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ClearPath Action Rundown 
January 9th, 2026

Happy New Year! 

The Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026 passed the House by a vote of 397-28.

Meta announced agreements with three nuclear energy companies: Vistra, TerraPower and Oklo. Axios has more. 

1. DOE awards $2.7 billion to restore American uranium enrichment

America needs a domestic nuclear fuel supply chain to beat China and secure American energy dominance. Years of Congressional action led to three $900 million, milestone-based awards to American Centrifuge Operating (Centrus), General Matter and Orano Federal Services to:

• Expand America’s traditional low-enriched uranium (LEU) nuclear fuel supply chain;
• Jumpstart new infrastructure for high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU) to fuel advanced reactors; and
• End dependence on Russian nuclear fuel supply chains.

Plug in: To learn more about nuclear fuel, check out our Fuel Supply Chain blog, Nuclear Fuel 101 and Advanced Nuclear Fuel 201.

2. A clear path for geothermal permitting

Federal permitting policy inhibits geothermal energy’s ability to deploy at scale. While energy demand grows, geothermal offers a solution: firm, scalable, secure and economic supply. ClearPath’s 2025 geothermal permitting report, “A Clear Path for Geothermal Permitting: Cutting Delays, Driving Deployment,” finds that federal policy reform can unlock geothermal and achieve gigawatts of new power across the U.S.

ClearPath’s report identifies targeted, actionable reforms to modernize geothermal leasing and permitting on federal lands. Recommendations include:

• Require annual geothermal lease sales and ensure timely process for environmental reviews;
• Clarify casual-use activities to incentivize early exploration;
• Create categorical exclusions for early-stage development (on par with oil and gas);
• Narrow the scope of NEPA review consistent with recent Supreme Court precedent; and
• Create a new Geothermal Ombudsman and BLM Permitting Task Force.

What’s clear: These reforms would shorten timelines, reduce uncertainty, de-risk private sector investment and accelerate deployment of a clean, firm power source critical to meeting rising demand and strengthening U.S. energy security.

Plus… The Geothermal Power Accelerator:

• DOE launched a 13-state effort with the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) to spur geothermal energy development. The "Geothermal Power Accelerator" plan calls for federal and state partnerships that encourage statewide geothermal goals, improve mapping and advance policies that support exploration and deployment.

3. NEW Blog: Made in America, with Carbon

American innovators are turning captured carbon into valuable products and fuels that boost the United States’ competitiveness in global markets, create new markets and reduce emissions. These innovations were recently supported by Congress through the One Big Beautiful Bill, which increased the 45Q carbon capture tax credit for carbon utilization technologies.

Innovative technologies that utilize captured carbon can:

• Bolster American energy and national security by expanding domestic supply chains for fuels and materials;
• Strengthen the U.S. economy by contributing to additional economic production, particularly for high-value products (oil, critical materials, chemicals); and
• Simultaneously strengthen and decarbonize the U.S. economy.

What’s clear: American innovators and policymakers recognize carbon as a commodity rather than a waste product. Capitalizing on carbon utilization technologies will create new American jobs, reinforce our energy security and give U.S. companies a competitive advantage in new, emerging markets.

Plug in: Learn more about American companies using carbon as a commodity in Jake Marrs and Savvy Bowman’s latest blog.

4. U.S. sets new LNG export records in banner year

The U.S. became the first country to export more than 100 million metric tons (mmt) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in one year. U.S. shipments accounted for one-quarter of global LNG exports last year. On its own, Venture Global’s Plaquemines facility – the country’s second-largest export plant – delivered 16.4 mmt of LNG in 2025 after sending its first cargo in December 2024.

What to know:

• U.S. LNG is central to American energy dominance and security.
• LNG exporters in the U.S. have announced plans to more than double their liquefaction capacity between 2025 and 2029.
• A predictable and efficient permitting process for LNG infrastructure and pipelines is needed to sustain U.S. energy leadership.

What’s clear: American LNG ensures global energy security and is a critical tool for reducing global energy emissions by displacing higher-emitting fuels.

5. ICYMI

• Radiant raised over $300 million in new funding to support the commercialization of mass-produced portable nuclear reactors at its R-50 factory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
• Duke Energy submitted an early site permit application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a site near the Belews Creek Steam Station in Stokes County, NC.
• The Midwest grid operator, MISO, announced a partnership with Microsoft to deploy AI and cloud computing to enhance operations, forecasting and system planning.

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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