This week, ClearPath partnered with the American Petroleum Institute (API) to showcase the opportunity for the oil, gas and petrochemical industries to lead the carbon dioxide emissions reductions at scale.
The event brought together top thought leaders, project developers, investors, and senior Department of Energy (DOE) officials to discuss how technologies such as carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) and direct air capture (DAC) are putting America on a clear path to global energy leadership and dramatically reducing and removing carbon dioxide emissions.
Plug in: Check out our Policy Manager Matt Mailloux’s recap blog here.
Pictured (top L to R): Rich Powell, Under Secretary David Crane, Sasha Mackler, Nigel Jenvey, Pete Sheffield, Jeff Alvarez, Aaron Padilla, Leslie Rich, Jeremy Harrell, Alicia Summers, Lily Barkau, Susan Blevins, Shannon Angielski, Michael Johnson, Edward Herring, and Doug Schultz
ClearPath’s Chief Strategy Officer Jeremy Harrell spoke at the Portland Cement Association and the Global Cement and Concrete Association’s Global Concrete Forum, on bipartisan support for cement & concrete emissions reductions and the need to unlock U.S. innovation and drive down emissions.
Pictured above L to R: Lauren Hughes, Natalie Houghtalen, Victor Ibarra Jr., Jackie Toth, and Ryan Norman (not pictured)
ClearPath’s Policy Advisor Natalie Houghtalen participated in a panel at the Atlantic Council’s Nuclear Energy Policy Summit sharing what sparked her interest in nuclear energy and how to best leverage the technology.
2. Unleashing reliable, clean (hydro) power across the U.S.
Subcommittee Chair Jeff Duncan (R-SC) shared his goal to enact policy that delivers affordable, reliable, and clean energy to all Americans.
What’s clear: “Hydropower and pumped storage provide clean power and storage. They are also flexible and can generate power to the grid immediately, which provides essential backup power in times of major outages or disruptions,” said Chair Duncan.
Plug in: House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) introduced the ‘Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act’ earlier this summer, which would modernize the hydropower licensing process and promote next-generation hydropower projects.
The Sustainable Steel Buyers Platform, which includes Microsoft and other organizations announced a plan to jointly request a total of 2 million metric tons of “near-zero emissions” steel from producers.
What’s clear: ’Near-zero’ emissions steel can be made by reducing iron via hydrogen produced from zero-carbon electricity or in a traditional blast furnace paired with CCS. Steel contributes to 7% of global CO2 emissions.
4. DoD selects second micro nuclear reactor design
The Department of Defense’s Strategic Capabilities Office awarded a contract to X-energy to further develop its engineering design for a transportable micro nuclear reactor, as part of Project Pele.
This one-year contract will allow X-energy to bring its reactor design closer to deployment to support both commercial ventures and military resiliency.
Project Pele previously awarded BWXT to build a prototype micro reactor, one of the first demonstrations of an advanced reactor.
What’s clear: New nuclear technologies can support decarbonization and resiliency. Technologies like mobile micro reactors can meet both goals, and programs like Project Pele can accelerate the deployment of new reactor technologies.
September 27 at 10:00 AM – The House Science, Space and Technology Committee will hold a hearing with EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.
6. ICYMI
The narrative is changing: It’s time for an ’America First’ climate agenda. Here are 3 ways Republicans can win in 2024, according to an op-ed in Fox News by Robert O’Brien and Neil Auerbach.
There are still hurdles to jump surrounding permitting and regulations in the effort to implement geothermal in the U.S. Read what ClearPath’s Chief Strategy Officer Jeremy Harrell said about it in this week’s Morning Edition from Kuer.
CarbonBuilt announced the successful production of concrete without Portland cement. This is a key milestone in the ability to produce commercial volumes of low-carbon concrete.
That’s all from us. Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!
