hRMI

Secure,

Competitive,Global

TheplaybookforUnitedStatesenergystatecraftinanewtechnologicalera

Report/September2025

AuthorsandAcknowledgments

Authors

BenjaminBartle

EvanBrooks

LachlanCarey

JonEkberg

SarahLadislaw

SudeshnaMohanty

Authorslistedalphabetically.AllauthorsfromRMI.

Contacts

LachlanCarey,

lcarey@

SarahLadislaw,

sladislaw@

BenjaminBartle,

bbartle@

CopyrightsandCitation

LachlanCarey,SarahLadislaw,BenjaminBartle,JonEkberg,SudeshnaMohanty,andEvanBrooks,Secure,Competitive,Global:TheplaybookforUnitedStatesenergystatecraftinanewtechnologicalera,RMI,

2025,

/insight/

secure-competitive-global-the-playbook-for-united-states-energy-statecraft-in-a-new-technological-era.

RMIvaluescollaborationandaimstoacceleratetheenergytransitionthroughsharingknowledgeand

insights.Wethereforeallowinterestedpartiestoreference,share,andciteourworkthroughtheCreativeCommonsCCBY-SA4.0license.

/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

.

AllimagesusedarefromiSunlessotherwisenoted.

Acknowledgments

ThisreportisbasedonresearchandconveningfundedbyBreakthroughEnergy.ThefindingsandconclusionscontainedhereinarethoseoftheauthorsanddonotnecessarilyreflectthepositionsorpoliciesofBreakthroughEnergy.

Wearegratefultoallwhocontributedtheirtime,insights,andexpertisetothisreport.Ourthanksgotothemanypractitioners,policymakers,andindustryleadersweinterviewed,whoseperspectivesshapedour

analysis,andtothecolleaguesandpeerswhogenerouslyrevieweddraftsandofferedvaluablefeedback.Theirguidancestrengthenedthisworkimmeasurably;anyremainingerrorsoromissionsareourown.

Secure,Competitive,Global:TheplaybookforUnitedStatesenergystatecraftinanewtechnologicalera

/2

Secure,Competitive,Global:TheplaybookforUnitedStatesenergystatecraftinanewtechnologicalera

/3

hRMi

AboutRMI

RockyMountainInstitute(RMI)isanindependent,nonpartisannonprofitfoundedin1982thattransformsglobalenergysystemsthroughmarket-drivensolutionstosecureaprosperous,resilient,cleanenergy

futureforall.Incollaborationwithbusinesses,policymakers,funders,communities,andotherpartners,RMIdrivesinvestmenttoscalecleanenergysolutions,reduceenergywaste,andboostaccessto

affordablecleanenergyinwaysthatenhancesecurity,strengthentheeconomy,andimprovepeople’slivelihoods.RMIisactiveinover50countries.

Secure,Competitive,Global:TheplaybookforUnitedStatesenergystatecraftinanewtechnologicalera

/4

TableofContents

ExecutiveSummary 5

Introduction 9

Policyrecommendations 10

Partnerwithpurpose 10

Streamlinetheprocess 11

Targettherisks 11

Reauthorizeambition 12

Context 13

Balance:AlignSecurity,Economic,

andEnvironmentalObjectives 18

Tradeimbalances 19

Capitalimbalances 20

Policyimbalances 21

Environmentalimbalances 21

Policyimplications 22

Benchmark:PrioritizeTechnologies

andPartnershipsStrategically 23

Sectorprioritization 23

Friendshorecriticalmineralsandoverconcentratedmanufacturingsectors 27

Leapfrogintonext-generationmanufacturingandclean,firmpower 29

Promoteexportsinmature,growingindustries 30

Createalternativevaluestreamsinareasofdecliningdemand 31

Partnerprioritization 31

Build:TurnStrategyintoDealsandProjects 37

Partnerwithpurpose:High-impactenergyalliances 38

Streamlinetheprocess:One-teamdeliveryforenergydeals 40

Targettherisks:Deployafullfinancingtoolkitandreformagencies 44

Reauthorizeambition 47

Endnotes 51

Secure,Competitive,Global:TheplaybookforUnitedStatesenergystatecraftinanewtechnologicalera

