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1. Investment in CDR tech helps build first pilot-scale facility

An innovative carbon dioxide removal (CDR) startup from California, Heirloom Carbon Technologies Inc., has received $53 million in investments to help build their first pilot-scale facility.

• The technology utilizes a cheap and widely available resource: limestone.

Plug in: Direct air capture (DAC) technology has historically been costly due to the expensive solvents needed to separate carbon dioxide from the air. Heirloom’s limestone technique uses a similar process without the use of these expensive solvents.

What’s clear: CDR is just one piece of the push to reduce emissions. Ultimately, we need both mitigation and removal if we are going to meet goals to lower emissions.
 

2. Nuclear energy to meet global goals

  

Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) is beginning to site a new small modular reactor (SMR), Canada’s first grid-scale project of this type, using American technology.

• The project will use GE Hitachi’s BWRX-300.
• The new reactor will be adjacent to one of OPG’s existing nuclear plants.
• The project is expected to break ground later this year.

What’s clear: The International Energy Agency projects global nuclear generation needs to double by 2050 to meet net-zero emissions goals.

Nearly 50 countries have markets for advanced nuclear power, a potential ~$360 billion per year market opportunity. U.S. innovators are on the cusp of capitalizing on this opportunity.

Plug in: Global investment in nuclear energy continues in Europe:

• In Belgium, two nuclear reactors will be preserved an additional 10 years past their original shutdown date of 2025.
• The UK wants to produce 25% of its electricity from nuclear power.

3. Rep. Graves wants clean, secure, affordable energy

 

Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) appeared on Just the News to discuss American clean energy efforts amid rising energy prices and what House Republicans are working on. Topics included:

• Supply chain security amid the Russian-Ukrainian conflict;
• The importance of sourcing critical minerals and other resources here in the U.S.; and
• Prioritizing nuclear power as a crucial source of clean energy.

What’s clear: Conservatives are working on solutions to solve the climate challenge and eliminate dependence on foreign sources of energy.

4. Record venture investments highlight nuclear energy

 

The private sector is paying close attention to nuclear: Venture funding for both nuclear fission and fusion startups spiked last year at $3.4 billion.

What’s clear: The multiple advantages to nuclear power have become clear as climate concerns increase.

• Nuclear energy can provide power 24/7, zero-carbon emissions, and help forge a path toward American energy independence.
• Record investments in both fission and fusion energy show that investors see them as key technologies.

5. ICYMI

• The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) announced new Executive Committee leadership, including TVA’s Jeffery Lyash and Robert Blue of Dominion Energy.
• Senator John Barrasso’s (R-WY) recent op-ed opposes American dependence on Russian uranium.
• Ukraine’s plight may boost small nuclear reactors if costs are tamed, writes E&E.
• Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ) wrote a column on modernizing infrastructure.