1. Senate discusses industrial decarbonization pathways
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) held a hearing on Opportunities in Industrial Decarbonization.
The hearing focused on:
- industrial decarbonization,
- low-emissions steel and cement innovations,
- and the newly announced Hydrogen Hubs.
EPW Committee Ranking Member Capito (R-WV) reiterated the need for modernizing the permitting processes and deploying carbon capture.
Sen. Ricketts (R-NE) discussed the role hydrogen plays in making the agriculture industry cleaner and more efficient.
What's clear: The industrial sector is currently on pace to be the largest producer of emissions compared to its American counterparts. It is crucial Congress is holding productive conversations on how to innovate and strengthen the industrial sector to limit emissions.
Plug in: Learn more about the opportunities to lower emissions in the cement and concrete sectors in this blog by Government Affairs Associate Mallory Shaevsky and Senior Program Manager Savita Bowman.
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2. Chair McMorris Rodgers co-leading delegation at COP28
House Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) announced she is co-leading a bipartisan Congressional delegation to the ‘Conference of the Parties’ (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
- Republican climate ambition is increasing on the global stage – this is the third time a delegation of House Republicans have gone to COP.
- The Conservative Climate Foundation is also bringing a delegation of bicameral Republican staff, for the third time, to COP.
What's clear: “American energy and environmental leadership matters,” Chair McMorris Rodgers told the Examiner. “We need to build on this legacy — not shy away from it, especially on a world stage like COP.”
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3. First U.S. direct air capture plant opens in California
The first U.S. commercial-scale direct air capture (DAC) plant is now operational in Tracy, California, and more are on the way.
- Heirloom Carbon’s California facility has a 1,000 metric-ton capacity.
- Occidental Petroleum’s DAC 1 plant, currently under construction in Ector County, Texas, is expected to turn on by the end of 2024.
- Oxy’s plant plans to capture 500,000 metric tons of CO2 annually with the ability to scale up to 1,000,000.
What's clear: Deploying DAC technologies offers an exciting opportunity to add another tool to the toolbox for lowering global CO2 emissions by removing CO2 from the atmosphere.
Plug in: Looking to learn more about DAC? Check out this blog by Senior Program Manager Savita Bowman.
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4. Exxon expands into lithium production
Exxon announced its plans to enter the lithium industry, an important material for battery manufacturing.
- The company will begin lithium extraction in 2027 in southwestern Arkansas.
- The method entails separating lithium from salty groundwater and processing it onsite into battery-grade material.
- By 2030, Exxon plans to be able to provide lithium for over 1 million cars.
What's clear: These plans exemplify how Exxon will leverage its current capabilities to diversify and expand its energy portfolio into the future. The U.S. currently gets most of its lithium-ion batteries from China — something that's become a growing concern on both sides of the aisle.
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5. DOE excludes clean technologies in latest permitting updates
This week, DOE released a new proposed rule for categorical exclusions from NEPA for the siting of solar, batteries, and transmission upgrades on previously disturbed or developed land and its contiguous land.
- The guidance for categorical exclusions based on previously disturbed lands is on the right track but falls short on the number of technologies.
- The limited scope does not include other proven clean energy such as other forms of non-battery energy storage, carbon capture, direct air capture, wind, geothermal or clean hydrogen facilities.
What's clear: The current federal permitting process is not equipped to deploy enough clean energy at the pace and scale needed to meet energy demand and reach emission reduction goals. DOE should consider all aspects of a project's life cycle and examine how other federal agencies have implemented or updated their own categorical exclusions.
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6. ICYMI
- The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) announced support for a geothermal project in the Philippines with innovative American technology.
- The DOE announced funding for 16 selected projects across 12 states for the carbon management industry.
- The U.S. and China agreed to resume dialogue on climate action for the first time since diplomatic exchanges were halted amid rising tensions in August 2022.
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7. Coming down the pipeline
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