/5

ExecutiveSummary

TheUnitedStatesisoneofthemostenergy-abundantcountriesintheworld.Yet,despiteitsamplenaturalresourcebaseandworld-classinnovationcapacity,thenationisfailingtosecuretheenergyandeconomicopportunitiesofthe21stcentury.Adecadeofunderinvestmentinexportableenergytechnologiesand

infrastructurehasleftAmericanindustryflat-footedasalliesandcompetitorsalikeracetobuildandfinancethenextgenerationofenergysystemsathomeandabroad

.1

UScompaniesarerapidlylosingglobalmarketshareinstrategicsectorslikecleanmanufacturing,

batteries,andpowerinfrastructure,notjusttoChina,buttoagrowinglistofcountrieswithstrongerindustrialcoordinationandpublicinvestment.Ifcurrenttrendspersist,theUnitedStatescouldbe

runninganannualtradedeficitof$152billioninnewenergytechnologiesby2035

.2

Meanwhile,

China—alreadytheleadingglobalexporterofsuchtechnologies—isontracktoearnover$340billioninannualenergytechnologymanufacturingexportrevenueby2035,surpassingthe2024oilrevenuesofallGulfstatescombined.

3

AlthoughtheUnitedStatesisthelargestoilandnaturalgasproducerintheworldandagrowingexporter,theotherlargeandfaster-growingeconomiesintheworldarediversifyingtheirenergyconsumption

toincludeamuchgreatershareofnon-fossil-basedresourcesandtechnologyplatformsforeconomic,

environmental,andenergysecurityreasons.TheInternationalEnergyAgencyreportsthatsince2019,

annualglobalinvestmentinrenewableelectricityhassurpassedoilandgasextraction,rising76%overfiveyearsto$760billionin2024,whileoilandgasinvestmentfellby6%overthesameperiod

.4

Afailuretocompeteabroadalsoweakensenergysecurityandjobcreationathome.Withoutaclear

strategytoalignitscapabilitieswithglobaldemand,theUnitedStatesrisksbeingleftoutofthevery

marketsthatitsowninnovationshelpedcreate.

5

Reclaimingaleadershiprolewillrequireamoreconcertedandsustainedindustrialeffortathomeandacoordinatedapproachtooverseasenergyfinancingthat

matchesthescale,speed,andflexibilityofcompetitorswhileadvancingAmericaninterestsandvalues.Thefocusofthisreportisonthelatter(i.e.,overseasenergyfinancestrategy).

Theimplicationsarebotheconomicandstrategic,affectingcommercialcompetitivenessaswellas

geopoliticalsecurity.AsthenSenatorandcurrentSecretaryofStateMarcoRubiowrotein2024,China’sstate-backedfinancingandmanufacturingjuggernaut“nowleadsinmanyoftheindustriesthatwill

determinegeopoliticalsupremacyinthe21stcentury,fromshipbuildingtoelectricvehicles.”

6

Incontrast,hewrote,theUnitedStates“isinaweakerpositionthanitwasinthepast.”

7

Asoneoftheworld’sleadingenergynations—recognizedforitsdominanceinglobaloilandnaturalgas

marketsandunmatchedrecordofenergytechnologyinnovation—theUnitedStatesispoisedtocapitalizeonsurginginternationaldemandfornext-generationsolutions.ThisisAmerica’s“energydominance”

moment.Ifthelastcenturyrevolvedaroundcommodity-basedgeopoliticaldeals,thecomingdecades

willbelongtothosewhoshapetechnologieslikesolar,batteries,andcriticalminerals.However,thesearethesameareaswhereChinaispullingahead.Tocompeteeffectively,theUnitedStatesmustexecutea

comprehensive,coordinatedstrategythatfinancesandexportscleanenergyprojectswithspeed,scale,andclearstrategicdirectionwhileurgentlyrearmingitskeyfinancingarms—theUSInternationalDevelopmentFinanceCorporation(DFC)andtheExport-ImportBankoftheUnitedStates(EXIM)—todeliverthesedealsandsecuretheattendanteconomicandsecuritybenefits.Justasimportant,theUnitedStatescandrawontheunmatcheddepthofitscapitalmarkets—thelargestsinglemarketintheworld—auniqueadvantagethat,ifpairedwithsmartde-riskingandpolicystability,canmobilizecapitalatascalenostatebankor

financialsystemcanmatch.

