Welcome to your weekly Rundown, for the week ending July 24.
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Please stay safe and healthy, wherever you're reading this week.
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DFC Modernizes Nuclear Energy Policy
Yesterday, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) announced a change to its Environmental and Social Policy and Procedures (ESPP) to allow the financing of nuclear power projects. Read the announcement
This announcement follows a 30-day public comment period on the proposed change – ClearPath, along with 40 other organizations and individuals submitted a comment letter supporting the lifting of the ban. Read their letter here.
RICH'S TAKE
“This is a huge development, and I applaud the DFC for driving this important policy and for opening up the potential for nuclear's clean, reliable energy to so much more of the developing world. It’s good to see the U.S. fighting our way back into global competition for markets of the future.”
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 Senate Passes NELA in FY21 NDAA
Yesterday, the Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) National Defense Act Authorization (NDAA) by a vote of 86-14. Included in the bill was the Nuclear Energy Leadership Act (NELA) (S. 903), which adds several important national security-related provisions to the NDAA. The Senate’s vote comes days after the House passed its version of the annual NDAA. The two chambers will now have to reconcile their bills and craft a final deal. Read more
Rich and Jeff Carter, Co-founder and Managing Director of the bipartisan Advanced Nuclear Weapons Alliance Action, published a column on why adding the Nuclear Energy Leadership Act (NELA) to the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) makes perfect sense. Read their column here.
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 DOE Invests Millions in Funding for Coal FIRST Initiative
Last Friday, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) announced $118 million in funding for the Coal FIRST (Flexible, Innovative, Resilient, Small, Transformative) initiative. DOE is awarding $37 million to seven projects, including support to build the world's first syngas-fueled combustor for the Allam-Fetvedt Cycle. It concurrently released a new funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for $81 million to support new coal technologies that generate hydrogen or electricity with carbon capture. DOE’s Coal FIRST initiative will develop the coal plant of the future that is needed to provide secure, stable, and reliable energy. Submissions for the FOA are due by August 26, 2020, and awards are expected in December of this year. Read more
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 NCC Proposes Clean Policies for Coal Sector
Last week, the National Coal Council (NCC), a Department of Energy advisory panel, released a report that proposes clean energy policies for the coal power sector. Former Energy Secretary Rick Perry last summer asked the NCC to recommend policies to support coal-fired power plants and advancements in technologies like carbon capture, utilization and storage. The council's draft report said carbon capture “shows promise” for reducing power plant emissions. Read the report
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DOE’s EPIC Incubator Prize
On Monday, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) announced up to $1 million in funding to support energy technology incubators through a new prize opportunity, which is part of the OTT Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC) program. The prize aims to encourage the robust growth of regional energy innovation ecosystems and “seeks to recognize the most innovative, comprehensive, and impactful incubators that focus on developing strong innovation clusters, connections, and support for energy-related technology and entrepreneurship that bolster American economic competitiveness and national security.” Submissions are due September 9, 2020. Learn more
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 House to Consider Energy-Water Approps Bill Next Week
Next week, the House is expected to consider a minibus of seven appropriations bills, including the Energy-Water measure, which includes language that fosters a continued commitment to clean energy innovation and strong support for research and development at DOE. Read more
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 Apple Pledges Carbon Neutrality by 2030
On Tuesday, Apple Inc. committed to address climate change with a new promise that all of its products would have a “net zero climate impact” by 2030. Apple said in a Climate Roadmap that “clean energy is no longer optional.” Additionally, Apple said it would reach its goal by cutting 75 percent of its carbon emissions, and addressing or offsetting the other 25 percent by investing in efforts to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Read more
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Microsoft’s $1 Billion Clean Energy Fund Makes
1st Investment of $50 Million
Microsoft Corp. announced their first investment from a $1 billion clean energy innovation fund earlier this week. Their fund has venture capital and more than two dozen utility companies supporting to help develop early-stage clean energy technologies. Energy Impact Partners, who helps connect clean energy startups with power companies like Southern Co., Xcel Energy Inc. and National Grid PLC, was awarded $50 million. Read more
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IN THE HEARING ROOM
Last Friday: The Subcommittee on Energy of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee held a hearing on, “From Lab to Market: Accelerating Our Progress Toward Economic Recovery and a Clean Energy Future.” Read more
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Hydropower Regulatory and Permitting Improvements
The U.S. Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory recently led a Hydropower Regulatory and Permitting Information Desktop (RAPID) Webinar, which is available on YouTube here.
ClearPath, along with Connie Lausten, an engineer and founder of cLausten LLC, published an Energy 101: Introduction to Hydropower this week to go deeper on the history and benefits of hydropower. In the 101, they discuss how modern hydropower, or hydroelectric power, has been utilized for more than 100 years and remains a clean, reliable electricity asset. In 2019, hydropower generated roughly 6.6% of electricity for the United States, and dominates some states' electricity mixes. While hydropower is generally thought of for electricity generation, only 2% of the 90,000 dams in the U.S. generate electricity. Read the full report here.
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THE PATH AHEAD
July 28: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is hosting a hearing at 10:00am ET, “To Examine Development and Deployment of Large-Scale Carbon Dioxide Management Technologies.” Watch the live hearing here.
July 28: The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Energy Program is hosting an online event from 10:00am – 11:15am ET, “Decarbonizing Heavy Industry.” More details and register here
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| CLEAN ENERGY. THE CONSERVATIVE WAY. |
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