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ClearPath Action Rundown 
June 23, 2023

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1. Jay Faison receives Trailblazer Award from USNIC

 

ClearPath’s Founder, Jay Faison, was honored by the U.S. Nuclear Industry Council at their tenth annual Advanced Reactors Summit in Charlotte, NC for his philanthropic leadership and ClearPath’s support for the deployment of new American nuclear energy technologies. Congratulations, Jay! 

At the summit, ClearPath Chief Strategy Officer Jeremy Harrell moderated a panel about non-traditional uses of nuclear energy. Jeremy was joined by David Sumoski, Nucor Corp. Chief Operating Officer, P. Todd Noe, Microsoft Corporation Director of Nuclear Technologies Engineering, and Simon Irish, Terrestrial Energy President and Chief Executive Officer. The panel discussed potential applications and business models for the use of nuclear technology for steel, chemicals, and other industries.
 

2. Growing ClearPath fellowships!
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This week, we welcomed two more new team members to ClearPath. Jake Jennings, External Affairs Fellow, and Justin Williams, Policy Fellow, joined the team after their college graduations in May. Jake will help bolster ClearPath’s social media efforts and Justin will support the policy team in researching clean energy solutions.

ClearPath fellows have the opportunity to work alongside experienced professionals, gaining valuable insights, mentorship, and exposure to real-world challenges in the field. Our fellows contribute to our organization with fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and a passion for making a difference.

What’s Clear: “These fellowships are designed to expand and elevate the skills and expertise of these individuals, equipping them to become the next generation of talent. ClearPath firmly believes in the power of investing in emerging talent.” said Dana Faught, ClearPath’s Program Director of the Conservative Climate Leadership Program.
 

3. Rich speaks at the Aspen Institute’s report launch
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ClearPath Chief Executive Officer Rich Powell joined a panel discussion at the Aspen Institute for the release event of their report "A Critical Minerals Policy for the United States." Rich joined moderator Robert Johnston, Columbia Center on Global Energy Policy Executive Director, former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), and Melanie Kenderdine, Energy Futures Initiative Principal.

Rich highlighted two key recommendations from the report that offer strategies to promote innovation and reshore the critical minerals supply chain:

  • Congress should streamline permitting by utilizing a place-based approach and set strict timelines on adjudication.
  • Congress should expand funding for R&D and undertake regulatory reform to promote substitution of alternatives, demand reduction, and recycling of critical minerals.

What’s clear: As global demand for critical minerals accelerates, our permitting processes must adapt to meet the challenge. Congressional action to designate a set of technologies, projects, and geographic locations for automatic approval can streamline up-front permitting requirements, while maintaining the safety of our communities.
 

4. Energy storage deal for Georgia Power


 
Last week, Form Energy closed a “definitive agreement” for its 15 megawatt iron-air battery to Georgia Power. This technology will level renewable power production into a steady source of power.

  • The battery is projected to store clean power for delivery over 100 hours straight and could be operational by 2026.
What’s Clear: Energy storage is an essential technology to maximize grid reliability and integrate renewable energy for power sector decarbonization. Lithium-ion batteries are a fast growing storage technology, and innovators should continue to develop new, advanced battery chemistries to meet the needs of an evolving electric grid.

 

5. Civil Nuclear Export Act of 2023 introduced in Senate
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Last week, senior member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Jim Risch (R-ID) and Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Joe Manchin (D-WV) introduced the bipartisan Civil Nuclear Export Act of 2023. This legislation would sharpen the United States’ ability to compete internationally in new and existing markets for nuclear energy and help increase energy security for partners and allies against Chinese and Russian coercion. 

The Civil Nuclear Export Act would:

  • Modify the Export-Import Bank’s China Transformational Export Program (CTEP) to include civil nuclear energy projects;
  • Enhance the financing options available for American nuclear energy companies to compete against Chinese and Russian state-owned civil nuclear energy entities; and
  • Increase opportunities for American innovators by leveling the playing field for the deployment of U.S. civil nuclear exports with partners and allies.

What’s clear: America’s adversaries are bringing enormous resources to bear in an effort to dominate international energy markets. U.S. policy tools must be more agile and strategic in order to advance our long-term security goals.

 

6. Microreactor assembly plant coming to Gadsden, AL
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Advanced nuclear energy developer, Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC), announced their selection of Gadsden, Alabama as the location of the company’s facility to construct their next-generation Micro-Modular Reactor (MMR). 

  • The factory will be capable of producing up to 10 complete MMR nuclear units per year, which could power over 40,000 homes with clean, reliable energy.

Plug in: The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and USNC are collaborating to construct an MMR research and test reactor on campus, which will be one of the first advanced reactors to come online in the U.S.

 

7. ICYMI

  • DOE announced $135 million for 40 projects that aim to cut emissions in the industrial sector.
  • Bloomberg News reports that China is looking to offshore aluminum production (and its emissions) to Indonesia where industry is even more reliant on coal than in China.
  • Axios Generate reports that Boston Consulting Group has a two-pronged deal with L.A.-based direct air capture startup CarbonCapture for 40,000 tons worth of removal over five years, and to provide management consulting services.

That’s all from us. Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!
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