Jay and Sen. Lisa Murkowski team up at U.S. Chamber Energy Innovation Summit
At the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Global Energy Institute Summit Energy Innovates: All In, ClearPath Founder Jay Faison and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) teamed up on stage to discuss policy wins for energy innovation like the Nuclear Energy Leadership Act, as well as how the climate change dialogue in Congress is improving and more Republicans are embracing clean energy innovation policies.
The Global Energy Institute summit also showcased innovators, projects, and technologies that have shaped today’s energy landscape — and are laying the groundwork for the future.
ClearPath Publishes New Nuclear Fuel 101 Report
In the latest Energy 101 series, ClearPath’s policy team takes an in-depth look at the science behind nuclear fuel and helps you break it down.
Nuclear fuel “burns” without fire. Heat is created, but the fuel looks the same before it is used as it does after it. Campfires and burning your toast breaks the bonds between atoms and rearranges them, nuclear power breaks the atom itself. Nuclear energy is clean energy. Without fire, there’s no smoke. And without smoke there’s no emissions. How nuclear fuel is created and deployed is complex and often misunderstood; this article provides a high-level, comprehensive explanation of the creation of nuclear fuel from mining to final fuel assembly as well as a short explanation of current and future fuel alternatives.
U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID) and Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-ID) have both introduced the Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act in their respective bodies.
Their legislation is designed to streamline the discovery and permitting process for geothermal energy projects similar to how it is done for oil and gas exploration on public lands.
Southern Research’s Grid-scale Energy Storage Center Up and Running
On July 16, The Energy Storage Research Center (ESRC) designed to accelerate the development and deployment of next-generation energy storage technologies is now in operation. Southern Research, Southern Company and its Alabama Power subsidiary, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the state of Alabama all collaborated to develop the ESRC.
“Focusing on grid-scale energy storage applications through the development of joint energy storage is the type of public-private collaboration that will help keep the U.S. at the forefront of clean energy innovation. We are always looking for ways to improve the resiliency, reliability and affordability of base-load power and we’re excited to see these organizations stepping up and taking the lead. ”
The USE IT Act is an important follow up to legislation that extended and expanded the 45Q incentive for carbon capture projects. These projects include such pioneering efforts as NET Power, which could capture and use the carbon emitted from facilities powered by both coal and natural gas.
The 45Q incentive has the potential to dramatically boost commercial carbon capture deployment in the U.S., which can lead to significant increases in enhanced oil recovery and other economic benefits. Facilitating the build out of carbon dioxide pipelines and related infrastructure backed by the USE IT Act is a logical next step to facilitate U.S. carbon capture technologies.
THE PATH AHEAD
August recess!
August 21 – The George Washington University is hosting a One-Day Professional Development Certificate Course for Mid-Career Professionals: The 21st Century Geopolitics of Energy: Risks, Vulnerabilities and Opportunities. For more information or to register click here
September 23 – 27: National Clean Energy Week (NCEW).National Clean Energy Week (NCEW) described by POLITICO as “a veritable who’s who of the Clean Energy World,” has announced key dates and speaker information ahead of its third annual celebration. Join ClearPath in celebrating and raising awareness for reducing emissions through clean energy technologies. As September quickly approaches, here are ways you can get involved now:
