Congratulations to the House of Representatives on passing six clean energy innovation bills on the floor this week.
ClearPath Action supports the following passed legislation:
The Innovative Mitigation Partnerships for Asphalt and Concrete Technologies (IMPACT) Act(H.R. 7685) streamlines regulation to bring innovative clean manufacturing technologies to market faster. This bill passed by voice vote and is led by Reps. Miller (R-OH) and Foushee (D-NC).
The Next Generation Pipelines Research and Development Act(H.R. 7073) helps develop innovative next-generation pipeline technology. This bill passed 373-41, led by Reps. Weber (R-TX) and Caraveo (D-CO), and co-sponsored by Lucas (R-OK), Obernolte (R-CA) and Williams (R-NY).
The NASA Reauthorization Act of 2024(H.R. 8958) reauthorizes NASA and includes provisions on measuring carbon dioxide and methane. This bill passed 366-21, led by Rep. Lucas (R-OK) and co-sponsored by Reps. Babin (R-TX), Lofgren (D-CA) and Sorensen (D-IL).
The Geothermal Energy Opportunity Act (H.R. 7370) requires the Dept. of the Interior to process geothermal drilling permits after an environmental review has been completed. This bill passed by voice vote and is sponsored by Rep. Curtis (R-UT).
H.R. 6474 amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to expedite geothermal exploration and development on federal lands. This bill passed by voice vote and is co-sponsored by Reps. Steel (R-CA) and Lee (D-NV).
The Small Modular Reactor Demonstration Act of 2024(H.R. 9710) helps commercialize new nuclear technologies, including deployments of Generation III+ reactors. This bill passed out of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee by voice vote and is co-sponsored by Reps. Strong (R-AL), Ross (D-NC) and Aderholt (R-AL).
2. Constellation + Microsoft partner to reopen Three Mile Island
The Constellation Energy and Microsoft partnership to reopen the Three Mile Island nuclear energy plant’s Unit 1 is huge news. In this deal:
Microsoft will purchase all of the plant’s 837 megawatts of clean energy once it is set to re-open in 2028 as part of its goal to match carbon-free power to its data center use.
Constellation hopes to receive federal support similar to the $1.5 billion conditional loan given to help reopen Palisades Nuclear Generating Station.
What’s clear: As the demand for energy from data and AI centers increases, tech companies are looking to nuclear energy as a source of 24/7 clean power. Along with Palisades, this is a welcome trend highlighting the importance of the existing American nuclear energy fleet in meeting clean energy goals.
Plug in: In the Washington Examiner, ClearPath CEO Jeremy Harrell co-authored an op-ed with Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) on investing in and advancing nuclear energy to ensure Americans’ growing demands are met with reliable, affordable and clean energy.
3. ClearPath at New York Climate Week…
ClearPath partnered with the American Petroleum Institute (API) for a third time at New York Climate Week to showcase the cutting-edge clean technologies needed to reduce energy emissions across the U.S. economy during the Carbon Innovation Forum, which:
Convened senior government officials, energy executives, project developers, technology startups, investors and thought leaders.
Focused on creating market demand for low-carbon solutions, such as carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) … carbon dioxide removal (CDR) … low-carbon materials like hydrogen and concrete … and the need for streamlined permitting to unlock energy infrastructure build-out.
What’s clear: The oil and gas industry is seizing the opportunity to lead emissions reductions at a global scale by utilizing industry expertise and engineering know-how needed for clean energy innovation and deployment.
L-R: Cheryl Lombard, ClearPath; Malcolm Woolf, NHA; Rob Mosher, INGAA; and Kyle Davis, CEBA.
ClearPath’s Senior Program Director of Power, Infrastructure, and Minerals Cheryl Lombard moderated a permitting modernization panel at National Clean Energy Week’s Policymakers Symposium. Panelists included:
Malcolm Woolf – President & CEO, National Hydropower Association (NHA);
Rob Musher – VP of Federal Affairs, Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA); and
Kyle Davis – Senior Director of Federal Affairs, Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA).
Plug in: Watch our whiteboard video with CEO Jeremy Harrell for a refresher on how permitting reform will Let America Build.
5. 14 big banks pledge support to triple nuclear
On the sidelines of Climate Week in New York, 14 global financial institutions came together to express support for the goal of tripling nuclear energy worldwide by 2050.
The group including Bank of America… Brookfield… Citi… Goldman Sachs… Guggenheim Securities LLC… Morgan Stanley… and nine other international companies.
What’s clear: Access to capital and supportive financing is critical for projects with high upfront costs like nuclear power. Support from major financial institutions is necessary to achieve the COP28 tripling pledge and demonstrate the momentum behind new nuclear globally.
6. DoD’s Project Pele breaks ground
The Department of Defense (DoD) broke ground on the site for its transportable microreactor, developed through Project Pele, at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). This project:
Is a transportable high-temperature gas reactor that will operate at the lab’s Critical Infrastructure Test Range Complex.
Could be one of the first U.S. advanced reactors, aiming to operate as early as 2026.
What’s clear: A microreactor is simply a very small nuclear reactor that can generate between 1 and 5 megawatts of electricity — a fraction of the size of the current operating reactors that we are used to seeing. This program is spearheaded by the DoD’s cutting-edge Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) and will demonstrate a new use case for advanced nuclear.
Plug in: Learn more about Project Pele and its background in this blog by ClearPath’s Managing Director of International and Nuclear Policy Niko McMurray.
7. Bolstering the battery manufacturing sector
The DOE plans to award $3 billion to 25 projects for the U.S. battery manufacturing sector in 14 different states, helping the U.S. shift the supply chain away from China and creating the next generation of technology.
The awards fund battery-grade processed critical minerals, components, battery manufacturing, and recycling, and will generate $16 billion in total investment for the projects.
8. Worth the watch
Check out “Nuclear Resurgence,” a short film by Full On Communications that examines nuclear energy’s comeback through the eyes of those who work closely with its technology and policy.
9. ICYMI
DOE announced a funding opportunity available for the research and development of clean hydrogen produced from alternative feedstocks.
U.S. cement innovator Sublime Systems adds CRH as an investor and off-taker for its first commercial-scale facility. CRH joins Holcim in a joint $75M investment in Sublime’s facility.
The Polish government intends to allocate over $15 billion to fund the country’s first nuclear power plant, which will be built in collaboration with Westinghouse Electric Company and Bechtel.
DOE awarded U.S. steelmaker Cleveland Cliffs $9.5 million to begin initial design and engineering activities to install a hydrogen-powered furnace at its Middletown Works facility in Ohio.
Mitsubishi Corp. and ExxonMobil signed a Project Framework Agreement to advance discussions on the offtake of low-carbon ammonia and equity participation in Exxon’s Baytown Low-Carbon Hydrogen facility. Earlier this month, ADNOC also signed an agreement to acquire a 35% stake in the hydrogen facility.
DOE invests $5.5 million to develop new and alternative products using U.S. supplies of critical minerals and materials.
Drax launched Elimini, a Houston-based BECCS company. Once fully operational, the 300-megawatt generation project will produce two terawatt hours of clean energy while capturing the equivalent of the average annual emissions of 100 commercial airliners.
That’s all from us. Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!
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