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<[link removed]> <[link removed]>ClearPath Action Rundown
October 17th, 2025
Happy Friday!
1. Cutting red tape: The Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act
Reps. Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Kim Schrier (D-WA) and Marc Veasey (D-TX) introduced the Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act <[link removed]> to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in reviewing new license applications by removing duplicative processes and procedures.
This legislation would:
- Eliminate outdated requirements for “uncontested mandatory hearings” on license applications;
- Maintain opportunities for public participation; and
- Reduce unnecessary bureaucratic delays that currently add six months or more to project timelines.
What’s clear: Slow licensing can cost reactor developers millions and delay projects by months. Common sense reform can save time and help America deploy clean, reliable nuclear energy while still keeping the public engaged.
Plug in: Learn more about the bill and its Senate companion sponsored by Sens. Tim Scott (R-SC), Chris Coons (D-DE) and John Curtis (R-UT) here <[link removed]>.
2. Growing the grid: DOE closes $1.6B Loan Guarantee to AEP
The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Loan Programs Office closed a $1.6 billion loan guarantee <[link removed]>to AEP Transmission Company, LLC, a subsidiary of American Electric Power (AEP).
This financing will support the reconductoring or rebuilding of nearly 5,000 miles of transmission lines across Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma and West Virginia.
These projects will:
- Increase overall transmission capacity by approximately 70%;
- Promote AI leadership and manufacturing competitiveness;
- Strengthen reliability and provide cost savings to consumers; and
- Create over 1,000 construction jobs.
This marks the first loan closed under the Energy Dominance Financing Program, established by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and delivers on America’s AI Action Plan to optimize existing grid resources.
What’s clear: The DOE is backing grid upgrades that advance innovative grid technology, boost reliability, deliver cost-savings to consumers and support America’s economic growth.
3. Modernizing and growing the grid - step one: permitting
The U.S. investor-owned electric industry is poised to invest more than $1.1 trillion to modernize and expand the grid over the next five years, according to the Edison Electric Institute <[link removed]>. That's almost twice the pace of investment in the industry in the past decade.
The U.S. needs 488 GW of new generation, and these investments can’t happen with a broken permitting system.
Bipartisan Congressional action is necessary to create a more efficient, transparent and politically durable permitting system that enables energy dominance and AI leadership.
The key policies essential to any package include:
- Modernizing NEPA by clarifying the scope of reviews, eliminating duplication, and providing certainty;
- Reforming judicial review and litigation practices to increase predictability and reduce unnecessary delay tactics;
- Increasing transparency to drive oversight action and better leverage technology; and
- Streamlining transmission development processes to reflect the urgency of grid expansion while respecting states’ roles in the process.
What’s clear: To power our AI-driven future and grow American manufacturing, we need to significantly grow the grid. The electric industry is investing; now we have to let America build.
Plug in: Hear more from ClearPath Action CEO Jeremy Harrell’s recent testimony <[link removed]> before the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources.
4. The circuit
Jake Kincer <[link removed]> and Helion Energy’s Jackie Siebens spoke at the U.S. Fusion Forum, hosted by the Fusion Industry Association, on a panel highlighting the opportunities for commercializing fusion and how federal policy can support the industry.
Jeremy Harrell <[link removed]> spoke on a panel at the Louisiana Energy Security Summit 2025, hosted by the American Council for Capital Formation, featuring Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), on strengthening U.S. energy leadership through advanced technologies.
5. Coming down the pipeline
- October 29 – Washington D.C.– ClearPath is partnering with BPC on their Permitting Summit: Building America’s Energy Infrastructure. Register here <[link removed]>.
6. ICYMI
- JPMorganChase announced <[link removed]> its Security and Resiliency Initiative, a $1.5 trillion, 10-year plan to facilitate, finance and invest in industries like critical minerals, nuclear energy and battery storage, which are essential for national security.
- ERCOT has launched the Grid Research, Innovation and Transformation <[link removed]> (GRIT) initiative to advance research and testing of emerging technologies.
<[link removed]>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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