Synopsis
The report outlines a bold vision and strategy for the United States to establish global leadership in next-generation energy technologies. As the world transitions to clean energy, innovation in how we generate, store, and transmit energy will be critical.
The report argues that leadership in energy innovation confers major economic, military, and geopolitical advantages. Currently, China dominates many aspects of the energy technology supply chain, from critical mineral mining and processing to manufacturing key components like solar panels and batteries. This poses risks to U.S. interests.
To offset China’s lead and catalyze disruptive American innovation, the report calls for establishing national “moonshot” programs in three key areas: space-based solar power to revolutionize energy transmission, fusion energy to provide limitless clean electricity generation, and long-duration grid-scale energy storage to balance intermittent renewables.
Ambitious goals would galvanize public and private sector efforts. For space-based solar, the aim is to demonstrate 50 kilowatts capacity by 2030 and 35 gigawatts by 2050. For fusion, the goal is multiple pilot plants delivering power by 2030. In storage, a 90% cost reduction by 2030 would enable week to month-long backup.
Realizing these moonshots requires surmounting complex technical and engineering challenges. But the report argues the goals are achievable through concerted national efforts to align policies, talent, research, testing infrastructure, and financing.
Beyond the moonshots, the report outlines key enablers to support sustainable clean energy innovation. On workforce, new programs would expand recruitment and training. Better organizing national research would increase public-private collaboration and leverage AI to accelerate discoveries. Steps to assure supply chains involve stockpiling critical minerals, improving mining, expanding domestic processing, and coordinating with allies.
To achieve commercial scale, the report recommends reforms to speed regulatory approvals and expand financing for first-of-a-kind demonstration projects. Upgrading infrastructure is also critical, through grid modernization, expansion to link regions, and security enhancements.
The report argues the United States still holds advantages in innovation capacity and allies partnerships. But leadership is not guaranteed without urgent, coordinated action across the public and private sectors. Implementation requires long-term commitment, taking on technological risk, and pragmatic support as technologies mature.
If these efforts succeed in making clean energy abundant and affordable, the geopolitical and economic benefits would be substantial. The report aims to chart a viable course for U.S. advantage in the global energy technology race this decade.
