The House Financial Services Committee held a hearing highlighting the challenges posed by China across a range of policy issues, including energy security.
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ClearPath Action Rundown 
February 28, 2025

Happy Friday!

1. Policies to counter China
Niko McMurray, ClearPath's Managing Director of International & Nuclear Policy testifies before the House Financial Services Committee.

The House Financial Services Committee held a hearing highlighting the challenges posed by China across a range of policy issues, including energy security. Niko McMurray was a witness and emphasized:

  • Opportunities for U.S. companies in nuclear, natural gas and innovation;
  • Strengthening U.S. leadership with strategic financing; and
  • Opening new markets and countering global energy adversaries.

What's clear: “In order to achieve energy dominance, the government must provide a predictable environment for developers to attract private investment,” said McMurray. “The work of this Committee will be critical to providing stability for companies seeking to raise capital and compete globally.”

Plug in: Read Niko’s full testimony here and watch here.

2. IMPACTing industrial innovation 

This week, Reps. Miller (R-OH) and Foushee (D-NC) reintroduced the IMPACT Act (H.R. 1534), which will strengthen and enhance the competitiveness of American industry through R&D of advanced technologies to improve the efficiency of cement, concrete, and asphalt production.

  • This bill is a reintroduction of H.R. 7685, which passed out of the House last Congress. Together, a full suite of bills introduced in the last Congress will drive RD&D and investments in the innovative production of cement, concrete and asphalt.

What’s clear: "The world is poised for a construction boom, and American innovation needs to accelerate to meet demand for cement, concrete and asphalt," said Jeremy Harrell, CEO of ClearPath Action. “This legislation can help unlock and scale the technologies needed to improve the competitiveness of American manufacturing."

3. DAC takes off as United Airlines invests in innovative, American solutions

United Airlines is investing in direct air capture (DAC) startup Heirloom by purchasing 500,000 tons of CO2 to make clean jet fuel or store it underground.

  • Aviation contributes 3% of global CO2 emissions, with limited low-carbon jet fuel options;
  • Heirloom captures CO2 and combines it with hydrogen for low-carbon fuels or storage;
  • United invested through it's Fund, which fuels innovative start-ups working to decarbonize the aviation industry.

What’s clear: These efforts promote innovation in clean energy solutions and reduce emissions in high-impact industries. Supporting technologies like direct air capture helps solidify the U.S. as a global leader in clean energy while advancing carbon management solutions.


Plug in: Read more about DAC technologies here.

4. Holtec, Hyundai partner to build multiple SMRs

Holtec International and Hyundai E&C announced the Mission 2030 project, aimed at deploying multiple SMR-300, with the first at the Palisades nuclear plant site in Michigan.

In the Mission 2030 project:

  • Holtec plans to initiate the NRC licensing process in 2026, following the restart of Palisades.
  • This is the first planned site to restart an existing nuclear power plant and construct multiple SMRs on the same site.

What’s clear: The partnership between Holtec and Hyundai E&C emphasizes the importance of leveraging prior project experience to strengthening supply chains to facilitate the deployment of the 10-GW SMR-300 fleet.

5. West Virginia to expedite state permitting process

Gov. Morrisey (R-WV) announced his plan to expedite energy, manufacturing and transportation permitting by creating a “one-stop shop.”

The proposal:

  • Includes an online tracking system;
  • Reduces redundancy and speeds up the permitting process in WV;
  • Establishes the opportunity to receive expedited permitting for high priority projects of critical economic concern; and
  • Aims to streamline coordination between state and federal agencies.

What’s clear: Congress is working to improve the federal permitting process but it is equally as important for states to evaluate their permitting system to expedite energy production.

Plug in: Learn more about WV’s movement on refining its permitting process in this article.

6. The Circuit

ClearPath’s Nuclear Program Manager, Jake Kincer, moderated a panel on, "The Emergence of Next-Gen Nuclear Technologies," hosted by ACC Action.

Jeremy Harrell spoke at the Spent Nuclear Fuel Solutions Caucus event and highlighted the U.S.’ opportunity to lead in nuclear energy by improving spent fuel management, developing new reactors, and using nuclear for economic, environmental, and security benefits.

ClearPath’s Head of Policy Lisa Epifani spoke at the Decarb Connect Conference in Houston, Texas, about the opportunities for innovation under the Trump Administration. Lisa highlighted permitting reform, energy tax credits, clean manufacturing, geothermal, CDR technologies, and nuclear as key areas of opportunity.

In addition to his Congressional testimony, Niko McMurray spoke at:

7. ICYMI
  • CarbonQuest raised $20 million to develop modular carbon capture systems for buildings and data centers.These systems will capture CO2 and sell it to various industries.
  • GE Vernova, NRG Energy, and Kiewit are building up to 5.4 gigawatts of gas-fired power plants to meet rising energy demands from data centers and AI.

8. Coming down the pipeline

What: CEO Jeremy Harrell will participate in a conversation on scaling clean energy with Axios at CERAWeek 2025.

When: Wednesday, March 12 | 5:30-7:30 PM CT

Where: Sunset Coffee Building | 1019 Commerce St, Houston, TX

Going to CERAWeek? Connect with us! Reach out to Emily Johnson ([email protected]) and Katie Christian ([email protected]) for any CERAWeek inquiries.

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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