1. House Science to move clean energy innovation bills
Spencer Nelson, Managing Director of Research and New Initiatives at ClearPath and ClearPath Action, testified at a legislative hearing before the House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Energy on developing next-generation energy infrastructure.
Historical successes of investments in innovation that have led to lower energy costs;
The development for grid resilience, hydrogen energy and pipelines; and
Opportunities for industrial decarbonization and carbon dioxide removal policies.
What’s clear: Energy innovation has been a fundamental driver of continued economic growth in the U.S., along with improvements to the reliability, security, and affordability of our energy systems. We must continue to promote policies that support innovation in this critical space.
2. H.R. 1 support grows
ClearPath Action proudly supports H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act. This legislation would unleash American energy, lower costs, and get clean American energy produced sooner, while also meeting the safety and environmental concerns of our communities.
“This bill will bolster innovation, increase American production of energy, reduce global emissions, and make energy more affordable for American families,” said Rich Powell, CEO, ClearPath Action.
3. WERC honors Congresswoman Rodgers (R-WA) as first woman to chair E&C
The Women’s Energy Resource Council (WERC) hosted a reception honoring House Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), the first woman to chair the Committee since its inception in 1795.
ClearPath is a proud sponsor of WERC, and our Senior Director of Government Affairs Colleen Moss serves as Vice President (pictured above, introducing Chair Rodgers).
WERC promotes the exchange of ideas and perspectives on energy policy among women energy professionals from the private sector, Capitol Hill, and the Executive Branch in Washington D.C.
Carbon capture potential is gaining a lot of steam, but will be little more than talking points if projects cannot be permitted in a timely manner, according to Rich Powell, CEO of ClearPath in a recent op-ed for RealClearEnergy.
CCS projects have the support of both parties in Congress and the White House.
EPA Administrator Regan recently said, “carbon capture and storage is a priority for this Administration.”
Yet, more than 70 carbon storage project applications are stuck in the approval queue.
The Administration has not granted primacy to any states for Class VI wells.
What’s clear: If we want to reduce emissions we must deploy more clean energy technologies at scale. When it comes to CCS, the financial interest, bipartisan support and government incentives are all there to do so. We just need the EPA to act with urgency.
5. Biochar from biomass to sequester CO2
Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (R-IA) introduced the bipartisan Biochar Research Network Actto study biochar and each of its potential benefits for carbon dioxide sequestration. This is the House companion to Sen. Chuck Grassley’s (R-IA) bill.
Biochar is a black, highly stable form of carbon produced from biomass by heating it in the absence of oxygen. This process is called pyrolysis, and it sequesters carbon.
The legislation will create opportunities to research biochar’s ability to absorb carbon on a variety of soil types and increase crop productivity.
What’s clear: “This bill will utilize America’s innovation expertise to create solutions to remove emissions from the atmosphere, improve soil health, and support agricultural communities,” said Jeremy Harrell, chief strategy officer at ClearPath Action.
6. GE makes its move on carbon removal
General Electric (GE)announced it has successfully tested its direct air capture (DAC) prototype and is now planning larger-scale demonstrations in 2024 that will capture carbon from the atmosphere.
What’s clear: DAC technology represents an exciting tool in the toolkit to reduce and remove global carbon dioxide emissions.
7. ICYMI
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH), Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and Synthos Green Energy (SGE) are teaming up investing around $400 million to develop a standard design, and advance the global deployment of the GEH BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR).
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) and ACC VP of external affairs Chris Barnard penned an op-ed in RealClearEnergy that advocates for America to unleash next-generation nuclear energy.
An op-ed in The Hill suggests an inclusive approach to carbon dioxide removals will de-risk private-sector investment and lead to the scaling up of multiple solutions to remove CO2 from the atmosphere faster.
Recent data from EIA confirmed the vital role US LNG has played for Europe’s energy security in the wake of Russia’s incursion into Ukraine, with US LNG exports to Europe increasing 141% year over year.
CarbonCapture Inc., a DAC developer, announced it signed an agreement with Microsoft to purchase DAC carbon removal credits from Project Bison, that will expects to capture and store five million metric tons of CO2 yearly by 2030.
8. Coming down the pipeline
Tuesday, March 28 – The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is hosting a briefing with Congressional staff titled, “Deploying Advanced Nuclear Technologies at Scale.” Our Managing Director of Public Policy Niko McMurray is a panelist.
That’s all from us. Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!
