Clean Baseload Power: A Politically Durable Energy Agenda

ClearPath was founded in 2014 to fill the whitespace in the energy debate. Plenty of technology and industry-specific organizations existed. But who was working on an American innovation agenda and policy strategy focused on building clean, baseload energy? And, more specifically, who were the conservative voices? 

That’s where ClearPath founder Jay Faison stepped in: “I want conservatives to be leaders on clean energy—from nuclear to hydropower to clean fossil fuels—both to improve the environment and strengthen real conservative leadership.” 

Today, politics remain polarized, and there is still healthy debate over which technology is the best, most affordable way to meet growing demand. 

Instead of falling into the false choice trap of fossil fuels versus renewables, or the economy versus the environment, we espouse choosing markets over mandates and innovation over regulation. 

And now, as the post-One Big Beautiful Bill dust settles, an actual clear path for a politically durable American energy system has emerged.

Amidst the political noise, a quiet, bipartisan consensus has formed around a critical piece of America’s energy future: clean, firm, 24/7 energy technologies.

Both parties recognize that if we want to maintain a reliable grid, meet growing electricity demand to win the AI race, and reduce emissions, we need firm, always-on clean power.

This is where technologies like advanced nuclear, carbon capture, hydropower, fusion and enhanced geothermal systems come in. These solutions can provide round-the-clock electricity. And crucially, they have gained champions on both sides of the aisle. Recent federal policies prove the point. The Energy Act of 2020, which had strong bipartisan support in Congress and was signed into law by President Trump, authorized research, development and deployment policies for clean, firm power. 

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, passed with bipartisan support and signed by President Biden, dedicated billions to fund demonstrations of those technologies authorized in the Energy Act of 2020. 

The Inflation Reduction Act, driven by Democrats in 2022, and One Big Beautiful Bill, by Republicans this year, both have one thing in common — support for new nuclear, long-duration energy storage, carbon capture, geothermal and hydropower, or, as we’ve already said…clean, 24/7 reliable energy. 

At the same time, Republican-led states like Wyoming, Utah, Louisiana and West Virginia are actively partnering with private developers to host small modular nuclear reactors and carbon capture projects, while Democratic strongholds like California, New York and Michigan are extending the life of their nuclear plants to keep clean, reliable power on the grid.

The motivation is not ideological; it’s practical. A manufacturing renaissance, more electrification of buildings and industry, and a data-driven economy all require massive amounts of reliable electricity. Without 24/7 power, renewables alone cannot meet that demand without risking blackouts or skyrocketing costs. And while we want to see more fossil fuel power plants with carbon capture get built, supply chains and infrastructure challenges make meeting the entire demand challenging. 

Policymakers in both parties are seeing the same reality: the U.S. must invest in American-made technologies that can run all day, all year.

The alignment is not just good for political discourse; it’s good for American energy dominance. China and Russia are aggressively deploying advanced nuclear and other clean energy infrastructure around the world. To beat them, we must diversify our innovations and accelerate the deployment of technologies at home while opening up new global buyers of American-made energy. 

At the same time, the drumbeat for modernizing energy permitting is getting louder and for good reason. If we want America to lead the world and develop more of the clean, baseload power that has bipartisan support, developers must have a better path to obtaining permits. 

Energy policy may never be completely free from partisanship, but we should not lose sight of the common ground that now clearly exists. When it comes to keeping the lights on, powering the economy and new AI, and lowering global emissions, clean 24/7 energy is one issue where America can still move forward together.

 

20 Years Since the Energy Policy Act of 2005

It is hard to believe that this month marks 20 years since Congress passed the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 2005. EPAct 2005 focused on increasing energy supplies, building energy infrastructure and driving investment in American innovation. While it was far from perfect, EPAct was bold and set the stage for U.S. energy dominance. Congress can build on the lessons from EPAct 2005 and continue to deliver energy policy that moves our nation forward.

