1. ClearPath at COP28
ClearPath team members will be attending the Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai next week and intend to help bring more attention to three key themes:
- Advanced nuclear is poised for global deployment;
- Carbon management will play a role in addressing climate change; and
- Conservatives are bringing bold solutions to COP28.
What’s clear: The world is looking to U.S. leadership, and we need to work with our allies to tackle the global climate challenge, ensure reliable and responsible supply chains for clean technology, and grow our respective markets for these technologies.
Plug in: ClearPath is partnering with Axios at COP28 to host an event exploring the benefits of carbon management, the ways in which it still needs to scale up, and how industry is working to reduce emissions.
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2. Pledges to TRIPLE nuclear at COP28
The U.S. is set to lead a push, with allies, to triple the installed nuclear power capacity globally by 2050. This would include removing historical restrictions on funding nuclear power projects from international finance organizations like the World Bank.
- Until recently, nuclear energy has been largely ignored at COP meetings.
- Global public sentiment and government support are shifting toward nuclear power.
What's clear: Nuclear energy is clean, reliable and can run 24/7. New nuclear technologies also bring the ability to reduce emissions in industrial sectors like refining or heavy manufacturing.
ICYMI: Jeff Merrifield, ClearPath Advisory Board Member and Vice Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Industry Council (USNIC) testified at the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on “Opportunities and Challenges Associated with Advanced Nuclear Reactor Commercialization”.
Plug in: Check out Policy Advisor Natalie Houghtlen’s and former intern Makennah Troy’s blog on how views on nuclear are shifting worldwide here.
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3. Google now powering NV data centers with geothermal
Google has partnered with Fervo Energy to deploy next-generation, around-the-clock geothermal power for Google's data centers in Nevada.
- The 2-year-old project now supplies power to Vegas-based utility NV Energy.
- Fervo Energy uses drilling techniques pioneered by the oil and gas industry to harness heat that would have previously been difficult to access.
What's clear: The first electrons are already on the grid, and now the focus is on how to scale this technology. The Google team has set a goal to have all of its operations run on clean energy every hour of every day, and they see geothermal as a significant component of success in meeting that goal.
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4. Rich joins Constellation at Nasdaq in New York
L to R: David Brown, Senior Vice President, Federal Government Affairs & Public Policy at Constellation Rich Powell, ClearPath and Jameel Johnson, Nasdaq’s VP of Government Relations (moderator)
ClearPath CEO Rich Powell joined Constellation for their Executive Energy Forum at the Nasdaq Marketsite in New York City to share insights on market outlooks and energy policy.
Powell looked to the future by speaking on upcoming carbon management technologies, COP28 and how all presidential candidates have a relative consensus on energy.
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5. Bipartisan innovation R&D is A-OK
ClearPath Action, Third Way, and a bipartisan coalition of more than 70 advocacy groups and energy companies sent a letter to Congressional appropriators urging them to prioritize funding for clean energy research and development in the FY 2024 funding bills.
What’s clear: Energy innovation has been one of the most bipartisan issues in Congress over the past six years and funding must be maintained to stay ahead of competitors like China.
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6. Agriculture Innovation 101
The U.S. agricultural sector is due for innovations and new cutting-edge practices and technologies that can increase productivity, continue feeding the world, and lower global emissions.
- The agriculture sector currently accounts for 9.4% of emissions.
- America has 2.4 million farm workers.
- These farmers and innovators are working to reduce these emissions without compromising economic advantage or jobs.
What’s clear: Much like the energy sector that ClearPath has historically focused on, the agriculture sector represents an opportunity for the U.S. to develop new innovations and remain a leader in the global marketplace.
Plug in: Check out our latest Agriculture 101, written by our Policy Advisor, Jasmine Yu.
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7. ICYMI
- Congratulations to ClearPath CEO, Rich Powell, who joined the Nuclear Innovation Alliance’s Advisory Committee.
- The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Safety Administration (PHMSA), currently with no Senate-confirmed leader, is considering new rules for both natural gas and carbon dioxide pipelines.
- The DOE announced new funding to accelerate innovative, cross-sector technologies, specifically those in the industrial heat process.
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