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<[link removed]> <[link removed]>ClearPath Action Rundown
December 13th, 2024

Happy Friday!

1. ClearPath welcomes Lisa Epifani, new Head of Policy



Previously, she was Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Google’s innovation division called X, The Moonshot Factory.Lisa <[link removed]> has 20+ years of government affairs and public policy experience at the intersection of energy policy, clean tech, and commercialization. 

She will lead ClearPath’s policy team, focusing on developing innovative solutions across a portfolio of clean energy and clean manufacturing technologies.



Plug in: Read more <[link removed]> on Lisa’s extensive background and her role on the ClearPath team.

Welcome, Lisa!

2. The Nuclear Refuel Act: cutting the red tape



Reps. Latta (R-OH) and Peters (D-CA) introduced the Nuclear REFUEL Act <[link removed]> to clarify licensing requirements for nuclear fuel recycling facilities. This bill would:

- Help increase investment in nuclear energy technologies which can more easily use recycled fuel; and
- Require the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to approve certain used fuel reprocessing facilities under Part-70: a single-step licensing process.

What’s clear: "Rep. Latta's 'Nuclear REFUEL Act' will clear the path for used nuclear fuel recycling for advanced reactors," said Jeremy Harrell <[link removed]>, CEO of ClearPath Action. "Innovative recycling technologies, which are more proliferation resistant, could get more clarity at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission with a simple definition change."

3. Governor Cox announces Utah’s Operation Gigawatt



Governor Spencer Cox (R-UT) announced Operation Gigawatt <[link removed]>, an initiative to double Utah’s power production over the next decade to meet growing energy demand. To support this, the Governor’s recommendations for the state’s FY26 budget dedicates $20 million toward nuclear energy development and $4.2 million for geothermal energy. 

Four key goals:

- Increasing transmission capacity;
- Expanding and developing energy production;
- Enhancing Utah’s policies to enable clean, reliable energy like nuclear, geothermal and storage; and
- Investing in Utah residents’ innovation and research.

What’s clear: Capitalizing on the state’s diverse energy resources, this plan will further secure Utah as a national energy production leader. “We will build upon Utah’s ‘any of the above’ energy policy with a ‘more of the above’ approach…” said Governor Cox <[link removed]>.

4. ClearPath Action discusses permitting reform at WGA



Jeremy Harrell alongside seven Western Governors on a permitting panel at the WGA Winter Meeting

ClearPath Action CEO Jeremy Harrell participated in a panel discussion on “Smarter, Faster Permitting” at the Western Governors’ Association (WGA) Winter meeting.

He was joined by WGA Chair Gov. Lujan Grisham (D-NM), Vice-Chair Gov. Cox (R-UT), and Govs. Gordon (R-WY), Polis (D-CO), Little (R-ID), Lombardo (R-NV) and Green (D-HI) to discuss:

- The rapidly growing energy needs including transmission, especially in the West; and
- How federal permits, especially NEPA delays and inefficiencies, stall critical projects.  

Plug in: “Current permitting rules are geared purely at preventing negative outcomes.  We need regulations that actually promote energy development,” said Harrell <[link removed]>.

5. Natural gas with carbon capture to power data centers



Exxon Mobil announced <[link removed]> it is designing a large natural gas-fired power plant that would directly supply electricity to data centers.

The plant will:

- Be outfitted with carbon capture technology to reduce emissions while meeting increased power demand; and
- Filter carbon dioxide out of the power plant’s exhaust stream, transport it via existing pipelines and store it underground.

Exxon currently owns and operates the largest network of carbon dioxide pipelines in the U.S. along the Gulf Coast, Wyoming and Montana. 

What’s clear:Data centers are rapidly expanding, and demand for electricity – available 24/7/365 – is surging. Alongside other energy solutions, such as nuclear, geothermal and long-duration energy storage, natural gas and carbon capture are key to providing clean, firm and reliable power. 

Plug in: Chevron is also <[link removed]> eyeing gas-fired plants to serve this market.

6. Net Power plants popping up in CA



Carbon TerraVault (CTV) and the California Resources Corporation are planning <[link removed]> to develop Net Power’s ultra-low emissions, baseload power plants in California.

Here’s the plan:

- Conduct feasibility studies on locating Net Power’s facilities near CTV’s underground storage vaults, reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) transportation costs and midstream investments. 
- Deployment of up to one gigawatt (GW) of clean power capacity from Net Power’s new modular plants in Northern California.
- Generate reliable power while eliminating substantially all carbon emissions.

Plug in: Net Power could change everything about clean energy development in the U.S. and around the world. Net Power plants burn gas with pure oxygen, which produces just CO2 and water. That CO2 is used to turn the turbine – rather than steam, like a normal gas plant uses – and is recycled back into the combustor. Watch more about the technology <[link removed]>.

7. ICYMI

- Congratulations to newly elected Republican Governors Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Mike Braun (R-IN), Mike Kehoe (R-MO) and Patrick Morrisey (R-WV).
- Check out this Wall Street Journal commentary <[link removed]> on why the Supreme Court should take account of all the environmental laws enacted since 1970, potentially cutting red tape around NEPA.
- The Financial Times named Pillsbury as the Energy Transition Law Firm of the Year <[link removed]> as part of its FT Innovative Lawyers North America Awards. Congrats to ClearPath Advisory Board member,Jeff Merrifield <[link removed]>, who leads this team.
- The Minnesota Public Utilities Commissionapproved <[link removed]> a permit for Summit Carbon Solutions' carbon pipeline, which would transport carbon captured from 57 ethanol facilities in the Midwest to underground carbon storage sites in North Dakota – which were also approved this week <[link removed]>. 

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

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