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ClearPath Action Rundown 
June 6th, 2025

Happy Friday!

Congratulations to Laura Swett on her nomination as a Commissioner at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

1. NEW blog: Modernizing the World Bank

The U.S. needs sufficient energy to meet growing AI demand and power our digital economy. Yet, as the world works to deploy new energy infrastructure, the World Bank, one of the largest sources of infrastructure finance, is running on an outdated energy policy.

The first step: The World Bank could establish a dedicated Nuclear Energy Trust Fund, a concept supported by bipartisan, bicameral legislation currently working its way through Congress. The Trust Fund would provide support to the World Bank to begin building technological and analytical capacity to advise its member countries exploring nuclear energy.

What’s clear: Regardless of the World Bank’s involvement, the United States must be prepared to capitalize on this global market by exporting nuclear energy technologies. The U.S. Export-Import Bank and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation both support this objective. 

Plug in: Read more in our latest blog, Modernizing the World Bank is a Key Step Toward Energy Dominance, by Jake Kincer and Bryson Roberson.

2. Tech 101: The basics of fusion

Fusion isn’t as far away as you think. Harnessing this energy would allow for the generation of clean electricity utilizing only tiny amounts of fuel in the form of hydrogen or helium.  

How it works:

• The fusing of very “light” atoms releases excess energy;
• This requires extreme temperatures (hotter than the surface of the sun);
• Enough density in the fuel to create more collisions, creating more energy.

What’s clear: Fusion reactors can set the world up with virtually limitless clean electricity using tritium found in seawater, and we aren’t far away from commercial viability thanks to public and private sector investment. The creation, investment and implementation of fusion technologies will create a path to lower emissions, and ensure national security by ensuring constant access to more efficient and abundant energy. 

Plug in: The Fusion 101 explores the fundamental principles of fusion energy, examines recent advances and explains why fusion power could play a crucial role in American energy security.

In 2024, ClearPath brought Senate staff to learn about fusion at the Helion facility in Everett, Washington. The delegation saw both the sixth-generation prototype, Trenta, and the construction progress of the seventh-generation prototype, Polaris.

3. Innovation over regulation: Trump supports LPO in budget request

President Trump’s FY26 Budget Request proposes $750 million in additional funding for the Loan Programs Office (LPO) to support innovative projects. This proposed infusion of new money is consistent with the Administration’s plans to use the office to build energy infrastructure as quickly and as affordably as possible.

The LPO can provide loans or loan guarantees to innovative commercial-scale deployments, including for nuclear. The Department of Energy (DOE) highlights the importance of using LPO funding to:

• Support President Trump’s goals to catalyze the advanced nuclear industry as outlined in recent executive orders; and
• Advance new projects for grid reliability, next-generation geothermal, pipelines, LNG and critical minerals.

What’s clear: The budget request reflects the importance of LPO to President Trump’s energy dominance agenda. Under Energy Secretary Wright’s leadership, LPO is poised to refocus on reliable energy projects that can meet rising demand. 

Plug in: ClearPath made recommendations to modernize DOE in this report.

4. Interior using new expedited reviews for geothermal projects

The Department of Interior (DOI) announced emergency permitting procedures to streamline the review of three Nevada geothermal energy projects, including: 

• The Diamond Flat Geothermal Project, the McGinness Hills Geothermal Optimization Project and the Pinto Geothermal Project. 

The new DOI procedures have:

• Created a streamlined, 14-day approval process that will allow these projects to deploy and supply clean, baseload power to the West in a fraction of the usual timeframe; and 
• Rescinded multiple geothermal and critical mineral development regulations this week.

5. Meta signs power agreement with Constellation nuclear plant 

Meta announced a deal with Constellation Energy to keep one of the utility's 1,121 megawatt (MW) reactors in Illinois operating for another 20 years. The deal for the Clinton Clean Energy Center nuclear plant allows Constellation to:

• Renew Clinton’s operating license and increase its clean firm energy production by 30 MW. Currently, the plant powers the equivalent of about 800,000 U.S. homes;
• Look into extending its existing early site permit for a new large reactor at the site or develop an advanced nuclear reactor or small modular reactor.

What’s clear: As AI data center demand grows, the U.S. needs more domestic, reliable power like nuclear to keep up with rising demand. Meta operates several data centers in Illinois, and the company is developing its largest of 20 data centers globally in Louisiana. This is Meta’s first such deal with a nuclear power plant.  

Plug in: The ClearPath team took a trip to Braidwood Nuclear Generating Station in 2022, highlighting the progress that Illinois has made in nuclear energy technology.

In 2022 ClearPath brought a delegation of 10 Congressional staff to Illinois for an educational trip, touring locations like Braidwood Nuclear Generating Station (above) in Braceville, IL. Braidwood is a two unit 2,389 MW nuclear power plant owned and operated by Constellation Energy.

6. What we’re reading: Advancing U.S.-Japan Energy Leadership

The U.S. and Japan are aligning more deliberately on key technologies like advanced nuclear, LNG and carbon capture as both nations face growing pressure to counter China and Russia’s dominance in global energy infrastructure.

Suggestions for the future:

• Remove barriers to energy project development domestically;
• Reauthorize and strengthen U.S. development and export financing capabilities; and
• Expand the U.S. and Japan’s work together to push the World Bank to end its outdated moratorium on nuclear energy. 

What’s clear: America can’t lead abroad if it’s constrained at home. Deepening energy ties with allies like Japan is important, but lasting international leadership depends on cutting red tape for domestic projects, sharpening U.S. foreign policy tools, and stopping global institutions from sidelining technologies where America leads.

Plug in: ClearPath’s Nick Lombardo explains the opportunities for the U.S. and Japan to further cooperation on energy innovation in this piece for CSIS.

7. TX to enact multiple nuclear-related bills

The Texas Legislature is on the verge of enacting a suite of nuclear energy-related bills, including House Bill 14, which will revolutionize the state’s growing nuclear industry and will help lead to a nuclear power resurgence in the U.S.

Nuclear energy is well-positioned to meet the projected electricity demand growth in Texas with:

• X-energy building a commercial reactor at a Dow Chemical facility in Seadrift;
• Natura Resources building a research reactor in Abilene; and
• Four reactors operating in the state that provide over 2,200 jobs.

Plug in: Learn more about how this important legislation came to be in the Texas Advanced Nuclear Reactor Working Group report, including ClearPath’s model on federal and state tax incentives.

8. The Circuit

9. ICYMI

• Rainey Center published a series of marine CDR factsheets and new polling on the importance of the Loan Programs Office at DOE. 
• The National Association of Manufacturers highlighted how thermal battery manufacturers, such as Antora, can provide affordable heat and power to U.S. industry while operating a domestic supply chain.

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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