Join us on social below!

ClearPath Action Rundown 
May 16th, 2025

Happy Friday and congratulations to...

James Danly, who was confirmed as Deputy Secretary for the Department of Energy (DOE), and Katharine MacGregor, who was confirmed as Deputy Secretary for the Department of Interior (DOI).

Former ClearPath advisory board member Paul Dabbar’s nomination to be Deputy Commerce Secretary advanced out of the Senate Commerce Committee with bipartisan support.

1. ClearPath Action statement on House W&M, E&C Budget Reconciliation Mark-ups

ClearPath Action released the following statement after the conclusion of the budget reconciliation mark-ups in the House Ways and Means and House Energy and Commerce Committees.

“President Trump’s energy dominance agenda and an American nuclear resurgence would be jeopardized if the de facto repeal of key energy credits and programs proposed in these mark-ups become law,” said ClearPath Action CEO Jeremy Harrell. “America’s innovators need all of the tools in the toolbox, including low-cost financing and tax incentives, in addition to faster permitting. We look forward to working with House and Senate Republicans to improve this legislation that lets America build more energy infrastructure of all kinds to meet rising demand.”

Plug in: Hear from House and Senate Republicans who have championed existing tax incentives, which are critical for American energy dominance.

2. HNR drills down on unleashing geothermal energy in Utah…

The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Minerals held a field hearing with key industry stakeholders to explore geothermal’s potential to strengthen America’s energy dominance. 

Key takeaways from the hearing included:

• Permitting delays, not technology, are the main obstacle to next-generation geothermal growth. 
• Geothermal offers reliable, round-the-clock power. which is increasingly attractive to utilities and grid operators.
• Fervo Energy Co-Founder and CEO Tim Latimer stated that “due to the duplicative permitting process we are stuck waiting when we have the technology ready.”

3. … Plus DOI expedites permitting for Utah critical energy project

The DOI streamlined the permitting review process of the Velvet-Wood mine in Utah to bolster domestic production of critical minerals.

This project will:

• Provide uranium and vanadium, which are critical minerals used in nuclear fuel and steel production;
• Strengthen U.S. national security by reducing our reliance on foreign imports; and
• Undergo an accelerated environmental review by the BLM, with a two-week completion timeline.

What’s clear: Domestic production of critical minerals is a key step in securing American energy dominance. In 2024, the U.S. relied on foreign imports for nearly half of its domestic consumption of vanadium, and China, Russia, South Africa, and Brazil produced nearly 100% of the world’s mined vanadium.  

Plug in: Learn more about the importance of domestic mining in ClearPath CEO’s recent testimony, “Now Ore Never: The Importance of Domestic Mining for U.S. National Security,” here.

4. ClearPath Action leads letter to support ARPA-E Director Nom

ClearPath Action led a letter to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, with the support of 27 other organizations, in support of Conner Prochaska's nomination to be Director of ARPA-E. 

What’s clear: Prochaska has built a career dedicated to advancing innovative energy solutions, including during his prior leadership at ARPA-E and the Department of Energy. He understands the vital importance of marrying early-stage R&D with real-world deployment, and he brings a pragmatic approach to bridging science and commercialization. His leadership will help ensure ARPA-E remains a hub for breakthrough energy technologies that enhance grid reliability, lower emissions, and strengthen American competitiveness.

Plug in: Read the full letter of support here.

5. ICYMI

• Portland Cement Association (PCA), America's primary cement trade association, officially changed its name to the American Cement Association (ACA) in recognition of the importance of low-carbon materials and innovations to improve American cement manufacturing.
• Check out NEI’s Nuclear Makes It Happen website to learn more about this important source.
• What we’re reading: The latest op-ed from Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO) on Colorado’s need for an all-of-the-above approach to energy. 
• NRC accepted X-energy’s construction permit application for Long Mott Energy Generating Station for review.
• Denmark considers lifting its 40-year ban on nuclear energy as the acceptance of nuclear energy continues to grow worldwide.
• The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada approved a first-of-its-kind partnership with Google and NV Energy to bring the state new, clean capacity under the Clean Transition Tariff.
• Data center developer Prometheus Hyperscale is building a one-gigawatt facility in Wyoming powered by an innovative battery storage system that stores and releases energy by using salt water to pump electrolytes through power cells instead of requiring lithium, in addition to using CCUS and advanced nuclear.  
  • Prometheus has said its Wyoming data center will use natural gas and carbon capture and storage, and the company signed a letter of intent for power with advanced nuclear company Oklo.
• Meta released a new data set and AI model aimed at speeding up scientific research.
• ClearPath Action, along with more than 100 trade groups and industry players, signed a letter to Congress highlighting the importance of 45V to the United States' economy, global competitiveness and national security.

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!

• Did someone forward this to you? Sign up here.
• Miss a week? Catch up on our Rundown archive.
• Follow us on Twitter: @ClearPathAction / @jharrell

View this Rundown online