to develop small modular reactors across North America.

This partnership will support advanced nuclear deployment efforts in both the U.S. and Canada.

• Collaboration will help ease financial risk.
• TVA and OPG’s experience in the nuclear field will foster new project development, deployment, and innovation.
• Their combined efforts will help reduce emissions and promote North American energy security and independence.

What’s clear: American energy independence is crucial especially amid global conflicts — advanced nuclear can play an important role in maintaining America’s energy leadership.
 

4. New funding expands American lithium and graphite production

 

DOE’s Loan Programs Office has offered Syrah Vidalia Facility a conditional commitment of up to $107 million to expand production capacity at their Louisiana mining facility.

With this support, Syrah Vidalia Facility will be able to:

• Expand their processing of critical minerals used in lithium-ion batteries, including natural graphite, and
• Support the local economy by introducing good-paying, high-skill clean energy jobs.

What’s clear: The current graphite supply chain is controlled by China. Projects like this one are crucial in order to establish a domestic supply of critical minerals and maintain American energy independence and leadership.
 

5. Join the ClearPath team!

 

Interested in a career in the clean energy space? ClearPath has open positions in Government Affairs and Policy, as well as year-long fellowships, including:

• Policy Analyst for Nuclear Energy supporting and driving forward the organization’s nuclear policy vision;
• House Government Affairs Manager supporting ClearPath’s outreach and education in the House of Representatives; and
• Policy Fellow for Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) covering special projects in the CDR portfolio and supporting ClearPath’s existing Policy team.

Plug in: Check out the full list of open roles and share with anyone who may be interested!
 

6. ICYMI

• Climate tech startup Planetary Technology won the $1M XPRIZE Carbon Removal Milestone Award for its accelerated carbon transition platform.
• PNNL is breaking ground for DOE’s Grid Storage Launchpad project.
• DOE awarded $2.5M to Constellation Nuclear Plant to research a potential Direct Air Capture facility at their Illinois nuclear plant.
• ITIF published a report, Active Carbon Management: Critical Tools in the Climate Toolbox, highlighting carbon management technology and policy solutions.
• Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau introduced a refundable investment tax credit encouraging oil and gas companies to lower their carbon emissions.
• An op-ed in The Hill by our friend Chrissy Harbin at CRES urged the Biden Administration to encourage innovation in battery storage technologies and reduce foreign dependency for critical minerals.