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ClearPath Action Rundown 
May 9th, 2025

Happy Friday!

Congratulations to ClearPath alum Alex Fitzsimmons on his new role leading the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) at the Department of Energy.

And congratulations to Andrea Travnicek, nominated to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior, Water and Science; Leslie Beyer, nominated to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior, Lands and Minerals Management; Theodore Garrish, nominated to be Assistant Secretary of Energy, Nuclear Energy; and Tristan Abbey, nominated to be Administrator of the Energy Information Administration, for advancing out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

1. Kairos Power Pours Nuclear Concrete

Kairos Power initiated “nuclear construction” for their Hermes Low-Power Demonstration Reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The Hermes demonstration reactor is a scaled demonstration of Kairos Power’s fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor. The Hermes reactor is:

• The first advanced nuclear reactor to receive a construction permit from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and the first to pour nuclear concrete;
• Supported by the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP) Risk Reduction program under the Department of Energy;
• Part of Kairos’ iterative deployment process, and will provide invaluable data and insights for commercial deployments of Kairos’ technology.

2. Tax Credits Get Support

Existing tax incentives authored or supported by Republicans in Congress under current law are critical for American leadership in new, affordable, 24/7 American power.

Key takeaways:

• Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks sent a letter with 11 colleagues urging House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) to protect the Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit (ITC), Section 48E, and Clean Electricity Production Tax Credit (PTC), Section 45Y.
• Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) sent a letter to Chairman Smith along with 26 Republicans in support of energy tax credits for advanced nuclear deployment.
• Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) wrote an op-ed highlighting the importance of the carbon sequestration (45Q) and hydrogen (45V) tax credits to innovation efforts in Matagorda County, Texas.

What’s clear: Conservatives have long championed innovation and targeted incentives, rather than mandates, to unlock new forms of American energy production.

Plug in: ClearPath CEO Jeremy Harrell writes how energy incentives will unlock energy dominance in the Washington Times.

3. Permitting Council Creates Transparency for Mining Projects

On May 2, the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council) announced that a second tranche of critical mineral production projects would be featured as FAST-41 transparency projects in accordance with President Trump's "Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production" Executive Order. This will make the environmental review and permitting schedule for these projects publicly available.

What’s clear: This action by the Permitting Council will:

• Create more efficiency and accountability for critically needed domestic mining projects;
• Provide greater certainty to industry;
• Bolster domestic mineral production; and
• Strengthen U.S. supply chains in the face of global competition.

4. U.S. LNG Exports Are the Blueprint for Global Energy Leadership

When paired with innovative American tech, LNG growth offers the opportunity to reassert America’s global leadership over foreign adversaries, and drive down global emissions as one of the most carbon efficient economies in the world.

The U.S. can replicate this blueprint for other innovative technologies for critical minerals, advanced nuclear technology, next-generation geothermal, and carbon removal by:

• Leveraging federal support for early-stage research combined with private-sector commercialization to rapidly advance innovative technologies; 
• Reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank (EXIM) and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) this Congress to supercharge America’s international financing tools to achieve energy dominance in line with President Trump’s broader vision.; and 
• Using DFC and EXIM authorities to offer financing, insurance and loan guarantees for innovative infrastructure projects with key partners around the globe.

Plug in: Read the full blog here.

5. Google and Elementl Power Partner on Advanced Nuclear

Google is collaborating with advanced nuclear project developer Elementl Power to accelerate the development of clean, reliable energy. This agreement will:

• Provide early-stage capital to Elementl to begin work on three potential sites in the U.S. for advanced nuclear projects; and
• Aim to bring at least 600 MW of capacity online at each site.

What’s clear: Private industry is betting big on nuclear power, and innovative solutions to project development may be key to unlocking widespread deployment of new nuclear.

6. The Circuit

Matthew Mailloux, Senior Program Manager, highlighted ClearPath's energy tax priorities on a webinar hosted by the Managed Funds Association entitled "Tax - Financial Services, Energy, and International Issues."

7. ICYMI

• The House Appropriations Energy & Water Subcommittee held a FY26 Budget Hearing with DOE Secretary Chris Wright, in which he outlined the Administration’s plans to unleash American energy dominance through innovation in technologies like nuclear energy and geothermal.
• ClearPath Action supported key provisions related to permitting and energy leasing that are included in the House Committee on Natural Resources Reconciliation package that passed by party vote this week. The provisions will not only help close budgetary gaps but also accelerate the development of American infrastructure and industrial capacity.

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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