Fervo Energy’s New Geothermal Gig

This week, Fervo Energy, a clean energy start-up, announced a partnership with Google to develop a next-generation geothermal power project. In 2022, this project will add always on, carbon-free, “firm” geothermal energy to the electric grid that serves Google’s data centers and infrastructure throughout Nevada. This collaboration also sets the stage for next-generation geothermal to play a key role as a firm and flexible resource that reduces global emissions. Read more

Learn more about Fervo Energy in our video, Advanced Geothermal: The Only Baseload Renewable Power Source is Heating Up.

The Versatile Test Reactor’s Role in Decarbonization

Next Wednesday, May 26, ClearPath Senior Program Director for Nuclear Energy Niko McMurray is joining the Versatile Test Reactor (VTR) Program and the Nuclear Energy Institute for a discussion about the VTR’s essential role in expanding U.S. research capabilities and supporting the next generation of nuclear power. Register here

Illinois Needs Nuclear

Illinois has until the end of the month to decide whether to keep four nuclear reactors online this year. New research out of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering (NPRE) department found Illinois’ nuclear plants are essential to providing carbon-free power in the state. Read the study

Nevada Republican Looks to Accelerate Project Permitting

Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) last week introduced the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act, which would speed up permitting for mines that target metals considered critical to national security and energy infrastructure. Read more

Unlocking Advanced Nuclear Innovation: The Role of Fee Reform and Public Investment

This week, the Nuclear Innovation Alliance (NIA) released a new report, Unlocking Advanced Nuclear Innovation: The Role of Fee Reform and Public Investment, which recommends reforming the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s fee model to accelerate advanced reactor deployment. A recording of the report’s release webinar is available here.

Judi Greenwald, NIA’s Executive Director, also joined Former Commissioners of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Jeff Merrifield and Stephen Burns to publish an op-ed on the report in Morning Consult. Read the op-ed

NuScale and Prodigy Sign MOU to Support Business Development for a Marine-Deployed Nuclear Generating Station

NuScale Power and Prodigy Clean Energy, a Canadian company that designs and develops marine nuclear plants, announced a second Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to support business development opportunities for a marine-deployed nuclear generating station powered by the NuScale Small Modular Reactor. Read more

We’re Hiring!

Our policy team is hiring a Program Director – Carbon Capture and a Policy Analyst – Economics, Finance, and Power Markets. We are also hiring a Research Intern. Please send resume and writing samples to Andrea Steiner at steiner@clearpath.org.

Mitsubishi & South Pole Partner to Develop Carbon Removal Portfolio

Mitsubishi, a Japanese auto manufacturer, and South Pole, a carbon project portfolio developer, have partnered to create a virtual “Next Generation Carbon Removal Purchase Facility.” Throughout this year, the “virtual facility” will seek to secure investors for a portfolio of direct air capture, carbon mineralization, biochar and other “technological carbon removal solutions” that will be worth between $300 million and $800 million in certified credits by 2030. Read more

DOE Lab to Pilot Green Hydrogen Production Using Nuclear

The Idaho National Laboratory (INL), the nation’s leading center for nuclear energy research and development, is partnering with Bloom Energy to demonstrate the capability of nuclear energy to efficiently produce green hydrogen. Read more

ITIF Presents Interactive Tool: Energizing Innovation in FY 2022

The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) developed an interactive data visualization that illustrates the funding pathways for research, development and demonstration at the U.S. Department of Energy, as well as how those pathways compare to the Energy Act of 2020. Check it out

Clean Hydrogen: A Trend Built for the Long Haul

What’s old is new isn’t just true for fashion (and advanced nuclear reactors, for that matter). Hydrogen is making a ferocious comeback with a twist after going out of style nearly a decade ago. Instead of hydrogen-powered passenger cars, the hydrogen hype of today promises a holistic path for power, industrial, and transportation decarbonization.

Read more in our latest blog, Clean Hydrogen: A Trend Built for the Long Haul, by ClearPath Policy Analyst Natalie Houghtalen.

THE PATH AHEAD

Happening Now: The Global CCS Institute is hosting its final installment of a three-part series of webinars about Carbon Capture and Storage: CCS Policy for a Net-Zero Future at 10am.

May 25: Gen IV International Forum is hosting Opportunities for Generation-IV Reactors Designers through Advanced Manufacturing Techniques at 8:30am.

May 26: The Versatile Test Reactor (VTR) Program and the Nuclear Energy Institute are hosting a discussion about the VTR’s essential role in expanding U.S. research capabilities and supporting the next generation of nuclear power. Register here

May 31-June 6: 12th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM)

June 15-17: Decarb Connect North America 2021