Happy Friday! Congrats to the GOP Congressional baseball team on the win!
ClearPath team at the 2024 Congressional Baseball Game in Nationals Park
It’s our honor to have sponsored the annual bipartisan Congressional Baseball Game for Charity. ClearPath has been a top sponsor for the past eight years, supporting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, the Washington Literacy Center and the Washington Nationals Philanthropies along with the United States Capitol Police Memorial Fund.
1. ClearPath digs into new nuclear
ClearPath and friends breaking ground on a cleaner future
ClearPath had shovels in hand, side by side with public officials, nuclear advocates and American entrepreneurs this week when TerraPower broke ground on its first Natrium reactor in Kemmerer, Wyoming.
The Natrium reactor:
Has an output of 345MWe but can produce up to 500MWe, enough reliable, clean power to power 400,000+ homes.
Has an integrated molten salt energy storage system to respond to the grid’s demand.
Is replacing a coal plant scheduled for retirement.
DOE’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP) Demo Awards provide a federal cost-share to develop, license, build, fuel and demonstrate commercial advanced reactors. In 2020, DOE awarded TerraPower nearly $2 billion for its Natrium reactor.
L to R: ClearPath’s Chris Tomassi (a Kemmerer, WY native), Jeremy Harrell and Jake Kincer at the groundbreaking
What’s clear: If the nuclear construction permit is approved, it will be the first application of its kind approved by the NRC for a commercial advanced non-light water reactor. This design is able to integrate with the existing grid by load-following or using its thermal energy storage.
2. Google, NV Energy partner to scale up FERVO’s geothermal tech
As data center power demand goes up, companies are looking to the heat beneath our feet for solutions. Google has reached a rate structure agreement with NV Energy to bring clean energy to the local grid using enhanced geothermal developed by Fervo Energy at their Project Red site.
Google already has a commercial pilot with Fervo in Nevada, and;
This new partnership could increase enhanced geothermal capacity by 25 times to bring 115 MW to the grid.
What’s clear: We are seeing western states turning to renewable geothermal energy for new electric capacity. Between increased private investment, public demonstrations and ongoing research, geothermal’s time has come as a 24/7 clean, firm energy resource.
3. Reps. Lucas & Salinas’ geothermal bill advances
A bill to advance supercritical geothermal energy, introduced by House SS&T Committee Chairman Lucas (R-OK) and Rep. Salinas (D-OR) was cleared by SS&T this week.
Supercritical geothermal, or super hot rock energy:
Is a category of enhanced geothermal systems, and;
Requires deep drilling technologies to access dry rocks at temperatures around 400°C or greater,
Utilizes natural heat deep within the Earth’s crust to power a turbine and generate energy.
What’s clear: “By developing enhanced geothermal systems, we can expand this power source across the United States. We can also make it a baseload energy source that can power entire city grids. This bill will help us do that by establishing a program within DOE’s Geothermal Technologies Office to focus on supercritical geothermal research,” said SS&T Chair Frank Lucas (R-OK).
“Unlocking the full potential of supercritical geothermal will provide the U.S. a competitive advantage over other clean energy supply chains dominated by China and promote grid reliability and industrial decarbonization here at home,” said ClearPath Action CEO Jeremy Harrell.
Plug in: Click hereto learn more about the Supercritical Geothermal Research and Development Act.
4. Wyoming shows why granting Class VI primacy matters
Wyoming is showing why state primacy for Class VI carbon dioxide injection wells can help the U.S. expedite its carbon dioxide reduction goals. Their Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued a draft permit for Tallgrass Energy’s Juniper I-1 well.
The permit now enters a 60-day public comment period.
Following review of the public comments and any public hearings, the Director of the Wyoming DEQ will issue a final decision on the permit.
Wyoming has done this in just over one year while a similar application process with the U.S. EPA has taken up to six years.
North Dakota and Louisiana also have primacy while several states including Texas, West Virginia, Arizona and Alaska are also in the process of applying.
What’s clear: In addition to the importance of granting states primacy for Class VI wells, Wyoming is becoming a shining clean energy example for the U.S.
5. NEW Blog: The U.S. needs Natural Gas, Here’s a Playbook to Reduce Emissions
Natural gas plays an important role in reducing CO2 emissions from the U.S. power sector, but to reduce global emissions by 2050, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, created by the natural gas supply chain (NGSC) must be reduced even further.
In the spring of 2024, the National Petroleum Council (NPC)approved a study that researches ways to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) across the NGSC. It contains recommendations and ways for DOE, state and federal agencies, and industry-related organizations to meet the challenge, including:
Deploying innovative monitoring technologies,
Harmonizing emissions reporting, and;
Developing supporting regulations and market incentives.
If the U.S. can meet this challenge, it will be a global leader in emissions reductions.
Plug in: Dive deeper into this study’s recommendations in this blog by Karen Obenshain, who played a big role in the study..
6. ClearPath welcomes Mary Stankus…
ClearPath is excited to welcome former Senior Director of Recruitment, Admissions and Operations at The Fund for American Studies (TFAS), Mary Stankus, to the team.
Mary Stankus is joining ClearPath as Operations Director, leading the team to continue fostering a productive and positive work environment.
Previously, Mary led the outreach, engagement and operations team at TFAS for two decades, ensuring student enrollment goals and developing unique communications plans for various constituent groups. She also managed the Customer Relations Management platform, internal project management tools and the program schedule app.
Welcome, Mary!
7. …and Bryson Roberson!
ClearPath also welcomes Bryson Roberson as a policy fellow. In this role, Bryson will focus on policy that supports the commercialization of the next generation of nuclear energy technologies.
Previously, Bryson completed the J-Term Tadler Fellowship with the University of Virginia’s Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy and served as the Public Policy and Economics Program Advisor for TFAS.
Welcome, Bryson!
8. ClearPath on everything nuclear at CCL
ClearPath’s Niko McMurray spoke on a panel at the Citizens’ Climate Lobby/Citizens’ Climate Education annual Summer Conference, discussing the opportunities and obstacles in nuclear power, a climate solution new to their organization’s advocacy.
The significant bipartisan and public support for nuclear energy;
How bipartisan policies including the Senate ADVANCE Act and House Atomic Energy Advancement Act can help pave the way for new nuclear projects and;
New nuclear technologies are cost-competitive and can be used for more than electricity.
9. Western Governors’ Decarbonizing the West Report
Chaired by Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon, the Western Governors’ Association unveiled the 2024 Decarbonizing the West report which included key policy recommendations to support the buildout of clean energy infrastructure in the West.
ClearPath joined the Governors during the series of work sessions to develop key recommendations for federal funding, Class VI primacy, and CO2 pipelines including:
Federal technology-neutral incentives, tax policies, and R&D funding needed to bridge the gap from pilot or demonstration projects to commercial-scale deployment.
Establishing clear and consistent EPA guidelines for obtaining primacy and improve the review process for state primacy applications in a more timely manner.
Additional technology-neutral incentives, complementary to 45Q, that support CDR options including BiCRS and the production of low-carbon chemicals.
10. ICYMI
ClearPath’s Casey Kelly was selected for NREL’s 2024 Energy Executive Leadership program.
Leading U.S. direct air capture (DAC) company signs a lease for a manufacturing facility in Arizona.
The Senate confirmed three Federal Energy Regulatory Commission nominees this week.
That’s all from us. Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!
