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Senate Energy Committee Staffer Rejoins ClearPath
 

ClearPath announced Spencer Nelson has rejoined as Senior Research Director. In this role, Spencer will be responsible for building and launching a new research function at ClearPath, focused on developing and publishing external writing, analysis, and modeling on U.S. decarbonization, with a focus on the power sector. Spencer will also support ClearPath’s relationships with other advocacy and academic organizations focused on pragmatic clean energy and climate research. Read more  

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Rich’s Take
 

“Implementation of the Energy Act of 2020 — the biggest clean energy bill we’ve seen in over a decade — will be a huge priority for Congress, the Administration and industry this year,” said Rich Powell, Executive Director of ClearPath. “Spencer was part of the Murkowski team who were instrumental in seeing the Energy Act of 2020 across the goal line. We are elated to have Spencer back at ClearPath, leading our new research and analysis arm.”
 

A Grand Opportunity for Energy Storage
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Innovation is driving rapid transformation in America’s energy system. Ten years ago, almost no one predicted the U.S. would be the top producer of oil and natural gas in the world, eclipsing Saudi Arabia and Russia. For the U.S. to continue to demonstrate energy and climate leadership, however, more innovation is needed to ensure the reliable integration of renewables into an evolving electric grid.

What if we could develop technologies to cost-effectively store excess wind and solar generation and save it for later, thereby making renewables more flexible, on-demand resources? And what if the U.S. could lead the world in the manufacture and export of those technologies? The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has been working to address these questions, with bipartisan support from Congress, and we hope that continues. Read more in our latest blog, “A Grand Opportunity for Energy Storage," by Senior Program Director Alex Fitzsimmons.
 

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Christopher Hanson Named NRC Chairman
 

Christopher T. Hanson has been appointed as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s 18th Chairman, effective immediately. Hanson replaces Kristine L. Svinicki, who departed the agency on Jan. 20, 2021, after serving as Chairman since 2017.
Read more
 

Biden’s Energy Secretary Nominee Testifies before ENR
 

On Wednesday, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee considered the nomination of Jennifer Granholm to be the Secretary of Energy. During the hearing, Senators John Hoeven (R-ND) and Steve Daines (R-MT) expressed their support of CCUS technologies, including the 45Q tax credit, and noted the Energy Act of 2020 included major advancements in carbon capture investment and commercialization. A vote on advancing Granholm’s nomination to the full Senate has not yet been scheduled.
Watch the archived webcast of the hearing
 

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C3 News Magazine: The Clean Energy Policy That Could Strengthen Texas Oil & Gas
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The reality of Democrat majorities in the U.S. Senate and the House is sending a shiver through the Texas oil and gas industry. The concept of attacking fossil fuels should be completely thrown out the window. It’s not fossil fuels that are the problem, it’s emissions from fossil fuels that are the problem. If we can eliminate or significantly reduce the emissions, there is no reason we couldn’t continue using these resources well into the future, or forever.

In fact, there is a clean energy policy that could strengthen Texas energy companies, while also significantly lowering carbon dioxide emissions. The policy is known as “45Q,” a federal tax incentive that is already leading to cleaner air by increasing capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Read more by our Executive Director, Rich Powell
   

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Lucas Welcomes Republican Members to the Science Committee
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This week, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK) welcomed the Members chosen by the House Republican Steering Committee to serve on the Science Committee. Read the full list
   

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ClearPath Joins Hydrogen Trade Association
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This month, ClearPath joined the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA). We are excited to expand our work promoting hydrogen for energy and industry.
Learn more
   

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Utility Dive: America’s investor-owned utilities: We can achieve a 100% clean energy future
 

In an op-ed featured in Utility Dive, Edison Electric Institute (EEI) President Tom Kuhn outlined EEI’s priorities on climate and clean energy for the year. He stated, “It is critical that Congress appropriate money toward the further research, development, demonstration and deployment of new, affordable, 24/7 carbon-free technologies, including advanced renewables, long-duration energy storage and demand efficiency, advanced nuclear, hydrogen, and carbon capture, utilization and storage. The omnibus spending bill that became law in December provided a down payment on needed investment, but more is required to accelerate the drive toward zero emissions.”
Read the op-ed
 

BCBusiness: Squamish-based Carbon Engineering named North American Company of the Year by Cleantech Group
 

This week, Carbon Engineering received the 2021 North American Company of the Year Award from San Francisco-based Cleantech Group for its carbon dioxide capture technology. Read more
 

Oil Price: Three Energy Tech Trends To Watch This Year
 

According to a recent report by Lux Research, green hydrogen and fuel cells, direct air capture, and long-duration energy storage will dominate the energy conversation for the observable future. Read more
 

Forging a Path Forward on US Nuclear Waste Management: Options for Policy Makers
 

Dr. Matt Bowen, Research Scholar, Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia School of International and Public Affairs, authored a new report that includes several policy recommendations on spent nuclear fuel. View the report
 

Parting Gifts for Carbon Capture, from the 116th Congress
 

Carbon capture enjoyed a winter flurry of federal policy victories in the waning days of 2020 and at the start of 2021. In just a little more than a week, carbon capture hit a policy trifecta: new, aggressive R&D authorizations, a carbon capture tax credit (“45Q”) extension, and final Administrative rules on how project developers can properly claim the 45Q credit. Check out our latest blog from ClearPath Program Director Justin Ong and Policy Analyst Jena Lococo.
 

THE PATH AHEAD

February 2: NASEM will host a public briefing from 2:00pm – 3:00pm ET, “Accelerating Decarbonization of the U.S. Energy System” on the technology, policy, and societal dimensions of accelerating decarbonization in the U.S. Register here
 
February 3: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing at 10:00am to examine global climate trends and progress in addressing climate change.

February 3: The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will hold a confirmation hearing on the nomination of Michael Regan to be EPA administrator at 2:00pm.

February 3: The Bipartisan Policy Center will host a Webinar: EIA’s Annual Energy Outlook 2021 Release.
 
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.

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