Welcome to your Friday Rundown for the week ending April 6. Feedback is always welcome at info@clearpathaction.org. 
 

COALITION PUSHES ENERGY INNOVATION FUNDING, GOALS   

ClearPath Action joined a broad coalition of two dozen organizations in pressing congressional appropriators not to shortchange energy innovation funding in FY19. Congress should also help the Department of Energy set ambitious “moonshot” clean energy technology development goals to help prioritize efforts to keep up with China, which recently surpassed the U.S. in late-stage R&D and is continuing to accelerate their effort.

“The United States is facing strong international competition in the development of advanced energy technologies that are cleaner, cheaper, and more versatile than the current system of commercially available technologies,” states the letter. “While American innovators have a long history of developing and improving energy technologies, it is essential that the nation maintains its competitiveness.”

The recent FY18 omnibus bill included strong funding across applied energy offices. “As you develop FY2019 funding levels for DOE and all of its innovation programs, we respectfully request that you establish focused, strategic goals for DOE programs, as well as provide the Department the resources necessary to meet these ambitious benchmarks,” the letter states. “These measures are essential to a strong domestic economy, energy security, the development and deployment of clean energy and energy efficiency technologies throughout our economy, and maintaining global leadership in energy innovation.”

Among those organization signing the letter include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Nuclear Energy Institute, Third Way, BPC Action, Natural Resources Defense Council, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions, American Council for Capital Formation, Carbon Utilization Research Council and Cloud Peak Energy.

READ THE SENATE LETTER 

READ THE HOUSE LETTER 
 

WHY WE NEED “MOONSHOT” ENERGY TECH GOALS 

The bad news again is that China is way ahead in the race to commercialize and export clean energy technologies. The potential silver lining is that the U.S. has been in this position before – when the Soviet Union won the first major breakthrough in the space race with the launch of Sputnik – and come out ahead in the end. President John F. Kennedy’s original “moonshot” goal subsequently led to the U.S. landing the first man on the moon.

ClearPath Executive Director Rich Powell in his most recent digital whiteboard video explains why “moonshot” clean energy technology goals would similarly allow the U.S. to catch up with China by focusing Department of Energy priorities and resources on the biggest breakthroughs in advanced nuclear, carbon capture, grid-scale storage, solar and other advanced technologies.

Watch Rich – in less than four minutes – sum up his appearance this year before the House Energy and Commerce Committee with the help of ClearPath graphics wizard Mitch Kersey. The optimistic takeaway message: While the U.S. may not be able to compete with China in cranes and concrete, setting moonshot energy technology goals can help ensure U.S. leadership in innovation and deployment.

WATCH RICH’S VIDEO
 

WHY 45Q MATTERS – AND WHY IT’S NOT ENOUGH

When Congress fixed the Section 45Q carbon capture tax credit as part of a broader budget deal signed into law in February it was a big, big deal. This incentive would accelerate technologies that capture, store and utilize carbon emissions from existing and new coal and natural gas plants, as well as industrial facilities that produce a range of U.S. products.

But the promise of carbon capture technology can’t rest on the 45Q fix alone. Rich and our in-house clean fossil fuel expert Justin Ong explain in their latest blog that an ambitious package of steady Department of Energy dollars, private activity bonds, streamlined permitting and other regulatory fixes are still needed.

WHY 45Q MATTERS – AND WHY IT’S NOT ENOUGH
 

THE PATH AHEAD