1. House GOP launches energy, climate and conservation policy strategy

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The House Republican Energy, Climate, and Conservation Task Force chaired by Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) launched part one of a six-part strategy on energy and climate policy.

Plug in: House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) last year tasked Rep. Graves with devising a policy agenda to address climate change, should Republicans retake the majority in the House this fall.

The plan’s six pillars include:

• Unlock America’s Resources
• Beat China and Russia
• Let America Build
• Build Resilient Communities
• American Innovation
• Conservation with a Purpose

Rep. Graves said, “We are creating a clear coherent energy strategy that returns the U.S. to an emissions reduction trajectory as opposed to what we are seeing under the Biden administration, which is failing every test, whether it be affordability, emissions or security.”

What’s clear: “Conservatives have real solutions to solve the climate challenge and make energy more affordable,” said ClearPath CEO Rich Powell. “Here’s a comprehensive plan that works – it reduces carbon emissions, creates jobs, eliminates dependence on foreign adversaries resources, and will be well-received in every single Congressional district in America according to our research.”

Dive deeper: In conjunction with the Republican energy, climate and conservation plan roll-out, ClearPath Action launched an online resource, clearpathaction.org, going deeper on policy solutions, a menu of existing legislation, public opinion polling, and news. Check it out!
 

2. Michigan case for nuclear

  

The Palisades Nuclear Generating Station in Michigan recently shut down, leaving 92 operating nuclear plants and causing some to suggest an increased risk in summer blackouts.

• While MI has dramatically increased renewables in recent years, combined they still can’t produce as much electricity as Palisades.
• Nuclear operates with zero emissions and provides energy 24 hours a day regardless of weather conditions.

What’s clear: Maintaining existing nuclear reactors is one of the cheapest ways to not only help meet utility commitments of net zero carbon emissions, but also provide 24/7 reliable clean power.

Rather than trying to make existing energy sources more expensive or off limits, we must pursue a market-driven agenda that makes clean energy more affordable.
 

3. LNG on the Bayou

 

Houston energy infrastructure company Sempra Energy has signed a deal with French petroleum company TotalEnergies and Japanese corporations Mitsui & Co. and Mitsubishi Corp. to develop a carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) project in Louisiana.

The proposed project, Hackberry Carbon Sequestration, will:

• Be one of the first American CCS facilities to store CO2 from multiple sources; and
• Could sequester up to 2 million tons of CO2 annually.

Also in Louisiana: Venture Global LNG closed a $13.2 billion project financing for the initial phase of their Plaquemines LNG facility and the associated Gator Express pipeline.

What’s clear: Carbon capture remains one of the most promising clean energy technologies. Investment through research, development, and deployment (RD&D) along with effective policy will accelerate the widespread deployment of CCS.
 

4. ClearPath adds to growing policy team

 

This week, ClearPath added Jasmine Yu as a Policy Fellow. As part of ClearPath’s focus on carbon removal, she will be working on special projects regarding natural climate solutions, agriculture and forestry.

• Jasmine is currently completing her PhD in Biochemistry and Biophysics at Texas A&M University.

ClearPath also welcomed Katie Hart as a Policy Intern. Katie is a junior at Carnegie Mellon University studying Environmental Engineering and Engineering & Public Policy and will be working on clean energy regulation improvements.

Welcome Jasmine and Katie!
 

5. Princeton consortium for clean energy RD&D

 

ClearPath has joined forces with Google and GE on Princeton University’s ZERO lab, a new research consortium focused on evaluating the technical and economic potential for new, scalable clean energy technologies.

Goals for the ZERO lab include:

• Helping energy leaders accelerate RD&D of clean energy technologies;
• Developing methods to evaluate technologies for a variety of impacts; and
• Flexible research projects to meet pressing policy concerns.

What’s clear: “Before we commercialize exciting technologies from flexible nuclear, enhanced geothermal, long duration grid-scale storage and carbon capture, we need the best and brightest America has to offer providing valuable research into how they’ll best work in our energy system,” said ClearPath CEO Rich Powell.
 

6. ICYMI

• Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) appeared on Just the News to discuss American clean energy, including nuclear and hydropower in the Pacific Northwest.