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<[link removed]> <[link removed]>ClearPath Action Rundown
February 21, 2025
Happy Friday!
1. Senate EPW holds bipartisan permitting hearing
The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held one of its first hearings <[link removed]> on the urgent need for "step-change" reforms to America's permitting system.
ClearPath CEO Jeremy Harrell testified at the hearing, highlighting the need for:
- Leveraging innovative American technology;
- Expediting reviews; and
- Streamlining judicial review of administrative actions.
What's clear: "Durable and implementable environmental review and permitting process reform must be bipartisan to be successful," said Chairman Capito (R-WV). "My guiding principles for this effort are straightforward, the legislation that we develop must help all types of projects, not just politically favored projects or projects that will support the infrastructure needs of some Americans but not others. We must provide clarity and transparency in the processes."
Plug in: Watch Jeremy's opening statement below –
<[link removed]>2. Carbon capture wins for West Virginia
West Virginia is the fourth state to be granted <[link removed]> Class VI primacy. ClearPath joinedEPA Administrator Zeldin, DOI Secretary Burgum, Chairman Capito (R-WV) andRep. Moore (R-WV) for the signing ceremony of the primacy agreement enabling WV to review and approve carbon storage permits.
Class VI primacy is:
- An effective tool for streamlining the permitting process for Class VI wells – enabling states to review and approve carbon storage permits in a few months; and
- Key for unlocking carbon storage infrastructure and deploying carbon management technologies broadly.
Seven other states have applied to receive Class VI primacy, in addition to Arizona which is in the proposed rulemaking phase. The EPA is reviewing 62 well applications in these states for 20 carbon storage projects.
What’s clear: “To Power the Great American Comeback, we need to produce more energy right here in the United States, and that requires…permitting reform. As one of my first acts as EPA Administrator, I am proud to sign this rule to allow West Virginia the independence it needs to permit and regulate itself,” said Administrator Zeldin.
3. Carbonsations: ClearParth talks carbon management
ClearPath Senior Manager for Carbon Management Savvy Bowman joined Violet George on the Carbon Herald’s ‘Carbonsations’ podcast to discuss how we can cut through the red tape and scale carbon management solutions through U.S. policy.
Savvy highlighted the importance of:
- Streamlined permitting processes;
- State primacy for Class VI carbon storage wells; and
- Clear pathways for emerging innovative solutions to reduce delays, accelerate deployment, and unlock private sector investment.
What’s clear: Public and private sector collaboration is key to unlocking the full potential of this industry and getting steel in the ground.
Plug in: Listen to the full podcast here <[link removed]>!
4. Nuclear in the Lone Star State
The Texas Senate introduced a bill, SB1105, aiming to establish the Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Authority, a Texas nuclear permitting officer, and a Texas Advanced Nuclear Innovation Fund.
What’s clear: Texas is moving full steam ahead in its mission to accelerate the deployment of new nuclear energy, providing clean, reliable, 24/7 power. If SB1105 is signed into law, Texas will join other states, such as Indiana, Tennessee, Utah and Virginia, that have also taken steps to lead on nuclear energy.
Plug in: Read more about the initiatives states are taking to support new nuclear here <[link removed]>.
5. Building up battery storage abilities
Rocky Mountain Power and Torus signed an MOU to explore 70 megawatts <[link removed]> of demand response capacity using Torus Nova energy storage technology. The collaboration could:
- Provide cost-effective grid reliability and efficiency for regional growing energy needs;
- Support Utah's Operation Gigawatt to double power production over the next 10 years; and
- Begin implementation in early 2025 with targeted deployment by EOY.
What’s clear: Gov. Cox (R-UT) said this is a key step in ensuring Utah’s energy resilience as demand rises. “This energy storage partnership is a great example of Utah's leadership in innovative energy solutions.”
6. Reviving American LNG
The new Department of Energy (DOE) is making moves to progress liquified natural gas (LNG) production and exports <[link removed]> in the U.S. once again by issuing a conditional approval for exports from a major LNG export facility planned along the Louisiana coast.
The Commonwealth LNG project is:
- Designed to export up to 9.5 million metric tons of LNG per year; and
- Set to include one LNG plant and six LNG storage tanks.
What’s clear: This is the first movement of this size since President Trump took office. ClearPath believes LNG is an important part of the global clean energy system, and utilizing more LNG is also good climate policy – especially as it could displace Russian gas.
Sens. Cassidy (R-LA) and Barrasso (R-WY) introduced the LNG Security Act <[link removed]> last Congress to reverse the Biden administration’s pause on LNG export terminals in the U.S.
Plus…
… Venture Global announced its LNG liquefication and export facility, Calcasieu Pass, will commence commercial operations <[link removed]> this year on April 15.
This facility:
- Will supply customers with 20-year contract terms of the lowest-cost, clean LNG; and
- Is among the fastest greenfield LNG projects completed, achieving its commercial operation date, just over five years from its initial investment decision.
7. WERC + ClearPath
ClearPath's government affairs and external affairs teams were pleased to support last night's Women’s Energy Resource Council (WERC) event featuring Dr. Margie Warrell, author of ‘The Courage Gap.’ ClearPath is a platinum sponsor, and our Managing Director Colleen Moss is the President of WERC.
8. ICYMI
ClearPath’s Managing Director of International and Nuclear Policy, Niko McMurray, with Benjamin Reinke of X-energy and Craig Sundstrom of Amazon Web Services
- ABOVE: Niko McMurray moderated a panel with X-energy and Amazon Web Services on their recent nuclear energy partnership.
- ClearPath advisory board member Paul Dabbar testified before the Senate ENR Committee on American energy security <[link removed]>.
- ClearPath CEO Jeremy Harrell and Gov. Polis (D-CO) spoke at the geothermal energy advancements and policy pathways event <[link removed]>, hosted by the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center.
- ClearPath Action, along with 110 trade groups and industry players, signed a letter <[link removed]>to Congress highlighting the benefits of 45V.
- ClearPath’s Savita Bowman joined the Carbon Business Council’s Board of Advisors <[link removed]>.
- President Trump signed an executive order last Friday establishing the National Energy Dominance Council <[link removed]>.
- The Trump administration also changed how reviews are conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act <[link removed]>.
- Building materials innovator Terra CO2 announced <[link removed]> it raised $82 million to support its commercial deployment across North America.
- Tallgrass Energy recently secured <[link removed]>100% of the right of way in Nebraska for the company’s Trailblazer pipeline – a project to convert a natural gas pipeline to a CO2 transportation service helping connect 10 ethanol plants.
- Tallgrass alsoannounced <[link removed]>an agreement with POET to capture CO2 from their bioprocessing facility in Nebraska to storage sites in Wyoming.
<[link removed]>ClearPath believes America must lead the world in innovation over regulation…markets over mandates…providing affordable, reliable, clean energy.
That's all from us. Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!
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