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ClearPath Action Rundown 
June 7th, 2024


Sneak peek of our new video debuting at the Congressional Baseball Game next week:


 

1. Senate confirms Hanson’s second term


The Senate voted 81-17 to confirm Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Chair Christopher Hanson to another five-year term. Hanson received bipartisan support including Senate Environment and Public Works Ranking Member Capito (R-WV) and Energy and Natural Resources Ranking Member Barrasso (R-WY).

What’s clear: This reconfirmation to have a pro-nuclear Commissioner head the agency will allow the NRC to proceed with its efforts to finalize a new licensing process for small, advanced nuclear reactors, while also anticipating a rise in new reactor applications in the coming years.
 

2. Oxy and BHE Renewables partner on lithium

Occidental and BHE Renewables are partnering on a new project, TerraLithium’s Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE), to extract and commercially produce high-purity lithium compounds from geothermal brine in Southern California.

What’s clear: Demand for lithium batteries is projected to increase tenfold between 2020 to 2030, in line with battery demand growth. That means we need a lot of lithium. The United States has some of the largest lithium deposits in the world. The DOE highlights the U.S. domestic potential of 600,000 tons, however, it's still in the ground. Instead, we currently import approximately 3,400 metric tons.
 

3. On the record: Priorities for the U.S. Development Finance Corporation

ClearPath’s Senior Program Director for International Policy Nick Lombardo providing comments to the DFC Executive Staff and Board of Directors

ClearPath’s Nick Lombardo joined a board meeting of the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to propose ideas to enhance and streamline their energy financing capabilities.

What's clear: America’s competitors are bringing enormous resources to dominate global energy markets, which requires U.S. trade and development financing to be more agile and strategic. With the right policies in place, the future of energy and climate is bright at home and abroad.

Plug-in: Read more about ClearPath’s recommendations to improve the DFC through its upcoming reauthorization.
 

4. Louisiana plans to break ground for DAC hub


Climeworks, a Swiss-based direct air capture (DAC) technology company developing a project in Louisiana, unveiled their third-generation technology which:
  • Will capture double the CO2 for half the energy and lower cost.
  • Follows an updated process that will use an engineered material to attract CO2 molecules when air passes through it.
  • Is backed by DOE and will begin construction in 2026.
What’s clear: The United States is leading the way for supportive policies for DAC innovation. Carbon Dioxide captured through DAC can be used to create valuable products we use every day such as concrete and fuels while reducing emissions. Bipartisan policies like the IIJA have helped catalyze DAC innovation and positioned America as a global leader.

Plug-in: To learn more about the importance of DAC technologies and the Hub in Louisiana, check out this blog.
 

5. ClearPath capturing carbon conversations on the Hill

(L-R) Hillary O’Brien, Senior Program Director, Carbon Management and Science, ClearPath; Shannon Angielski, Executive Director, Carbon Utilization Research Council — the host of the briefing; John Thompson, Technology and Markets Director, Clean Air Task Force; Simone Stewart, Senior Industrial Policy Specialist, National Wildlife Federation; Xan Fishman, Senior Director of Energy Policy, Bipartisan Policy Center; Ryan Edwards, Director of Climate Policy, Oxy Low Carbon Solutions.

ClearPath’s Hillary O’Brien joined a Congressional staff briefing, Understanding the Basics of Carbon Dioxide Capture, Use and Storage (CCUS) Ecosystem to discuss carbon utilization pathways and their enabling technologies. Topics included:
  • Capturing carbon emissions and utilizing it to produce valuable services and products – like chemicals, fertilizers and building materials.
  • Carbon utilization pathways which can repurpose approximately seven billion metric tons of CO2 per year by 2030.
What’s clear: Support for a wide range of carbon utilization strategies is an essential piece of the puzzle – to help us reduce global emissions while keeping all clean and affordable energy sources at the table and strengthening U.S. industrial supply chains.  
 

6. ICYMI

  • The Senate will vote next week to confirm three FERC nominees. Each received bipartisan support during Tuesday's ENR Committee vote.
  • 20 Republican Governors released their joint plan to Unleash American Energy and called on the Biden Administration to protect America’s energy security.
  • ClearPath’s Savvy Bowman spoke with Cipher News on how Occidental is pursuing “net-zero” oil.
  • The updated State of Carbon Dioxide Removal report provides the status of CDR and what challenges need to be addressed to scale the industry.
  • DOE and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) signed a memorandum of agreement to enhance marine carbon dioxide removal.
That's all from us. Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!
View this Rundown online
 
 
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