Welcome to your Friday Rundown for the week ending Oct. 27. We’ll always keep eyes and ears open for inquiries at info@clearpathaction.org.
HOW ARPA-E CAN MODERNIZE NUCLEAR POWER
A widely popular and successful federal advanced energy agency now has its sights set on a new potential breakthrough: next-generation nuclear technologies. The Energy Department’s ARPA-E, among other actions, will seek to model crucial enabling technologies for advanced nuclear such as advanced manufacturing, automation and robotics. In his latest digital whiteboard video, ClearPath Executive Director Rich Powell explains how this new development is part of ARPA-E’s venture capitalist approach to addressing some of the biggest and toughest programs in the energy space.
The Department of Energy on Oct. 20 announced up to $20 million for a new ARPA-E program called Modeling-Enhanced Innovations Trailblazing Nuclear Energy Reinvigoration. “MEITNER projects seek to identify and develop innovative technologies that can enable designs for lower cost, safer, advanced nuclear reactors,” according to the DOE announcement. The program was developed as a partnership between staff at ARPA-E and DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy.
ClearPath Founder Jay Faison joined the American Energy Innovation Council, comprised of leading U.S. business and innovation executives such as Norm Augustine, Tom Fanning and Bill Gates. Former Aerospace Corporation President and CEO Dr. Wanda Austin was also announced Oct. 24 alongside Jay as a new member of the council.
Petra Nova, the world’s largest post-combustion carbon capture system, has reached a major milestone in capturing more than 1 million tons of carbon dioxide for use in enhanced oil recovery, the Department of Energy announced. The 240 MW-project located near Houston began operating in January. It is a joint venture between NRG Energy and JX Nippon Oil and Gas Exploration Corporation and received DOE support. DETAILS
The House Energy Subcommittee by voice vote Thursday forwarded two hydropower bills to the full panel. One from Indiana GOP Rep. Larry Bucshon (H.R. 2872) authorizes FERC to grant an exemption for qualifying existing hydropower facilities at non-powered dams. A second bill from Virginia GOP Rep. Morgan Griffith (H.R. 2880) would allow FERC to impose licensing conditions for closed-loop pumped storage hydropower only as necessary to protect public safety or at times when essential to protect fish and wildlife. Griffith has lauded the potential for pumped-storage in Virginia coalfields.
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee by voice vote forwarded to the full Senate another five-year term for Democrat Jeff Baran on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Republican nominees Annie Caputo and David Wright have also been approved by the committee and are awaiting full Senate action.
SPEED READ
South Korea Will Resume Nuclear Reactor Work N.Y. TIMES
Puerto Rico Eyes Energy Future With Microgrids, Tesla BLOOMBERG
FERC Issues New Licensing Guidance For Hydro Projects HYDROWORLD
Get Ready for Energy Storage Combos Never Seen Before GREENTECH MEDIA
New Energy Storage Being Built at Virginia Hydro Project UTILITY DIVE
THE PATH AHEAD
TUESDAYGrid Rule: Former FERC Commissioners and Stakeholders Weigh In, featuring Rich Powell and former FERC Chairs James Hoecker, Pat Wood and Betsy Moler DETAILS
WEDNESDAYHouse Science Subcommittee on Energy hearing on the future of low dose radiation research, featuring General Accountability Office Science and Technology Issues Director John Neumann. DETAILS
