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ClearPath Action Rundown 
April 11th, 2025

Happy Friday!

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee cleared Katharine MacGregor for Deputy Interior Secretary and James Danly for Deputy Energy Secretary with bipartisan support!

1. Modernize, Compete, Win: Upgrading America’s Energy Finance Strategy

The U.S. can secure its position as the global leader in energy and counter the growing influence of China and Russia in the energy sector by upgrading its energy finance strategy.

Niko McMurray makes this case in an article in The National Interest including how:

• The U.S. faces growing competition from China and Russia in global energy markets, with both investing heavily in critical minerals, clean energy and nuclear power;
• DFC needs increased loan caps, expanded operational reach and better tools to manage currency risk to remain competitive; and
• EXIM must update its programs, raise financing caps and align its mission with modern geopolitical realities.

What’s clear: By upgrading its energy finance strategy through smart reforms and strategic investment, the United States can cement its role as the go-to energy partner for the future.

Plug in: Read the full op-ed here.

2. NEW Blog: America Must Lead the Way in Agricultural Innovation

The world will need 61% more food by 2050, and the U.S. is in a strong position to meet that demand while reducing emissions as long as agricultural innovations don’t become stagnant and fall behind China.

Key takeaways:

• Over the last 50 years, U.S. productivity has tripled as a direct result of federal investments in agricultural innovation, and
• Every $1 of federal funds spent on agricultural R&D has generated $20 for the U.S. economy;
• But, American investments have declined by ⅓ in the past 20 years, while China’s investments now double those of the U.S.

What’s clear: The first Trump administration laid the groundwork for critical USDA programs and initiatives aimed at prioritizing American agricultural innovation, to ensure that the U.S. can support the nation’s farmers and ranchers in fueling and feeding the world. 

Plug in: Read the full blog to learn more.

3. EPA’s new permits: CO2 sequestration in Texas and Louisiana

The U.S. EPA issued final Class VI permits for three wells to enable the geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in Ector County, Texas. These are the first EPA permits in Texas under the Safe Drinking Water Act's Underground Injection Control program. Through this project:

• CO2 will be stored underground, helping Texas reduce emissions.
• 722,000 metric tons of CO2 will be stored annually.

Last week, Louisiana also issued its first draft Class VI permit since receiving Class VI primacy, advancing Sempra Infrastructure’s Hackberry Carbon Sequestration project. Together, these moves signal growing momentum for CCS deployment across the U.S.

What's clear: Further approvals of individual Class VI permits and primacy applications from EPA will result in more projects being built and accelerate the deployment of carbon management technologies. Approximately 35% of Class VI permits under review by EPA are located in Texas. By greenlighting Texas's Class VI primacy application, the state will have the ability to review these permits promptly, support private sector investment and reinforce America's leadership in innovative technologies.

Plug in: Read more on carbon storage and how to unlock Class VI permitting bottlenecks here.

4. GOP senators highlight importance of existing clean energy tax incentives

Four Republican Senators signed a letter to Senate leadership highlighting the importance of maintaining some existing incentives in budget reconciliation for clean energy production and manufacturing. The letter entails:

• Emphasis that cutting or repealing certain energy tax credits would create uncertainty and disrupt long-term energy investments and job creation;
• Concern over the potential loss of key tax credits supporting American manufacturing; and
• Growing support within the GOP for defending clean energy tax incentives, building on similar efforts in the House.

What’s clear: “Tax credits support President Trump’s energy dominance agenda, keeping prices low for consumers and pushing new technologies like advanced nuclear and geothermal into the market,” said Jeremy Harrell, CEO, ClearPath Action. “I want to thank Sen. Curtis for leading this effort, along with the support from Sens. Murkowski, Tillis and Moran to maintain these existing incentives in the reconciliation package.” 

Plug in: Read more on why tax credits are a key pillar of an Energy Dominance Agenda.

5. Conservative Climate Caucus Leadership Expands

Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) has been appointed as the new Vice Chair of the Conservative Climate Caucus.

What’s clear: “Congratulations to Congressman Ciscomani on being named a Vice-Chair of the Conservative Climate Caucus,” said Jeremy Harrell. “As a steadfast champion for affordable, reliable, clean energy, his leadership will be pivotal in reducing global emissions and unleashing American energy dominance.”

6. Transforming industry: 1PointFive's carbon storage agreement with CF Industries

1PointFive, a subsidiary of Occidental, signed a 25-year agreement to securely store 2.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually from CF Industries’ new Bluepoint low-carbon ammonia facility in Louisiana. This facility will:

• Support American energy production while reducing industrial emissions;
• Deliver a cost-effective pathway to cleaner manufacturing of ammonia, a critical input for agriculture and energy; and
• Strengthen U.S. infrastructure for safely storing CO2 emissions.

What’s clear: Partnerships like this prove that American industry can lead in both energy production and emissions reduction. With the right infrastructure and long-term investment, the U.S. can bolster economic growth and stay competitive.

Plug in: Read more about how America can unlock more carbon storage here.

7. Powering the mission: DoD backs advanced nuclear energy

DOD’s Defense Innovation Unit selected eight companies to participate in the Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations (ANPI) program, aimed at deploying microreactors to power military bases. Why it matters:

• The program aims to use commercial technology and civil regulatory pathways, which will accelerate the broader deployment of commercial microreactors;
• Microreactors will deliver 100 percent of the electricity needed for mission-critical operations on select military installations; and
• These systems are designed to be safe, reliable and scalable, reducing dependence on vulnerable grid infrastructure.

What’s clear: This program builds on prior Trump Administration efforts through the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP) and Project Pele. Advanced nuclear will directly contribute to America’s national security and energy dominance.

8. Ohio’s energy future is BRITE

ClearPath CEO and Ohio native Jeremy Harrell has been appointed as a new board member for BRITE Energy Innovators, Ohio’s only energy technology incubator. 

• BRITE accelerates the commercialization of cutting-edge energy technologies, supports early-stage ventures, drives regional economic growth and creates good-paying jobs.

9. The Circuit

Rafae Ghani, Policy Advisor for Clean Manufacturing, visited Heidelberg’s Brevik cement CCS plant in Brevik, Norway, including the ship transporting the captured CO2. Brevik is the world’s only large-scale cement CCS project.

10. ICYMI

• The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission issued a construction licence to Ontario Power Generation Inc. for a General Electric Hitachi BWRX-300 reactor at the Darlington New Nuclear Project site in Clarington, Ontario.
• The DOE made conditional commitments to provide HALEU to five U.S. nuclear developers.
• ClearPath Advisory Board member and former NRC Commissioner Jeff Merrifield urges the World Bank to end its nuclear financing ban to help the US better compete with China.
• The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved two mining bills, including the bipartisan "Mining Regulatory Clarity Act," allowing companies to place mining waste on public lands under an approved plan.

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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