Throughrigorousanalysisandexpertinsight,weoutlineaclear,actionablestrategicframeworkforthe

UnitedStates—onegroundedinthreepowerfulimperatives:balance,benchmark,andbuild.AnAmericanapproachthatbalancesenergysecuritywithcommercialcompetitiveness,supplychainresilience,and

geopoliticalstrength;thatbenchmarksstrategicchoiceswithprecisesector-by-sectorassessmentsofsecurityandeconomicopportunities;andthatbuildstransformative,high-impactprojectsoverseasthroughagile,targetedfinancinganddeepercoordinationwithstrategicpartners,willpositionthe

UnitedStatestoshapeglobalenergynormsratherthanbeshapedbythem.

Secure,Competitive,Global:TheplaybookforUnitedStatesenergystatecraftinanewtechnologicalera

/6

Secure,Competitive,Global:TheplaybookforUnitedStatesenergystatecraftinanewtechnologicalera

/7

RebuildingUSenergystatecraft:Aligningpolicy,power,andpurpose

TheUnitedStateshasrebuiltitsenergystrengthathomebutfailedtoconvertitintoglobalinfluence.

AttemptstoimprovetheUnitedStates’competitivestandingoversuccessiveadministrationsand

withinpocketsofCongresshaveexposedalackofpolicyconsistency,strategicfocus,government

capacity,andexpertisetoeffectivelycompeteontheglobalstage.DespitenumerouseffortsoverseveraladministrationstoimproveUStoolsofeconomicstatecraft,USagenciestaskedwithoverseasenergy

financingandprojectdevelopment,suchasDFC,EXIM,USTradeandDevelopmentAgency(USTDA),DepartmentofEnergy(DOE),andDepartmentofCommerce’sInternationalTradeAdministration(ITA),oftenoperateinsiloswithoverlappingmandatesandlimitedcoordination.Thishasledtofragmentedpolicyexecutionandreducedeffectiveness,athemethatemergedconsistentlyacrossinterviewswithcurrentandformeragencystaff.

Yetthisinstitutionalfragmentationalsocreatesanopening.ThemachineryofUSenergy

statecraftismisalignedandlooselycoordinated,butacoherent,forward-lookingstrategycan

quicklyreshapeit.Againstthisbackdrop,thecurrentadministration’scallto“unleash

America’saffordableandreliableenergyand

naturalresources”providesboththepoliticalmandateandtheorganizingprincipletoknitthosedisparateagenciesintoasingle,

strategicallyaligned,technology-neutraleffort.

8

Framingabundantdomesticsupplyasthebackboneofnationalsecurity,thisreportoutlinesanapproachthatdemonstrateshowcoordinatedUSfinancing—throughDFC,EXIM,USTDA,DOE,andITA—cantransformoverseasprojectsintoleveragethatexpandsmarketsforUSfirmsandstrengthensthenation’seconomyagainstcoercion.

Specifically,ourreportcallsontheWhiteHousetoconductregulartechnology-neutralenergy

securityandeconomicopportunityreviewsthatmeasureeverysectoragainstenergysecurityandeconomicobjectivesandscoreeachpartner’sportfolioonwhetheritmakesAmericasafer,stronger,andmoreprosperous.Thisanalyticbackboneanswersthepresident’s“UnleashingAmerican

Energy”directivetoassertUSenergydominance,ensuringoverseaseffortsreinforcedomestic

resilience.Ourreportpresentsanillustrative,data-drivenmethodologyforstructuringsuchreviews,providingpreliminarybenchmarkinginsightsandresultingrecommendationsfor30differentenergysectorsandsupplychainphases.

Thefindingsfromthesereviewsshouldserveasthefoundationformasterenergyagreements(MEAs)withstrategiccountriesandregionsthatfocusonthehighest-impactsectorsandpartners,while

incorporatingdisciplinedUSandalliedprivatecofinancing,preciselythesortofoutward-facingstrategytheadministrationsaysisneededtocounterChina’sBeltandRoadpushincriticalmineralsandenergytechnologysupplychains.

Secure,Competitive,Global:TheplaybookforUnitedStatesenergystatecraftinanewtechnologicalera

/8

Ourbenchmarkingmethodologysuggeststhathigh-impactagreementsshouldbepursuedwithIndia,

Australia,EastAfrica,andEasternEurope,pairingflagshipprojects—rangingfromgridandstorage

modernizationandcriticalmineralrefiningtogeothermalservicesandsmallmodularreactordeployment

—withUSfinancingandtechnicalassistance.Theseinitiativescanmeetacutedevelopmentneeds,reinforcefragilesupplychains,andunlockmultibillion-dollarUSexportopportunities.