When EPAct 2005 was crafted, the country was facing complex energy issues. We were grappling with the impacts of the 2003 Northeast Blackout, which affected more than 50 million people and caused an estimated $10 billion in economic losses. There were growing concerns about too much dependence on foreign oil and gas. The nuclear industry was in need of a serious revival to meet its potential. Innovative technologies were struggling to get the financing needed to achieve speed and scale. Congress took these challenges and turned them into opportunities.

Some key provisions of EPAct 2005 included:

Today, the saga of challenging energy issues continues. Our grid must be ready to meet increased demand driven from data center growth, industrial reshoring and widespread electrification while also dealing with aging infrastructure, the complexity of integrating variable resources and an evolving regulatory landscape. Permitting hurdles remain a major barrier to building critical energy infrastructure. Innovative technologies still need strong public-private partnerships to bridge the commercialization gap and scale to competitive solutions. These challenges set the stage for the next opportunity for energy leadership.

Forecast of Data Center Demand Growth by 2030

Adapted from DOE’s Resource Adequacy Report (2025), underlying data from EPRI, McKinsey & Company, LBNL, S&P

Congress has shown in EPAct 2005 as well as the Energy Act of 2020 that it can deliver broad, bipartisan energy policy. It is time for an updated big, bold, bipartisan energy bill.  

The following are examples of policies that can address today’s energy challenges:

Streamline Permitting: Outdated permitting processes are jeopardizing critical infrastructure development. Bills like the SPEED Act, introduced by House Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME), can help modernize NEPA to reduce duplication, increase transparency and reform judicial and litigation practices. The administration and legislation proposals like the FREE Act introduced by Sen. Lummis (R-WY) and Rep. Maloy (R-UT) have also highlighted the potential for using a regulatory tool called permit-by-rule to expedite permitting, which is a process that allows certain activities to proceed without undergoing a full individualized permit review, as long as they meet predefined criteria.

Improve the Grid:  American energy security, AI leadership and manufacturing competitiveness require a robust transmission system. Transmission siting and permitting improvements could streamline grid expansion while balancing and fully respecting states’ roles in the process. Innovative grid technologies and transformer manufacturing deployed at scale would also help optimize the grid. Safeguarding the grid, such as through the work of DOE’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response (CESER), is also critical.

Strengthen Pipelines: A modern pipeline system is essential to deliver reliable, affordable energy to homes and industry, including AI data centers. Policy ideas like the Next Generation Pipelines Research and Development Act, which passed the House on a bipartisan basis in the 118th Congress and was reintroduced in April 2025 by Reps. Randy Weber (R-TX) and Deborah Ross (D-NC) would support the build-out of all types of pipelines, such as natural gas, LNG, petroleum, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and more. There are also opportunities to update some safety regulations for pipeline infrastructure.

Expand Critical Minerals: Critical minerals are essential to America’s energy security, industrial base and national defense. President Trump’s March 2025 Executive Order prioritized U.S. mineral production and directed DOD and DOI to accelerate support for mining and processing. There have also been several legislative efforts in the 118th and 119th Congress that seek to accelerate permitting for mining projects, boost R&D and strengthen strategic mineral partnerships and finance domestic mineral supply chains. Some examples include: the Critical Mineral Consistency Act, the Mining Regulatory Clarity Act, the Unearth Innovation Act and the STRATEGIC Minerals Act.

Expand Nuclear: Building more clean, firm nuclear power is essential for national and economic security. Bills like the Accelerating Reliable Capacity (ARC) Act introduced in the 118th Congress by Senator Risch (R-ID), or a similar policy, can spur nuclear deployment by addressing cost uncertainty and reducing investment risk. Also, continued funding for the DOE’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP), first authorized in the Energy Act of 2020, has supported ongoing nuclear energy projects and their fuel supply chain.

