We’ve all heard The Biden Administration’s mission to “Build Back Better,” but right now, we can only build new clean energy projects and reduce CO2 emissions as fast as we can permit new projects. If we are to truly build back better, the mission ought to be Build Cleaner Faster. Watch the latest ClearPath Whiteboard Video: Build Cleaner Faster where Rich Powell explains why speed is real priority.
All analyses on transitions to a clean energy economy show that we’ll need literally tens of thousands of miles of new pipelines carrying hydrogen and other clean fuels, along with captured carbon dioxide away from power plants and industrial facilities. We’ll also need immense new transmission infrastructure to carry electricity around an increasingly electrified country, and a lot of new power plants sited everywhere. Rich says this will be the largest continental construction project in history.
Cement: The Glue Holding Society Together
Since the Roman Empire, cement and concrete have been used as a building block of societies. Today, concrete is the most used man-made material on the planet, used in everything from roads to buildings and more. Traditional methods of making cement and concrete, however, also result in carbon dioxide emissions.
Did you know around the world, cement and concrete production alone makes up about 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions? Learn more in our Cement and Concrete 101 by ClearPath Program Director Justin Ong about how we’re focusing on technology & innovation solutions, including carbon capture, that can significantly improve their carbon footprint.
McMorris Rodgers Introduces Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act
Republican Leader of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) introduced the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act 101 this week.
Rich’s Take
“America’s leading power companies are constantly finding ways to reduce carbon emissions, and hydropower must be a huge part of that clean, reliable energy future. Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers is a champion for the hydropower industry and this legislation will increase regulatory certainty and encourage more private-sector investment of the nation’s largest baseload renewable energy resource.”
Lucas Announces Subcommittee Roster
House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Ranking Member Frank Lucas recently announced the Republican Subcommittee rosters for the 117th Congress.
Mitsubishi Power Announces Ammonia-fired Gas Turbine System
Mitsubishi Power, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group announced commencement of a 40-megawatt (MW) gas turbine fueled by 100% ammonia. The project was started in response to the increasing global focus on decarbonization. This would be the largest commercialized gas turbine using exclusively ammonia as fuel.
This week, Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee Chairman Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Energy Subcommittee Chairman Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) introduced the Climate Leadership and Environmental Action for our Nation’s (CLEAN) Future Act – as the House Democrats climate legislation.
As a response, the Republican Leader of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Republican Subcommittee Leader on Energy Fred Upton (R-MI), and Republican Subcommittee Leader on the Environment and Climate Change David McKinley (R-WV) said the plan will only raise energy prices and shutter America’s all-the-above energy strategy. In their statement they said “…we urge the Majority to join us in a bipartisan way to unleash innovation, strengthen our supply chains, and capture all the advantages of our abundant resources, which include coal, hydropower, nuclear technologies, and clean natural gas.”
Last year the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a moonshot goal of bringing advanced nuclear technology to market as part of the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP). This week X-energy signed a Cooperative Agreement, officially kicking off participation in ARDP with DOE. Read more from X-energy. ClearPath published a video in November highlighting the program and X-energy’s technology.
Wyoming Governor Goal to Capture More Carbon Than They Emit
The governor of Wyoming, a leader in carbon capture technology, announced a plan to capture more carbon dioxide than the state emits. Gov. Mark Gordon said in his state of the state address to the legislature, “I challenge you to join me in making Wyoming net negative in CO2 emissions. Fossil energy makes that possible. We have to take the lead and not look back.” Read more in E&E here.
Dynamo and ClearPath Present: Opportunities for Private Finance to Accelerate the Clean Energy Transition
Dynamo Energy Hub and ClearPath are hosting an event that will discuss key policies and financial innovation pathways that will help accelerate investment in clean energy projects as part of economic recovery. The event will be moderated by Emily Chasan, Director of Communications, Generate Capital; and will feature Jeremy Harrell, Managing Director of Policy, ClearPath; Miriam Eaves, Head of Origination, Launchpad; and John Kaercher, Partner, Baker Botts.
This event will be held on Thursday, March 11 from 11:00am – 12:00pm ET, and is co-sponsored by ClearPath. Register here
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Reuters Articles on Nuclear Energy Innovation &
Extending Existing Fleet
France, which gets nearly 70% of its electricity from nuclear energy, is extending the lifetime of 32 of their nuclear reactors by 10 years to 50 years. The public electricity company that operates the nuclear plants, EDF, is in charge of ensuring the safety of the reactors, which were originally licensed for 40 years. Read more
WSJ: Exxon Sees Profit in Capturing Carbon Emissions
Exxon Mobil Corp., who recently announced a new plan to invest $3 billion in carbon capture over the next five years, said this week they anticipate that carbon capture will be a $2 trillion market by 2040 and that it is the cheapest way to address carbon dioxide emissions, citing a the 45Q tax incentive. More in the Wall Street Journal
Washington Post: Concrete, Cement Mixes Could
Dramatically Cut Global Emissions
The Washington Post published a column by Lucca Henrion of Global CO2 Initiative. Duo Zhang, Victor C. Li and Volker Sick, researchers at the University of Michigan on how carbon capture innovation for industrial applications like cement and concrete is increasing infrastructure sustainability and lowering emissions. Read their column.
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. Register here
