ClearPath Foundation

ClearPath was founded by Republican entrepreneur and philanthropist Jay Faison in 2013 to change the conservative viewpoint on clean energy. After selling his majority stake in the audio-visual company SnapAV, Faison donated US$165 million to start ClearPath, with a mission of "accelerating conservative clean energy solutions."^[3][4]

ClearPath advances its mission through "strategic grant-making, advocacy, and digital platforms", and focuses on energy policy, polling, and analysis.^[5][6][7]

The ClearPath website lists five principles used for analyzing policy. ClearPath believes in "small government, free markets, and American innovation", as well as pollution risk management, cost-benefit analysis and energy security.^[6]

• Nuclear energy – ClearPath proposes expanded use of nuclear power in the United States, calling it "one of America's greatest success stories".^[8] In particular, they support existing nuclear plants, as well as advanced nuclear such as small modular reactors and generation IV reactors. In February 2016, ClearPath's CEO Jay Faison proposed developing "super-competitive, next-generation" nuclear reactors.^[9]
• Hydropower – ClearPath supports hydropower development, calling it "one of America’s most overlooked energy resources".^[10] They propose expanding the electrification of non-powered dams, hydropower financing reform, and permitting reform.^[11]
• Energy Innovation – ClearPath supports increased basic energy research funding for the Department of Energy (DOE) to accelerate development, and proposes paying for increased research through expanded oil and gas drilling.^[12] They also propose giving private companies greater access to the DOE's national labs.^[13]