Promote Geothermal: Next-generation geothermal technologies have the potential to expand beyond the Western U.S. to provide emissions-free, reliable baseload power all across the country and leverage up to 200,000 existing American jobs in the oil & gas sector. The Trump DOE has prioritized funding for project demonstrations. Innovators have already shown great success, like reducing drilling times by more than 70 percent. Bills like the GEO Act, introduced in the 118th Congress by Sens. Lee (R-UT) and Heinrich (D-NM), can streamline federal permitting requirements and apply best practices to unlock additional deployments of these next-generation projects. The energy unlock that EPAct 2005’s categorical exclusion provided for certain oil and gas activities on federal lands could be replicated for geothermal.

Reshore Manufacturing: Meeting infrastructure needs requires producing and deploying core building materials at scale and speed. Bills like the Concrete and Asphalt Innovation Act (CAIA), introduced in March 2025 on a bipartisan basis by Sens. Coons (D-DE) and Tillis (R-NC), are designed to bring innovative cement and asphalt technologies to market faster, increase domestic production and meet the demand for 1 million tons of cement by 2028, triggered by AI data center development.

Accelerate Carbon Technologies: Industrial innovation includes carbon management innovation. Bipartisan bills like the Carbon Removal and Emissions Storage Technologies Act (CREST), introduced in the 117th and 118th Congresses, would authorize DOE’s carbon removal innovation efforts and help keep American companies ahead of global competitors. By driving private investment and reducing costs to meet growing demand, CREST can help build a trillion-dollar American industry capable of delivering gigaton-scale removals by 2050.

Strengthen Global Leadership: In order to advance U.S. national interests, level the playing field for American businesses and solidify global leadership in key energy sectors, strategic enhancements are needed at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and the Export-Import Bank of the U.S. (EXIM). The DFC authorization expires in October 2025 and the EXIM authorization expires in December 2026. These are financing tools designed to secure U.S. energy leadership and push back against China’s aggressive, state-funded energy expansion.

 

Nebraska’s Agricultural Innovation: Biochar, Precision Management & Biochemicals

American farmers have a long history of using innovation to solve problems at hand. In 1793, Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin. In 1837, John Deere invented the steel plow. In the 1940s, Norman Borlaug figured out how to increase crop yields. In 1989, satellites were used for precision agriculture. 

While American agriculture was once defined by breakthrough innovations, over the past 20 years, public investment in U.S. agricultural R&D has declined by over 30%. During that same period, China’s investments in agricultural R&D surged, spending double that of the U.S. by 2015. Brazil and India have also ramped up efforts, with Brazil spending nearly double the U.S.’ share of agricultural GDP on R&D.

Public Agricultural Research and Development Investments: U.S. and other countries

It is time for America to reclaim its mantle of innovation in agriculture. Regions like the Midwest are growing hubs for agricultural innovation, and farmers are employing high-tech equipment and techniques to increase yields, reduce inputs, and reduce emissions.

In June, ClearPath visited a series of cutting-edge sites in Nebraska, spanning ag-tech, commercial biochemical manufacturing, and interdisciplinary research, that are enhancing rural prosperity. From on-farm automated crop sensors to biochemical start-ups, these facilities represent America’s leadership in agricultural innovation.

Members of the ClearPath, American Conservation Coalition (ACC), and Conservative Coalition for Climate Solutions (C3 Solutions) teams at Siouxland Ethanol, where Bluestem’s Project Heartland will be located.

Federally Supported Agricultural R&D Paves the Way for Innovation

Across the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) campus, researchers are building agricultural tools and perfecting practices, with farmers’ needs at the forefront and an eye towards commercialization.

The Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center (ENREEC) is an integral hub of research and innovation. It covers 9,500 acres and meets the needs of Nebraska’s rural sector through research and Nebraska Extension. We visited and learned about:

We also visited two prominent research labs at UNL that showcase the value of innovation and farmer engagement in addressing agricultural challenges:

Continued federal support can complement these on-the-ground efforts in Nebraska and across the U.S. Examples of past legislation introduced in Congress that could support agricultural R&D include:

Pioneering Bio-Based Chemical Manufacturing in Nebraska

Across Nebraska, a cluster of companies is reimagining the future of industrial production through bio-based technologies that reduce emissions, strengthen rural economies, and scale clean energy solutions.

