1. Hydropower deal could lead to permitting breakthrough

  

A breakthrough agreement between Native American tribes, environmentalists, and industry may mean faster permitting timelines and more hydropower coming soon.

What’s clear: Smart policies that streamline permitting and invest in innovation could grow America’s hydropower and pumped storage hydro industries. Today, 7% of power on the grid comes from hydro.

Plug in: This deal may call for new legislation to move some permitting authority for things like protection of tribal resources and fish passage from the U.S. Department of Interior to tribes.

House Energy & Commerce Committee Ranking Member Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) already has a bill, The Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act, which would:

• Expand hydropower production;
• Modernize the licensing process;
• Promote next-generation hydropower; and
• Reduce market barriers.

ICYMI: ClearPath Senior Program Director Alex Fitzsimmons spoke at the National Hydropower Association’s (NHA) Water Power Week conference in Washington, D.C. His remarks focused on how America’s pumped storage hydro resources strengthen grid reliability and energy security.
 

2. Hydrogen: a sure bet in uncertain times

  

Distant conflicts have global consequences. Even with the ban on Russian oil, gas, and coal reducing American dependence on foreign sources, we can continue moving toward our clean energy goals by leveraging domestic resources. Our CEO Rich Powell and Policy Analyst Natalie Houghtalen explain how hydrogen can be part of the solution.

• The bipartisan infrastructure bill established Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs, allowing several states to lead on hydrogen, and
• Projects like SoCalGas’s infrastructure pipeline and Exelon’s nuclear plant in New York demonstrate hydrogen’s potential to bolster American energy independence.

What’s clear: Energy security and climate ambitions don’t have to conflict — clean energy innovation provides a win-win scenario. Harnessing our nation’s energy resources should be top priority to avoid dependence on adversaries like Russia to not only meet U.S. energy demands but export energy to our allies.
 

3. Bipartisan bill supports American nuclear globally

 

Senators Risch (R-ID) and Manchin (D-WV) introduced a bipartisan bill at a critical time when America should be increasing nuclear energy exports.

• Russia and China currently dominate the international nuclear energy market, and the U.S. presence has all but disappeared,
• Russia and China offer financing, up to 90%, for new nuclear power plants, and
• We’re currently reliant on Russia for nuclear fuel.

What’s clear: Legislation like the International Nuclear Energy Act will help the U.S. maintain its leadership in the global nuclear energy market, and support U.S. nuclear energy companies looking to deploy their designs abroad.

“Deploying more clean, reliable nuclear energy is essential to reducing global carbon dioxide emissions, and we should do everything we can to have it made in America,” said our CEO Rich Powell.
 

4. Power sector innovations make emissions goals a reality

 

More than 70 electric utilities, serving roughly 81% of American customers, have significant carbon emissions pledges. And they need firm, flexible energy to meet their goals.

Here are just a few innovative new projects, encompassing a wide range of technologies, working to turn goals into reality:

• Seattle-based Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation’s deal with Alaska’s Copper Valley Electric Association to deploy their 10-MW electric microreactor facility;
• Public-private CCUS venture Project Tundra, which will capture up to 90% of its emissions from a retrofitted coal plant in North Dakota, received its CO2 storage permit in late January; and
• Geothermal company Fervo Energy’s announcement of a 5 MW demonstration project with Google to power their Nevada facilities.

Plug in: Our CSO Jeremy Harrell and Managing Director for Research and New Initiatives Spencer Nelson dive into a wide portfolio of new power projects in their blog post.
 

5. Push from Congress to modernize CO2 storage permitting

 

Senators Capito (R-WV) and Manchin (D-WV), and Congressman McKinley (R-WV) urged EPA to expedite permitting for Class VI CCUS storage in a letter sent last Friday.

• Section 40306 of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act included significant investment for permitting these types of projects.
• In their letter, the Senators and Congressman requested an update on EPA’s efforts to implement Section 40306, as it would encourage states to take responsibility for permitting Class VI CO2 storage projects.

Plug in: While the number of CCUS projects in the U.S. is growing rapidly, their success hinges on their ability to obtain a Class VI permit. More states are looking to follow North Dakota’s lead, and expeditiously move forward injection permits like the aforementioned Project Tundra.
 

6. Caution: China increases nuclear, renewable energy competitiveness

 

China is picking up the pace on clean energy, with 15 nuclear reactors under construction — almost 16 GW of capacity — and a 15.5% increase in nuclear power generation for the first quarter of 2022.

• Renewables grew even faster — China National Nuclear Power Co. reported a 38% increase in renewable power generation, dwarfing the 14% increase for nuclear.

What’s clear: In order to maintain American leadership in the global energy market, the U.S. needs to prioritize the deployment of domestic nuclear and renewables like hydropower and geothermal, as well as look at how it can export these technologies abroad.
 

7. New opportunities for DAC

 

Direct air capture (DAC) is gaining momentum in the U.S. and around the world according to a new report from the International Energy Agency. For example:

• The bipartisan infrastructure law included $3.6 billion for DAC hub development and demonstration; and
• Swiss startup Climeworks has secured $650 million in funding to scale up their technology, with the goal of capturing more than 1 million tons of CO2 per year by 2030.

What’s clear: DAC presents an exciting opportunity to lower global CO2 emissions, but despite all the interest, the technology is still in the early stages.

Plug in: Check out our whiteboard video for our take on the benefits of DAC.
 

8. ICYMI

• Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) introduced the Fueling Our Nuclear Future Act to accelerate the availability of a domestic supply of HALEU
• Congressman Mike Garcia (R-CA) explains the crucial role of energy independence in national security in The Orange County Register.
• Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH) introduced a bill which would crucial role of energy independence in national security.
• A Wall Street Journal op-ed points out contradictions in the Biden administration’s decision to invoke the Defense Protection Act to subsidize mining of critical minerals.
• Some companies are beginning to use captured CO2 to manufacture goods including vodka, hand sanitizer, and aviation fuel.
• Our CEO Rich Powell appeared on Just the News last week to discuss the importance of American nuclear amid Russian influence.