Rich Powell Joins SHOWTIME’s The Circus to Talk Climate

ClearPath Executive Director Rich Powell joined Mark McKinnon for the SHOWTIME series The Circus, highlighting clean energy innovation and discussing how Republicans in Congress are leading on climate change solutions with more innovation, not burdensome regulation or taxation. “The most important thing we can do on climate change is decrease the cost of clean energy technologies in America so rapidly developing countries choose them instead of higher emitting options,” said Powell.

Watch the video here

Morning Consult: 5 Bipartisan Clean Energy Policies for the 117th Congress

ClearPath Executive Director Rich Powell wrote a column for Morning Consult highlighting five big clean energy policies that already have bipartisan support and would ensure a reliable power sector.

Implement the Energy Act of 2020
Pass the Energy Sector Innovation Credit (ESIC)
Streamline permitting
Embrace a Clean-Energy Marshall Plan
Pass the American Nuclear Innovation Act (ANIA)

Read the full op-ed

Rich Powell Testifies Before House Approps Energy and Water Subcommittee

Yesterday, ClearPath Executive Director Rich Powelll testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies in a hearing entitled, “Strategies for Energy and Climate Innovation.” Rich’s testimony focused on the need to continue with a goal-oriented, public-private investment strategy as the United States seeks to remain the leader in clean energy innovation.

View Rich’s opening statement

Read the written testimony

Watch the archived recording of the hearing

FORGE is Groundbreaking – Literally

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) this week announced its Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) Initiative at the University of Utah has selected its first set of funding awardees. FORGE selected 17 projects to receive up to $46 million in funding for cutting-edge geothermal projects. Read more

FORGE also announced this week that the first production/injection well was completed twice as fast as initially planned with the help of advanced approaches and tools that can be emulated at other geothermal drilling sites. Read more

Cement: The Glue Holding Society Together

Since the Roman Empire, cement and concrete have been used as a building block of societies. Today, concrete is the most used man-made material on the planet, used in everything from roads to buildings and more. Traditional methods of making cement and concrete, however, also result in carbon dioxide emissions. Did you know around the world, cement and concrete production alone makes up about 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions? Learn more in our Cement and Concrete 101 by ClearPath Program Director Justin Ong.

Integrating Hydrogen and Nuclear Energy

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) and Office of Nuclear Energy joined forces to advance technologies that can integrate nuclear energy and hydrogen. Up to $20 million in total funds will be available through DOE’s U.S. Industry Opportunities for Advanced Nuclear Technology Development Funding Opportunity to demonstrate systems that produce hydrogen using nuclear energy or the heat from nuclear power plants. This opportunity is part of DOE’s H2@Scale vision for clean and affordable hydrogen production, storage, transport, and use in multiple sectors and across applications.

Read more from DOE

Learn more in our Hydrogen 101

New Iowa CCS Projects Announced

Little Sioux Corn Processors announced a deal with an Iowa-based agri-business as part of a plan to develop the world’s largest carbon dioxide capture and storage project. The project is expected to capture and deposit 445,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually – that’s the equivalent of taking roughly 87,000 cars off the road per year. Read more

Dynamo and ClearPath Present: Opportunities for Private Finance to Accelerate the Clean Energy Transition

Dynamo Energy Hub and ClearPath are hosting an event that will discuss key policies and financial innovation pathways that will help accelerate investment in clean energy projects as part of economic recovery. The event will be moderated by Emily Chasan, Director of Communications, Generate Capital; and will feature Jeremy Harrell, Managing Director of Policy, ClearPath; Miriam Eaves, Head of Origination, Launchpad; and John Kaercher, Partner, Baker Botts.

This event will be held on Thursday, March 11 from 11:00am – 12:00pm ET, and is co-sponsored by ClearPath. Register here

Graves to Continue Leading Climate Select

Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) was reappointed to be Ranking Member of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. Read more

Granholm Confirmed as DOE Secretary; Barrasso, Others Opposed

Yesterday the U.S. Senate confirmed the Honorable Jennifer Granholm to be Secretary of Energy by a vote of 64-35. Some Republicans cited their opposition largely due to President Biden’s emerging energy strategy – governing via executive orders, revoking the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, placing a moratorium on all oil- and gas-related leasing and permitting actions on federal lands – which has not included any Republican buy in. “President Biden wants to pull the plug on American energy dominance. I can’t vote to approve his Energy Secretary,” said Senate Energy Committee Ranking Member John Barrasso (R-WY). Read more

Why ClearPath is Tackling Industrial Sector Emissions

At ClearPath, reducing power-sector emissions has been our primary focus for the past six years; however, this year, we are excited to add the industrial sector to our portfolio. Combined with the power sector, this really expands our scope – going from tackling a quarter of U.S. carbon emissions to half. Why are we doing this? Read more from Executive Director Rich Powell in our latest blog, “Why ClearPath is Tackling the Industrial Sector."

Hydrogen is H₂OT – Everything You Need to Know

Hydrogen is the smallest atom in the universe, yet this tiny molecule has HUGE potential to connect energy generation, energy storage, transportation, and industry. It can move between the electricity, transportation, and industrial sectors to maximize resources in the overall energy system.

It’s been nearly 20 years since hydrogen has gotten as much press and attention as it is today – a resurgence likely due to the revelation that more than the electricity sector must be decarbonized to tackle climate change. Want to learn more?

Read our “Hydrogen 101," by ClearPath Policy Analyst Natalie Houghtalen.

THE PATH AHEAD

March 2: The Bipartisan Policy Center is hosting a webinar, “Advancing the Energy Transition with Innovation and a Clean Energy Standard.” Register here

March 2: Join the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) Webinar Series as they examine the opportunities, challenges, and innovations needed for Shaping our Carbon-Free Future. Register here

March 4: The Global America Business Institute (GABI) is hosting a virtual workshop, “Principles, Strategies, and Models for Successful Global SMR Deployment,” from 10:00am – 11:00am ET. Register here

March 8-11: Save the date! The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) 33rd Annual Regulatory Information Conference (RIC) will take place virtually on March 8-11, 2021. Additional information forthcoming. Register here

March 11: Join Dynamo Energy Hub and ClearPath at 11:00 am for an event, Opportunities for Private Finance to Accelerate the Clean Energy Transition.