ClearPath, ACC, and C3 Solutions at Novonesis.

Projects like these have an opportunity to cement America’s energy and agricultural dominance in the coming decades. The recently introduced bipartisan Agricultural Biorefinery Innovation and Opportunity (Ag BIO) Act of 2025 aims to foster precisely these pioneering efforts, providing critical federal support for innovations taking root.

The Road Ahead

Nebraska is redefining what it means to lead in innovative agriculture. These facilities are demonstrating that cutting-edge technologies can be deployed today, through both start-up and commercial scales.

Whether deploying precision nutrient management tools, turning corn into biochemicals, or growing new markets for bio-based materials, Nebraska’s ecosystem blends scientific expertise with practical applications on the ground. And in doing so, it’s charting a clear path for how rural economies can thrive with more agricultural innovation.

 

Modernizing the World Bank is a Key Step Toward Energy Dominance

Global demand for reliable, affordable and clean energy is, as Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said, fundamentally about opportunity. The U.S. needs sufficient power to drive new AI demand and power our digital economy. In Poland, it’s about securing energy independence from Russia. In African countries, where 600 million people live without electricity, it’s about fighting extreme poverty. The Trump Administration has strong ambitions to accelerate U.S. energy dominance, support energy security in our allies, and use energy to drive economic growth and prosperity in developing countries.

Yet, as the world works to deploy new energy infrastructure, the World Bank, one of the largest sources of infrastructure finance, is running on an outdated energy policy. Between a total ban on supporting nuclear energy and a broad reticence to support natural gas infrastructure, the World Bank should take a hard look at how its policies align with global trends. Luckily, after pressure from its largest shareholder (the United States), World Bank President Ajay Banga promised a revamp of the Bank’s energy policy.

This isn’t just about clean energy or development, but a U.S. strategic imperative. Despite its $40 billion energy and extractives portfolio, the Bank lacks any engagement on nuclear energy, leaving a vacuum filled by competitors like Russia and China, whose exploitative financing creates long-term dependencies. For example, in 2023, an Egyptian presidential advisor told a group of U.S. lawmakers and a ClearPath delegation that countries like hers want dependable energy financing and would welcome American or allied investment. Instead, Egypt, a Major Non-NATO Ally of the U.S., selected Russia’s Rosatom to finance and construct its new nuclear plant, because there wasn’t another option.

This is a major market opportunity for the U.S. The American nuclear industry supports 250,000 jobs, and a recent Trump administration Executive Order set a goal of quadrupling U.S. nuclear capacity by 2050. The International Energy Agency projects that global investment in the nuclear sector could grow to over $100 billion annually by 2030. Capturing part of this market would align with the four executive orders aimed at reinvigorating the U.S. nuclear industry, and getting the World Bank engaged on nuclear energy would help enable this goal by providing more financing options to meet the growing demand around the world for new nuclear.

The first step for the World Bank could be a dedicated Nuclear Energy Trust Fund, a concept supported by bipartisan, bicameral legislation currently working its way through Congress. Such a trust fund would involve low total dollar amounts while helping the World Bank begin to build technological and analytical capacity on the burgeoning nuclear industry to advise its member countries better.

Regardless of whether or not the World Bank makes a policy change, the U.S. must be prepared to capitalize on this global market. This means strengthening America’s financing entities, such as the Export–Import Bank of the United States and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, which can promote U.S. exports. It also means ensuring that Department of Energy-supported demonstration programs are completed and that private industry can begin scaling up economically viable advanced reactors.

 

U.S. LNG Exports Are the Blueprint for Global Energy Leadership

A renewed era of United States global energy leadership has arrived, and it is powered by liquified natural gas (LNG) today and can be quickly joined by a host of other clean energy technologies. The Trump administration has taken action in its first 100 days to demonstrate that LNG is once again a top energy priority, including recent executive orders and new approvals issued by the Department of Energy (DOE) to strengthen America’s ability to meet rising global demand, create new jobs, and project energy security abroad. As ClearPath has previewed before, where American gas goes, other clean energy technologies can follow.

