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ClearPath Action Rundown 
September 19th, 2025

Happy Friday!

1. NEW Report: Energy Financing Power – America vs. China

ClearPath released a new, first-of-its-kind report, Energy Financing Power: America vs. China - A Case Study in Brazil. China has emerged as the world’s dominant energy financier, outpacing the U.S. nearly ten-to-one in global markets and establishing itself as a primary partner in key Western nations like Brazil. ClearPath’s report analyzes China’s predatory strategies and explores opportunities for U.S. policy and innovation. Brazil was chosen for the case study because it is the largest developing economy in the Western Hemisphere and a key energy partner for both the U.S. and China.

This report reveals:

• Globally, China’s public investment in energy projects is $446 billion since 2015, while the U.S. stands at just $45 billion;
• China outpaces the U.S. by more than 100x ($60 billion compared to $472 million) in public energy finance in Brazil, a strategic Latin American economy; 
• Official Chinese entities own at least 12% of Brazil’s power system, as well as significant shares in mining and upstream oil and gas; and 
• Predatory lending from the Chinese policy banks discourages market competition to the detriment of U.S. firms, while threatening to isolate Brazil from other strategic financial partnerships. 

“America has some of the strongest and most competitive companies in the world, but they are running into too many limitations to reach new markets,” said ClearPath CEO Jeremy Harrell. “The U.S. should not try to outsubsidize China, but true American energy dominance requires global market leadership. The U.S. must get serious about competing with China by strengthening America’s capabilities for how we sell energy technology and expertise worldwide. This isn't just about economics, it's about geopolitical influence, national security and reducing global emissions through American innovation, rather than Chinese control.”

This report, authored by ClearPath’s Will Bryant, Justin Williams, Casey Kelly, and Jacob Kincer, underscores how smart policy can make the U.S. more competitive without attempting to outsubsidize China. Policy recommendations include:

• Promoting strategic interagency coordination through an Energy Security Compacts (ESCs) framework;
• Reauthorizing and enhancing the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) with expanded investment authority; and
• Modernizing and reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank (EXIM) with flexible financing for strategic projects.

Plug in: Read the executive summary and the full Energy Financing Power: America vs. China - A Case Study in Brazil report here.

Read ClearPath’s press release here.

2. Put energy security at the center of U.S. foreign policy

ClearPath’s China Financing report outlined the problem. One solution for a chance to secure American energy dominance is leaning into our strengths and creating a coordinated, agile and effective energy diplomacy and delivery system. That system starts with creating Energy Security Compacts (ESCs), which would:

• Create long-term agreements with clear, measurable outcomes targeting energy security and infrastructure;
• Promote coordination across federal authorities and multiply capabilities at the U.S. EXIM Bank, Development Finance Corporation, Trade and Development Agency, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the DOE; and
• Develop bilateral partnerships that focus on joint security priorities and center on American foreign policy goals.

Plug in: Learn more about the next steps to securing America’s energy future through this new blog by Jake Kincer and Nick Lombardo.

Coming down the pipeline: September 23 – Hear more from ClearPath CEO Jeremy Harrell, Chief Corporate Officer at GE Vernova Roger Martella, and Senior Advisor for Energy Dominance at EXIM Jeff Wilson at the Energy Forum in partnership with Foreign Policy. Register here.

3. U.S. nuclear goes international

A new agreement between the U.S. and UK will accelerate the buildout of nuclear plants and is expected to speed up the time it takes for nuclear reactors to be licensed.

Amongst the flurry of announced deals are commercial agreements:

• Holtec International and EDF UK:
  • signed an MOU to develop Holtec’s small modular reactors at a former UK coal-fired power station. This would be the second deployment after the Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan.
• X-energy and Centrica:
  
  • signed an agreement to deploy up to 6 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity, enough power for 14 million homes. This project will occur alongside X-energy's projects in Seadrift, TX and Richland, WA.

What's clear: “Today’s commercial deals set up a framework to unleash commercial access in both the U.S. and UK, enhancing global energy security, strengthening U.S. energy dominance, and securing nuclear supply chains across the Atlantic,” said U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

4. Problem Solvers Caucus releases permitting reform framework

The House Problem Solvers Caucus released a bipartisan permitting reform framework, which proposes to:

• Narrow the scope of NEPA and restricts judicial review for projects;
• Streamline permitting for linear infrastructure like pipelines and transmission lines, geothermal projects, and nuclear licenses;
• Promote interregional transmission planning and grid-enhancing technologies;
• Direct agencies to modernize the permitting system with up-to-date technologies and more efficient coordination; and
• Correct the Rosemont decision to support domestic critical mineral supply chains.

What's clear: "The continued bipartisan momentum for permitting shows the real and immediate need for Congressional action. This framework addresses America's permitting needs to increase predictability, streamline the process, and let America build," said ClearPath Action CEO Jeremy Harrell.

