1. NEW Report: Modernizing the DOE

ClearPath published its DOE Modernization Report this week, offering policy recommendations and proposing a new organizational structure to promote energy innovation in a new administration.

Today, the United States faces different conditions characterized by the energy crisis of the 1970s that spurred the Department’s creation.

ClearPath recommends the DOE:

• Incentivize political appointees and officials to promote an integrated, practical application of technology innovation instead of pushing specific technologies
• Empower the next Secretary with the necessary tools to lead
• Maximize impact without requiring new authorizing legislation or amending the Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977

What’s clear: ClearPath believes that for the U.S. to maintain its global energy leadership, the DOE must align with the industry to advance its technology demonstration mission and protect the U.S.

Plug in: Check out the report for why modernization is crucial for the DOE. Read coverage in Axios here.
 

2. House Cmte on Natural Resources talks geothermal

The House Natural Resources Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee held a hearing discussing geothermal leasing and permitting bills including:

• Rep. Young Kim’s (R-CA) bill, HEATS Act, exempts geothermal wells from federal drilling permit requirements on private and state land.
• Rep. Fulcher’s (R-ID) bill, Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act, exempts geothermal exploration wells from NEPA reviews; and
• Rep. Curtis’ (R-UT) proposal to limit the impacts of judicial review on geothermal permitting timelines.

What’s clear: Geothermal produces more than four gigawatts of power to the U.S. grid, and a recent DOE analysis shows it has the potential to provide upwards of 90 gigawatts by 2050 – enough to power the equivalent of more than 65 million U.S. homes.

Plug in: Listen in on why “geothermal development directly equates to stability and prosperity for Americans,” according to Dr. Bryant Jones with Geothermal Rising.
 

3. ICYMI

• DOE’s FECM announced a $30 million FOA to support using CO2 for lower-cost technologies to capture CO2 from industrial sources and power plants.