In February 2025, the Trump administration approved the first new LNG export license–reversing the Biden administration’s politically motivated pause–granting authorization for the Commonwealth LNG project in Louisiana. This facility aims to export 9.5 million metric tons annually, targeting growing markets in Asia and Europe.

The push from the Administration is already accelerating private sector activity. The DOE extended export authorization for Golden Pass LNG, which is expected to begin shipments this year. Companies like Cheniere and Venture Global are rapidly scaling up export infrastructure across the Gulf Coast, including infusions of new capital investment to accelerate new projects. These projects demonstrate that the Administration’s approach to unleashing American energy is effective in delivering cleaner, reliable energy to global markets.

The Trump administration’s focus on cutting regulatory red tape, streamlining DOE export approvals, and unleashing private investment is setting the stage for even broader energy leadership. The Department of Energy’s work to accelerate LNG infrastructure dovetails with investments in critical minerals, advanced nuclear technology, next-generation geothermal, and carbon capture, creating an all-of-the-above energy advantage for the United States.

North America Liquefied Natural Gas Export Capacity By Projects (2026-2028)

These innovative energy technologies are well-positioned to follow the blueprint pioneered by LNG. Federal support for early-stage research combined with private-sector commercialization is rapidly advancing innovative technologies. These investments, supported by programs authorized by the Energy Act of 2020 and signed into law by President Trump funding from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and reinforced by President Trump’s latest executive orders, are building an energy future anchored in American innovation.

LNG growth offers the opportunity to reassert America’s global leadership over foreign adversaries, and drive down global emissions as one of the most carbon efficient economies in the world. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), American LNG exports are projected to increase by 19% to 14.2 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2025 and climb further to 16.4 Bcf/d in 2026—continuing a growth trajectory that began in earnest less than a decade ago and cementing the U.S. as the world’s top LNG exporter.

Today, American LNG exports span 39 countries and counting. Long-term supply contracts are locking in demand well into the 2030s, providing partners worldwide with price stability and energy security. The U.S. is not just exporting molecules—it is exporting resilience, innovation, and a vision for cleaner growth.

Annual U.S. Liquified Natural Gas Exports By Destination (2022-2024)

To sustain this momentum, and broaden it to include other innovative clean technologies, the United States should fully leverage the tools of its export and development finance arsenal. The Export-Import Bank (EXIM) can play a vital role in deploying American LNG and clean energy technologies abroad by offering financing, insurance and loan guarantees for infrastructure projects. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) can similarly support these efforts through its diverse financial tools, fostering meaningful global energy partnerships. By providing robust support, these agencies can help U.S. companies effectively compete and secure long-term contracts in strategic energy markets like LNG.

EXIM and DFC can be instrumental in financing emerging innovations such as technologies alongside LNG, bundling projects that pair gas infrastructure with carbon capture, hydrogen, or advanced nuclear. For instance, EXIM financed nearly $3 billion for a project exporting LNG to Australia, which enhanced Australia’s energy security and supported 11,000 American jobs. This project highlights EXIM’s ability to finance large-scale LNG projects while producing a meaningful impact on U.S. employment. Similarly, DFC has played a key role in America’s energy leadership in helping Europe diversify from Russian gas and is actively investing in critical minerals projects in Brazil, as well as submitting letters of interest to support nuclear projects in multiple countries. This not only enhances U.S. economic competitiveness but embeds American values of transparency, market openness and environmental stewardship into the energy systems of tomorrow. As demand rises in Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe, EXIM and DFC can ensure that American energy powers global development. Both agencies are due for reauthorization this Congress, offering significant opportunity to supercharge America’s international financing tools to achieve energy dominance in line with President Trump’s broader vision. 

