ClearPath Deepens Policy Expertise, Announces New Hires
ClearPath announced three new additions to the policy team. New hires Niko McMurray joins as Nuclear Program Director, and Cameron Tarry as Policy Fellow, while Cole Simons expands his existing role at ClearPath to include Policy Analyst.
McMurrary joins ClearPath from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), where he was a Materials Engineer focusing on new and advanced nuclear reactors.
Tarry was previously a public policy consultant at Dominion Energy, Inc.. and also worked as a research assistant at Washington Policy & Analysis. In addition to her experience in the energy sector, Cameron spent the past year on a Fulbright Fellowship in Kutaisi, Georgia.
Simons, who is Chief of Staff to ClearPath Executive Director Rich Powell, will take on an additional role as Policy Analyst focusing on electricity markets and later stage research and deployment.
RICH’S TAKE
“These additions significantly increase ClearPath’s depth of expertise on conservative clean energy policies and strengthens our role as policy resource for lawmakers and stakeholders.”
The Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) program, Breakthroughs Enabling Thermonuclear-fusion Energy (BETHE) will be getting $30 million in new funding to support fusion energy development and deployment. Read more on the U.S. Department of Energy announcement here.
U.S. Sens. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) co-founded the new bipartisan Senate climate change caucus added six new Senators this week and also met with energy and industrial CEOs including executives from DSM, DTE Energy Co., LafargeHolcim Ltd., Public Service Enterprise Group Inc., Dow Inc. and BASF SE. This week the caucus also added Energy and Natural Resources Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), and Lindsay Graham on the Republican side.
Carbon Capture Technology Get’s Big Partnership With ExxonMobil, FuelCell Energy
ExxonMobil and FuelCell Energy, Inc. will be working together to enhance carbonate fuel cell technology for the purpose of capturing carbon dioxide from industrial facilities. This move will help advance carbon capture technologies while reducing costs and enhancing scalability, according to Vijay Swarup, vice president of research and development for ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company. Read more here
Rich joined the most recent Export-Import Bank advisory committee meeting. As a member of the committee, ClearPath can help convey the tremendous opportunities to export American clean energy technology.
Micro Nuclear Reactors: Prospects for Deploying Land-Based Nuclear Energy for the US Military
The American Security Project has released a report discussing the nuclear energy industry’s role as part of the military’s mission. The report shows the U.S. military is considering investments into micro nuclear power plants to enhance energy security and energy resilience.
On November 5, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a Hearing to Consider Pending Nominations approving Ms. Katharine MacGregor, of Pennsylvania, to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior. Video can be found here
On November 6, The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy passed a number of clean energy bills including S. 2657 – Advanced Geothermal Innovation Leadership Act, S. 2688 – Technology Transition Act, and S. 2714 – ARPA-E Reauthorization Act. Read the full list here
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Kevin McCarthy’s promise for a GOP climate agenda
The Examiner published a story on October 28 highlighting House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy’s comments on how the caucus will be focused on climate policy and included quotes from Rich on clean energy innovation policy.
VIDEO: Revolutionary Grid-Scale Energy Storage Technology
Energy storage is a key piece to solving the clean energy puzzle. Storage technologies benefit each portion of the grid from generation to transmission over long distances to distribution to homes and businesses. Quidnet is one of the most exciting and promising companies in the grid scale energy storage space. Quidnet uses a technology called geomechanical pumped storage, which applies traditional pumped storage techniques by repurposing drilling, well construction, and old fossil fuel assets. They’re able to take advantage of an existing supply chain and well-developed workforce.
The Office Manager will support the entire ClearPath team, helping with event planning, property management, and general office administration. We are looking for someone with 3-5 years of project management experience. Click here to read more about this job
THE PATH AHEAD
November 13: U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy is hosting a briefing as part of their Atomic Wings Lunch and Learn series entitled “Making Mars Missions Reality.” Click here for details
November 13: U.S. Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works will hold a hearing entitled “Preserving and Expanding Clean, Reliable Nuclear Power: U.S. Commercial Nuclear Reactor Performance Trends and Safety Initiatives.” Details here
November 14: U.S. House Science and Technology Subcommittee on Energy will host a hearing entitled “Water And Geothermal Power: Unearthing The Next Wave Of Energy Innovation.” Details here
2019 – 2020 School Year: The Energy Impact Center in partnership with the University of Michigan has created the first ever Nuclear Energy Grand Challenge: Reimagining Nuclear Waste which will engage collegiate innovators and entrepreneurs to tackle one of the most unique challenges facing the nuclear energy industry – the perception of nuclear waste. The winning team will be awarded a cash prize. Learn more about the Nuclear Energy Grand Challenge here.
