ClearPath Action Rundown
November 14th, 2025
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1. Texas granted Class
VI primacy |
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved
Texas’ Class VI primacy application, allowing the
state to oversee permit approvals for carbon storage wells. Texas is
the sixth state authorized to administer its own Class VI well
permitting program, joining North Dakota, Wyoming, Louisiana, West
Virginia and Arizona.
Class VI primacy is:
- An effective tool for streamlining the permitting process for
Class VI wells – enabling states to efficiently review and approve
carbon storage permits; and
- Key for unlocking carbon storage infrastructure and deploying
carbon management technologies broadly.
What’s clear: The Trump administration is
committed to streamlining the permitting process for carbon storage
infrastructure. Nearly one-quarter of Class VI permits under EPA’s
review are from Texas, and this move will reduce the agency’s
permitting backlog. With eight Class VI primacy applications currently
in the queue, the EPA has an opportunity to continue to support the
efficient and timely build-out of critical energy infrastructure.
Plug in: Check
out ClearPath’s blog on how to unlock carbon
storage wells.
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2. Driving American innovation
in the Surface Transportation bill |
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Reauthorizing the Surface Transportation Bill, also known as the
Highway Bill, is a major opportunity to modernize U.S. infrastructure
and keep pace with rapidly growing demand from AI-driven data centers
and nationwide construction needs.
September 2026 marks the deadline
to reauthorize the surface transportation titles that were included in
the 2021 Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act.
Reauthorization offers a chance to:
- Drive innovation at state-level
Departments of Transportation by encouraging performance-based
specifications that reward engineering performance rather than
prescriptive material rules; and
- Strengthen domestic manufacturing by
creating demand certainty for advanced cement, concrete and asphalt
production, reducing import reliance and boosting supply chain
resilience.
Bipartisan proposals such as the
Concrete
and Asphalt Innovation Act (S.1067), co-sponsored by Sens. Thom Tillis
(R-NC) and Chris Coons (D-DE), and its companion bill, the
IMPACT
Act 2.0
(H.R.2122), co-sponsored by Reps. Max Miller (R-OH) and Valerie
Foushee (D-NC) would help states take advantage of these
opportunities, cut costs and accelerate project delivery.
What’s clear:
Reauthorizing the Surface Transportation Bill is an opportunity to
unleash American innovation, support domestic industry and deliver
faster, more durable and more efficient infrastructure.
Plug in: Read
Rafae
Ghani’s new blog
on driving American innovation in the bill, here.
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3. USMCA turns five:
Securing America’s energy and economic edge |
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As the first joint review of the United States-Mexico-Canada
Agreement (USMCA) approaches, policymakers have an opportunity to
preserve what works and build on USMCA’s strengths, reaffirming
transparency, regulatory alignment and energy security as key drivers
of U.S. competitiveness.
The USMCA continues to strengthen North America’s energy and
industrial competitiveness. Since its signing, USMCA has provided a
predictable framework that supports cross-border investment, critical
mineral supply chains and energy infrastructure, from advanced nuclear
to pipelines and transmission lines.
What’s clear: USMCA remains one of America’s strongest economic and energy
frameworks, locking in fair market-driven rules that keep North
America competitive and secure.
Plug in: Read
Justin
Williams and Nick
Lombardo’s new blog, USMCA Turns Five: Securing
America’s Energy and Economic Edge here.
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4. Expanding U.S.
LNG leadership |
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This week, Venture Global signed
three long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) sales and
purchase agreements with Japan’s
Mitsui & Co.,
Spain’s Naturgy and Greece’s
Atlantic-SEE.
Combined, these agreements represent the purchase of a minimum of 2.5
million tons per annum of LNG.
These deals will:
- Strengthen energy trade between the U.S.
and other countries, supporting global energy security and American
energy dominance; and
- Help meet growing demand for reliable
and clean U.S.-produced LNG.
What’s clear: U.S. LNG exports are the blueprint
for global energy leadership, security and emission reductions.
Plug in: Check out
ClearPath’s blog
on how to leverage U.S. LNG as a critical energy
security and emission reduction tool.
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Natalie
Houghtalen
spoke on the Shovels in the Ground for New Nuclear panel at the NARUC
conference in Seattle, WA. |
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Nicholas
McMurray spoke on a panel exploring efforts to
right-size environmental reviews for new reactors at the American
Nuclear Society’s Winter Conference in Washington, D.C. |
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Bimergen Energy has partnered with Eos
Energy to advance long-duration
battery storage projects. Backed by $250 million in new capital, the collaboration aims
to strengthen grid reliability and U.S. energy security through
domestically manufactured storage technology.
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Oklo received U.S. DOE approval for
its Nuclear
Safety Design Agreement at the Aurora Fuel Fabrication Facility in Idaho, which is
participating in DOE’s Advanced Nuclear Fuel Line Pilot Projects. The
approval will help demonstrate a new authorization pathway for
advanced fuel production and underscores Oklo’s role in expanding U.S.
nuclear capacity and energy security.
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New York and New Jersey approved
permits for the Northeast
Supply Enhancement (NESE) pipeline project. The project would build a 24-mile
natural gas pipeline from New Jersey to New York.
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ClearPath believes
America must lead the world in innovation over regulation…markets over
mandates…providing affordable, reliable, clean
energy. |
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That's all from us. Thanks for reading and have a great
weekend!
View this Rundown online
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