With targeted engagement, the U.S. can lead the world in both energy security and emissions reduction. Doing so will require the Trump administration to leverage all of the tools in its toolbox, including domestic energy incentives to boost production, and well-leveraged international authorities to promote American technology adoption abroad.

 

Energy Incentives Will Unlock Energy Dominance (The Washington Times)

This op-ed was originally published by The Washington Times on April 28, 2025. Click here to read the entire piece.

The first 100 days of the new Trump administration have reshaped the energy landscape. Reliable, affordable energy is a top priority as the president seeks to unleash a new era of American energy dominance. Lower energy prices can usher in a true golden age for U.S. consumers. Done well, this agenda can also reduce global carbon dioxide emissions.

This dynamic is underscored by the president’s work to recruit new artificial intelligence and data center investments to the U.S. These investments can lead to economic development and will require rapid energy demand growth when paired with an American manufacturing resurgence, increasing U.S. energy demand by as much as 18% over the next decade, according to data from the North American Electric Reliability Council. Energy prices are one of the most important cost drivers in these energy-intensive industries.

A rapid increase in supply is required to maintain affordable costs for all American consumers. The U.S. must rapidly deploy all types of new American power. To effectively deploy these new technologies at speed, the administration will need to break down permitting barriers to accelerate the buildout of new energy infrastructure like pipelines, transmission, and other grid-enhancing technologies.

In addition to streamlining the permitting process to increase and maximize new investments, minimizing the tax burden on developers is another essential part of this equation. Maintaining low corporate rates is certainly going to help, but tax incentives also play an enormous role in minimizing investment risk and keeping prices low. Fortunately, some key incentives will not require drastic policy changes like the green new deal or a heavy-handed government regulation.

Existing incentives authored or supported by Republicans in Congress under current law are critical for American leadership in new, affordable, 24/7 American power. These forms of power include advanced nuclear, geothermal, hydropower, natural gas with carbon capture, and even new breakthroughs in fusion technology. Key incentives, like 48E/45Y technology-neutral electricity credit; the 45X advanced manufacturing credit; the 45Q carbon capture, utilization, and storage credit; and the 45V hydrogen credit, can reduce the costs for American producers and support the manufacturers and the mineral supply chain across the economy. Simply put, consumer prices go up if the U.S. doesn’t lower the tax and energy cost burden for American producers and manufacturers.

Click here to read the full article

Power Demand Explained: Watts, Gigawatts and the Future of Energy

These days, we hear a lot about the rapid increase in global energy demand due to various factors like growing economies, widespread electrification, and the rise of data centers as AI expands. And it’s true. Here in the United States, after 15 years of static growth, our electricity demand is rising at an accelerated rate. Researchers estimate that by 2030, we will need 20% more energy – a total of 5 million gigawatt-hours of electricity each year.

“5 million gigawatt-hours.” That sounds like a lot. But what does that really mean?

Let’s start with the basics. A watt is a measure of power in an instant. For example, the 60-watt light bulb in your lamp at home requires 60 watts of power to turn on. A Watt-hour is a measurement of that power usage over time.

So, let’s say you turn on your lamp to read a book for two hours, you use 120 watt-hours of electricity. Easy enough.

Now, let’s take a look at a few other examples, going in order from smallest to largest. But first a reminder about unit prefixes: there are one thousand watts in a kilowatt, one million in a megawatt, and one billion in a gigawatt. 

While you’re reading your book, your lamp might only use 120-watt hours of electricity, but the average American household will use 2.4 kilowatt-hours during that time. That’s your lamp, the AC, the TV playing, and so on. Scaling up – with 150 megawatt-hours – you could power 42,000 American households for three hours while they watch a Sunday afternoon football game… or you could use your 150 megawatt-hours to power the NFL stadium itself. In the same amount of time, a large city like Washington D.C. would consume 25 times that much electricity, almost 4 gigawatt hours.