5. House Foreign Affairs Committee passes legislation to reauthorize the DFC

The Development Finance Corporation (DFC), created under the first Trump administration, is a tool to combat China’s emerging global energy financing lead. Chair Brian Mast’s (R-FL) bill to reauthorize and modernize the DFC passed out of the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) with key enhancements, including:

• Creation of a revolving fund for direct equity investments;
• Expansion of country eligibility to allow DFC more flexibility to make high-impact investments; and
• A significant increase in DFC’s overall lending capacity.

What’s clear: The DFC is a critical tool to opening new markets for American technologies and ensuring energy security for U.S. partners. Ambitious enhancements to the DFC will help even the playing field for innovative private companies when going against state-backed Chinese corporations in important industries like nuclear, critical minerals, and other energy infrastructure.

Plug in: Read more about how to Sharpen U.S. Clean Energy Trade & Financing, why America’s Development Finance Shows Global Energy Leadership, and how to Put Energy Security at the Center of U.S. Foreign Policy.

6. NEW blog: Preventing Wildfires with Innovative Forest Management and Grid Technologies

Since 1990, the annual area burned by wildfires has increased 60%, with three of the five largest seasons occurring since 2015. More damage costs more money. Addressing this threat requires a tech-driven approach prioritizing management and prevention, including:

• Prescribed burns to reduce forests’ fuel loads and mechanical thinning to manage volume and reduce highly flammable species;
• Building new forest product markets to incentivize active forest management; and
• Modernizing the grid with technologies that reduce ignition risks and enhance reliability.

Bipartisan legislation, like the Fix Our Forests Act, Executive Orders and agency action all aim to combat wildfire risks.

Plug in: Learn more about how American innovation can reduce wildfires and cut emissions on this new blog by Jasmine Yu and Casey Kelly.

7. Fusion Advanced Manufacturing Parity Act introduced

A new bipartisan effort led by Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV) to expand the 45X advanced manufacturing credit to include fusion energy components would:

• Provide incentives to companies building manufacturing facilities in the U.S.;
• Work with public-private partnerships like the DOE’s Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program to ensure America leads in commercializing fusion; and
• ​​Give fusion parity with other technologies that already benefit from this tax credit.

Plug in: Joining Rep. Miller on the Fusion Advanced Manufacturing Parity Act are Reps. Tenney (R-NY), Beyer (D-VA) and DelBene (D-WA).

Also, check out our Fusion Energy 101 to see why so many companies are starting to bet on advanced technologies.

8. Pipelines safety bill clears T&I Committee

American energy producers need access to more pipelines to move natural gas, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and oil to meet rising energy demand. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, led by Chairman Graves (R-MO), passed the PIPES Act of 2025 with bipartisan support, a four-year reauthorization bill for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).

The PIPES Act of 2025 would:

• Modernize safety regulations for carbon dioxide pipelines;
• Establish a voluntary information-sharing system for pipeline safety data;
• Require studies to assess and improve geohazard mitigation and integrity management of pipelines; and
• Improve regulatory coordination for LNG facilities.

Plug in: Learn more about how the U.S. can continue to innovate and build more of this necessary infrastructure in this ClearPath video.

9. Governor Morrisey's new “50 [GW] by 50” state energy plan

Governor Patrick Morrisey (R-WV) announced a bold plan to increase the state’s energy capacity from 15 gigawatts to 50 gigawatts by 2050. The plan:

• Is the state’s first long-term, comprehensive energy policy;
• Identifies nuclear power and natural gas as vital baseload sources and calls for partnerships across state, federal, and industry stakeholders; and
• Includes partnerships with DOE and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

What’s clear: With AI and advanced manufacturing expected to increase the country’s energy demand, ambitious plans, like Governor Morrisey’s, are necessary to meet the challenge, ensuring America remains at the forefront of energy innovation.

10. The Circuit

11. Coming down the pipeline

September 22-26, New York, NY – Are you going to New York Climate Week? Join us:

• September 22 – Carbon Innovation Forum in partnership with API. Energy executives will discuss the case for energy addition, the importance of American innovation and the strong market demand for putting more energy on the grid. Register interest here.

September 22, Idaho Falls, ID – Niko McMurray will speak at the first workshop of Utah Governor Spencer Cox's WGA Chair initiative, Energy Superabundance: Unlocking Prosperity in the West, at the Idaho National Laboratory. Register for the livestream here.

September 24, New York, NY – Niko McMurray is also moderating a panel with Kairos, TVA and Google to highlight their recent announcement on the “Opportunities for Domestic Nuclear Energy Deployment” at the Atlantic Council’s Nuclear Energy Policy Summit 2025: Delivering on Nuclear Energy Ambitions.

12. ICYMI

• EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin led an AI roundtable with representatives from the Administration, Congress, and AI and data center leaders to discuss the White House’s AI Action Plan and regulatory unpredictability for New Source Review pre-construction air permitting for manufacturing and data center facilities under the Clean Air Act.

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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