Welcome to your weekly Rundown, for the week ending July 31.
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Please stay safe and healthy, wherever you're reading this week.
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 LucidCatalyst and ClearPath to Host Flexible Nuclear Webinar
ClearPath and LucidCatalyst are hosting a webinar entitled, “Flexible Nuclear in Future Energy Systems,” on Monday, August 3 at 11:00am EDT. Panelists, including ClearPath’s Executive Director Rich Powell, will discuss findings from the newly published LucidCatalyst study, which derived the maximum allowable capital cost for advanced reactors by modeling their performance in four of the major power markets in the U.S. in 2034. Register for the online event here.
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 DOE Selects 5 Projects to Receive Funding for Geothermal Energy Research
On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that five projects will receive up to $28 million to promote the advancement of the next generation of geothermal energy technologies. Three projects, selected under the Geothermal Wells of Opportunity Funding Opportunity Announcement and that support research and development (R&D) that complements the Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) initiative, include Cyrq Energy, Inc., Ormat Nevada, Inc., and the University of Oklahoma. Additionally, two projects were selected under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Geothermal Technologies Office Hydrothermal and Low Temperature Multi-Topic Funding Opportunity for the R&D of innovative subsurface geothermal technologies, including University of Nevada at Reno and Cornell University.
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American Mineral Security Act Included in COVID-19 Recovery Legislation
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Lisa Murkowski’s (R-AK) bipartisan American Mineral Security Act (S. 1317) was included in new legislation proposed by Senate Republicans to help the U.S. recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Chairman Murkowski’s bill, which focuses on rebuilding domestic supply chains, addresses systemic weaknesses exposed by the pandemic and is critical to the future of U.S. manufacturing and competitiveness. Read more
ICYMI: ClearPath Policy Fellow Cameron Tarry wrote a ClearPath Energy 101: “Supply Chain for Lithium and Critical Minerals Is … Critical” on the supply chain challenges for the clean energy industry.
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 NextEra Energy Makes Move Toward Green Hydrogen
NextEra Energy, the world’s largest utility company, is investing in its first green hydrogen facility. Through its Florida Power & Light utility, NextEra will propose a $65 million pilot in Florida that will use a 20-megawatt electrolyzer to produce 100 percent green hydrogen from solar power. If it receives swift approval from state regulators, the project could be online as soon as 2023, and would represent the first step into green hydrogen for NextEra Energy. Read more
Earlier this week, Axios reported that global support is swelling to develop hydrogen technologies to cut carbon emissions and create jobs as the world looks to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $64 million in funding for hydrogen projects and plans to invest up to $100 million over five years for two new research efforts on hydrogen.
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 Barrasso Releases Draft of American Nuclear Infrastructure Act of 2020
On Wednesday, Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY) released draft legislation titled, the American Nuclear Infrastructure Act of 2020, which would "enable U.S. international leadership, preserve America’s uranium supply chain, reduce carbon emissions, and strengthen our economic, energy, and national security.” Read more
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Trump Nominates Two FERC Commissioners
On Monday, President Trump announced he would nominate Virginia Corporation Commission Chair Mark Christie and former Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) attorney Allison Clements to seats on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). If quickly confirmed by the Senate, FERC will have a full, bipartisan board (3 Republicans, 2 Democrats) and complete staff for the first time since early 2019, and could set up Republican control for several years. Read more
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E&C Republican Leadership Introduces Nuclear Energy Bills
This week, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Republicans introduced two nuclear energy bills. The Modernize Nuclear Reactor Environmental Reviews Act (H.R. 7817), led by Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC), would streamline nuclear reactor licensing actions to accelerate the deployment of nuclear reactors while maintaining environmental standards. The Nuclear Prosperity and Security Act (H.R. 7814), led by Communications and Technology Subcommittee Republican Leader Bob Latta (R-OH), would create a
uranium reserve to build our domestic fuel supply chain and ensure the U.S. maintains a domestic supply in the event of market disruption.
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Scaling Up Carbon Removal Technologies
On Tuesday, Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the Carbon Removal, Efficient Agencies, Technology Expertise (CREATE) Act of 2020, which would establish an executive committee at the National Science and Technology Council to coordinate interagency efforts on carbon removal research and development.
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IN THE HEARING ROOM
In the hearing room this week: On Tuesday, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing, “To Examine Development and Deployment of Large-Scale Carbon Dioxide Management Technologies.” Read more
Additionally, the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis held a hearing, “Solving the Climate Crisis: Building a Vibrant and Just Clean Energy Economy.” Read more
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
The Guardian: World’s largest nuclear fusion project begins assembly in France
The world’s largest nuclear fusion project, ITER, began its five-year assembly phase on Tuesday in southern France. The €20bn (£18.2bn) experiment is intended to demonstrate breakeven fusion power for future commercial plants. Read more
WATCH: The HYDRO+ Series
The HYDRO+ Series brought together the hydropower community for perspective and discussion on issues affecting hydropower resources, meeting challenges and ensuring the future sustainability of hydropower. The series covered six topics, including: generators, waterpower hydro, operations and maintenance, small hydropower developments, Midwest environmental issues, and regulating dam safety. Watch now
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THE PATH AHEAD
August 3: ClearPath and LucidCatalyst are hosting an online event at 11:00am EDT on, “Flexible Nuclear for Future Energy Systems,” with a panel discussion featuring ClearPath Executive Director Rich Powell. More details and registration information here.
August 5: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is holding a hearing at 10:00am EDT “to Examine Efforts to Improve Cybersecurity for the Energy Sector.”
August 5: The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is holding a hearing at 10:00am EDT “to Examine a Discussion Draft Bill, S.____, American Nuclear Infrastructure Act of 2020.”
August 5: OurEnergyPolicy is hosting a webinar from 4:30–5:30pm EDT on, “Free Market Clean Energy Proposals for the Stimulus and Beyond.” More details and registration information here.
August 6: Hydro Review is hosting a webinar at 11:00am EDT on, “The Future of Pumped Storage, the Ultimate Integrator.” A certificate of attendance will be offered. More details and registration information here.
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| CLEAN ENERGY. THE CONSERVATIVE WAY. |
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