Currently, the U.S. needs around 4 million of these gigawatt-hours a year – again that’s 4 million billion watt-hours – or 4 with 15 zeros after it – and those needs are met with a mixture of 60% fossil fuels, 30% renewables, and 10% nuclear energy. And to get us 20 percent more energy – up to 5 million gigawatt hours a year  – we would need the equivalent of 1,500 Hoover dams in additional generation. That means we are going to need a lot more of ALL of these energy sources to keep up with expected demand.

And, we don’t just need more energy, we need energy that is affordable, reliable and clean. In other words, we need to take a pragmatic, all of the above approach to U.S. energy development. To keep the lights on – at a price that consumers can afford, we need more baseload energy –  the 24/7/ 300 and 65 days a year electricity sources that provide clean power. That means things like advanced nuclear, geothermal, and natural gas with carbon capture.

Ultimately, in order to generate and move all this energy around, we are going to need more than 15,000 new energy projects in this decade alone, and every single one of those projects starts with a permit. Unfortunately today in the United States, you can get a college degree faster than you can get a permit to build a clean energy project. That is why we all must work together to streamline federal permitting processes and unleash American energy. 

ClearPath’s answer to the power demand challenge? It’s time to Let America Build.

An Innovation Agenda for the Department of Energy (American Affairs)

This op-ed was originally published by American Affairs on August 19, 2024. Click here to read the entire piece.

The world is about to need more energy. A lot more. The combination of providing basic energy services to emerging markets and powering a new generation of data centers and manufacturing activity means the era of flat energy demand is over. Grid operators all across the United States are grappling with a rapid uptick in load growth projections and scrambling to build the energy infrastructure necessary to meet those forecasts.

As the world enters this new phase of energy growth, one thing is certain: the United States must lead the world and pioneer the technologies to make it possible. America is blessed with a world-class energy innovation engine led by the Department of Energy and the seventeen National Labs that have launched countless new technologies into the market. The Department of Energy (DOE, the Department) is the world’s largest funder of research for physical sciences and applied energy research, development, and demonstrations (RD&D). It is the sole federal entity with the capacity to advance innovative clean energy technologies in coordination with the private sector. These public-private partnerships are critical to commercializing breakthrough tech­nologies domestically and ultimately exporting them to key partners around the globe.

Congress has recently enacted legislation to reinvigorate these efforts, providing billions of dollars in new funding to support innovative energy demonstration projects and the commercialization of new tech­nologies. The conditions are right for America to meet this challenge, but the next presidential administration must agree to prioritize energy deployment first and foremost.

Click here to read the full article

CO2 Pipelines Are Safe…and We Need a Lot More

You’ve probably heard about a clean energy technology called Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage – or “CCUS” for short.

This is a method of capturing carbon dioxide or “CO2” from emissions sources like power plants and industrial facilities. Another method for reducing emissions is called Direct Air Capture, which removes CO2 that is already in our atmosphere — think a giant vacuum. If we’re serious about global emissions reduction — we need both.

In addition to driving down emissions, captured CO2 is also a valuable commodity.  CO2 is not only used to make your beer fizz, carbon oxides can be used for everyday products like building materials, fertilizer, and fuels. CO2 that is not in use can be permanently and safely stored – usually underground – where it resides for thousands of years. 

Often, when CO2 is captured, it’s not located near an available storage or use site and has to be transported to another location. Today, the best and safest way to move CO2 is through pipelines. 

Pipelines are everywhere – often without us even realizing it. They are beneath our highways, run through our cities, and connect our homes. Other essential resources, like natural gas, water, and waste, are all moved by pipelines. That’s because pipelines are the most land-efficient way to transport materials while minimizing environmental impact.

The Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, also known as “PHMSA”, has long regulated the security of this infrastructure. PHMSA provides national standards for pipeline design, construction, maintenance and operation. These ensure that all necessary measures are taken to mitigate risks and safeguard the well-being of your family and the environment.

