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ClearPath Action Rundown

April 14, 2023

Welcome back!



1. Senate bill to streamline advanced reactor deployment

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Legislation to support the next generation of reactor technologies needed for the U.S. to maintain global energy leadership was introduced this week by Senate EPW Committee Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV). Key provisions of the ADVANCE Act include:

Improvements to the licensing process for advanced reactors;

Assistance for allied countries to streamline our trading opportunities;

Modernization of the regulatory framework for manufacturing and construction;

Addresses the NRC’s readiness to license reactors for non-electric applications.

Capito was joined by Senators Carper (D-DE).....Whitehouse (D-RI).....Barrasso (R-WY).....Booker (D-NJ).....Crapo (R-ID).....Graham (R-SC).....Heinrich (D-NM).....Kelly (D-AZ).....and Risch (R-ID).

Plug in: "Ensuring the United States has a robust nuclear energy infrastructure is a win-win for energy security and lowering global carbon dioxide emissions," said Rich Powell, CEO of ClearPath Action.

2. Harrell to join House E&C at American nuclear energy hearing

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ClearPath Chief Strategy Officer, Jeremy Harrell, will testify at the House E&C Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee hearing “American Nuclear Energy Expansion: Powering a Clean and Secure Future”

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next week.

The hearing will be held on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 2:00 PM ET. A live stream is available here

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.

Harrell will testify as Chair of the Board, US Nuclear Industry Council

Plug in: E&C Chair Rodgers (R-WA) and Subcommittee Chair Duncan (R-SC) said, “Reclaiming American leadership in nuclear energy is a key ingredient for a clean and secure energy future. We want to be sure nuclear technologies can thrive here in the United States and that U.S. technology exports can drive energy security abroad.”

3. CO2 pipelines and well regulations aren’t keeping up

In the absence of a streamlined regulatory system, carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology adoption could hit roadblocks. ClearPath Policy Fellow Jonika Rathi and Managing Director of Research Spencer Nelson highlight the two-fold challenge

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:

The EPA isn’t keeping up with the current demand for carbon storage; and

The total amount of projects under development is only a tenth of what we might need to meet clean energy targets

What’s clear: Regulation for both transportation and storage needs to get on pace with development ambition to effectively and efficiently implement carbon capture and storage. Our latest blog, Need for Speed: CO2 Pipelines and Well Regulations Aren’t Keeping Up

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, examines how many miles we need, the current regulatory barriers, and some policies that would help.

4. PA is latest state asking for carbon storage primacy

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As momentum carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects pick up, the backlog at the EPA to approve storage sites, known as Class VI wells, could slow it down. Pennsylvania is beginning

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the application process to gain primacy for permitting these projects.

More than 70 applications are currently stuck in the approval queue at the EPA.

Applications date back to 2020, but no CO2 injection sites have received approval.

Wyoming & North Dakota have primacy, Louisiana’s application is pending.

ClearPath estimates

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projects in the queue could capture up to 6 million tonnes per year of carbon dioxide in Louisiana alone.

What’s clear: The International Energy Agency has said CCS be “necessary to meet national, regional and even corporate net zero goals.” Moving primacy of regulations for Class VI well to the states makes sense. States have shown decades of success in regulating multiple forms of injection wells within their borders, and the EPA itself has encouraged states to apply.

Plug in: ClearPath CEO Rich Powell recently wrote for RealClearEnergy

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how, “Often these state-specific regulatory environments are more stringent than EPA and allow for more efficient permitting, which is a win-win.”

5. Clean, reliable nuclear energy in GA for 60 to 80 years

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Nuclear energy in the U.S. has seen a number of big milestones in recent months, culminated by Georgia Power’s Vogtle Units 3 & 4 nearing commercialization, which will be the largest generator of clean power in the US.

Unit 3 successfully generated electricity, connecting to the grid for the first time.

Unit 4 began Hot Functional Testing, a last step before loading fuel.

What’s clear: America invented nuclear power, but the existing fleet of reactors started to shrink from 104 reactors as of 2012 to 92 today. With Plant Vogtle and a flurry of advanced nuclear reactors moving towards commercialization, the U.S. is putting the pieces in place to lead the world.

Plug in: Kim Greene, Chairman, President and CEO of Georgia Power shared how inspiring it is to see the company

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“generating clean, reliable power at this new nuclear unit, which will serve our customers over the next 60 to 80 years.”

6. ICYMI

NEW POLL: Clean energy solutions attract independent voters as well as the Republican base. Check your Congressional district here

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BPC writes on, Exploring Pathways for Government CDR Purchases

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Rep. John Curtis (R-UT) and Arjun Murti, a ClearPath Advisory Board member, discuss common ground in the Climate One podcast

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Frontier, an advance market commitment working to accelerate the carbon removal technologies, raised another $100 million. Check out who’s joining

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Global Thermostat announces

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Colorado as headquarters for direct air capture facility.

ClearPath’s Jeremy Harrell joined The American Security Project at an event, “Innovating Out of the Climate Crisis: Hard to Abate Sectors

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.”

That's all from us. Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

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