Now let’s talk about CO2 pipelines. The U.S. currently has more than 5,000 miles of these pipelines, which have been safely operating across our country for over 50 years. CO2 is a stable, non flammable gas – we know it’s safe. We breathe it in and out every day – it’s even used in fire extinguishers. Over the last twenty years, there have been zero recorded fatalities associated with the very few CO2 pipeline incidents that have occurred. A pipeline accident, like we saw in 2020 in Satartia, Mississippi, while concerning, is extremely uncommon and is not representative of the safety performance of this critical infrastructure over the last several decades.

As demand for clean, reliable, and affordable energy grows, so will the demand for effective carbon management technologies. That means, to meet our energy security and global emission reduction goals, the build-out of CO2 pipeline infrastructure is vital.  An estimated 30,000 – 96,000 miles of CO2 pipelines will be needed by 2050 – that’s roughly 5 to 18 times the length of our existing network. 

We get it, some people are uneasy about new infrastructure. But let’s face it, whether you care about climate change or U.S. competitiveness- we need these technologies. By building CO2 pipeline infrastructure, we are not only building our capacity to reduce emissions and protect our environment, we’re also creating jobs, bolstering local economies, and continuing to use the energy sources that make our country strong. In America, we’re not afraid to build — it’s what we do. 

And, through R&D and innovation, we’ll leverage the efficiency and maintain the strong safety record of this vital American infrastructure.

Let America build – A policy path to modernize energy permitting

Our team spends a lot of time on reliable, affordable, clean energy systems that run 24/7. These types of technologies are an integral part of our energy future, but with a growing economy and electricity demand doubling, we need MORE power.

This means building a lot of new nuclear, geothermal, and clean fossil power plants. We’ll also need immense new transmission and pipeline infrastructure to move energy around the country.

But we’ve got a ton of work to do in very little time. 

Whether you are motivated by deep emissions reductions, furthering our nation’s energy security, or enabling the next generation of American manufacturing, the coming decades are essential. By many estimates, that means at least 10,000 new clean energy projects this decade alone. And, every one of those projects will require new permits to build. 

Unfortunately, the U.S. has a world-class apparatus… for getting in the way.

Let me give you an example. The National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, calls for developers to measure the environmental impact of their projects. But NEPA was passed years before we had other laws with strict environmental standards like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, or Endangered Species Act. 

Each of those are important — but all together … permit reviews can spiral into extremely long efforts, spanning thousands of pages with duplicative analyses and dozens of bureaucrats required to sign off on each individual project. And, this is not even taking into account the time it takes for any local permitting or state regulations. While this system may have made sense 50 years ago, the surge in new energy demand requires a new way.    

When we think about how to build tens of thousands of new clean energy projects, and how to balance speed and safety, it’s obvious the U.S. needs a more predictable process. 

At ClearPath, we always focus on solutions. Here are two that should be pretty simple: 

First, grant immediate approval to projects on a site that have already undergone an environmental review.

Second, we must expedite court challenges so a final decision on projects is made in a timely manner. 

Let me simplify both concepts.

Do you remember standing in line at the airport before TSA pre-check? That was brutal! Now, individuals who have proven they are not a risk can move through an expedited line.

Here’s another example.

There are mountains of evidence that some projects have little to no environmental impacts, such as an advanced manufacturing facility that produces parts for clean energy on a brownfield, or converting a retired coal plant to an advanced nuclear facility or siting a new geothermal plant at a depleted oil and gas well. These are the types of projects we should automatically permit to move forward.

Just like random screenings at TSA, we can audit the operators to ensure they’re complying with all environmental laws as we go. So new energy accelerates at no new environmental costs.

And for those projects that do need permits up front, we should ensure reviews are complete within 1 year and resolve any legal disputes within 6 months.

Under the current system, clean energy projects can suffer long delays, sometimes decades, largely because of obstructive litigation practices. We must strike the right balance while halting the never-ending cycle of frivolous lawsuits. 

At ClearPath, we believe all of this can be done without rolling back environmental protections or eliminating the public’s opportunity to be involved in the review process. Even with these necessary changes, a project would still be required to comply with environmental laws during its entire lifetime.*

It’s a win-win. Let’s get building.