Eachagreementshouldbequarterbackedbyanenergyagreementdealcoordinator,aseasonedmarketprofessionalempoweredtosynchronizeagencytools,sharedata,andclosecomplextransactionsabroad.ThesenewprocessesareinkeepingwithaJune2025presidentialmemorandumthatinstructsagenciestostreamline,sharedata,andmoveat“thespeedofbusiness.”

9

CongresscouldauthorizethecoordinatorpositioninStateDepartmentregionalbureaus,andappropriateahighlyflexibleenergydealfund,not

dissimilarfromtheadministration’sproposed“AmericaFirstOpportunityFund.”

10

Thiswouldallowthecoordinatortodeploygrants,guarantees,orblended-financetranchesonshortnotice,closinggapsinweeks—notbudgetcycles—andmakingtheUnitedStatesafaster,moredependablecounterweighttostate-backedcompetitors.

Finally,CongressshoulduseupcomingreauthorizationstoexpandthebalancesheetsandtoolkitsofDFCandEXIM,providingthemwithlargerlimitsandnewinstruments—suchaslocal-currencyguarantees

andfirst-losscatalytictranches—sothatpublicdollarscrowdinprivatecapitalwheremultipliersare

highest.Amongotherrecommendations,thereportsuggestsstandingupaninnovative“pullfinancing

facility”toaddressofftakerisk,oneofthemostcommonlycitedbarrierstoinvestmentinemergingenergytechnologies.ThisfinancingpunchrespondsdirectlytobipartisancallsforastrongerDFCtokeeppacewithChinawhilechannelingfederalresourcestowardhigh-leverageprojectsthatboostUSjobsandsecurity.

Takentogether,thesefourstepstranslateWhiteHouseprioritiesintoacoherentplaybookthatalignsstrategy,speedsexecution,andscalesimpact.

ThegoodnewsisthattheUnitedStateshassuccessfullyconfrontedsimilarsystem-widechallengesbefore,andmodestreformsnowcandeliveroutsizedresults.AftertheColdWar,forexample,Congress’sSupportforEastEuropeanDemocracy(SEED)Actof1989empoweredasmallcoordinationofficeintheStateDepartmenttoalignmorethan20agencies’efforts.LeveraginglimitedUSfunds,ithelpedtransformCentralandEasternEurope,astrategysoeffectivethat10recipientcountriesjoinedtheNorthAtlanticTreatyOrganization

(NATO)andothersforgedlastingpartnerships

.11

Morerecently,thatsameofficehelpedcoordinateamongagencies,theWhiteHouse,andCongresstoprovideapproximately$45billioninrapidenergyaidtoalliesafterRussia’s2022invasionofUkraine.

12

Thesecasesshowthatcleargoals,strictbenchmarks,andaflexiblecoordinatingmechanismcanturnlimitedresourcesintomajorstrategicgains.

Thisagendaisgroundedinurgency;theworldisnotwaitingandthereisanarrowpoliticalwindowfordomesticaction.Othernationsareaggressivelyfinancingandstandardizingtheenergylandscapeintheirfavor.

13

FortheUnitedStates,thisisaboutmorethanplayingdefense;itisachancetoleadthenexteraofenergy.UpcomingreauthorizationsinCongressofbothDFCandEXIMshouldbeviewed

asopportunitiestonotonlyimprovethecapabilitiesoftwovitalgovernmentagencies,butalsoto

rebalanceUSenergystrategy,identifystrategicpriorities,andbuildtheinstitutionalcapacity

tocatalyzenewspending,strengthenalliances,andsecurethenation’sownenergyfuture.AnAmericanapproachthatbalancesenergysecuritywithenvironmentalstewardship,benchmarksdecisionswithdata,andbuildsrealprojectswithpartnerswillpositiontheUnitedStatestoshapeglobalenergynormsratherthanbeshapedbythem.

Secure,Competitive,Global:TheplaybookforUnitedStatesenergystatecraftinanewtechnologicalera

/9

Introduction

Tocompeteintheemergingglobalenergylandscape,Washingtonmustmovebeyondadhocdeals

andfragmentedagencymandatestowardaunifiedstrategythatchannelsAmerica’sdiplomaticreach,commercialinnovation,anddevelopmentfinanceintothetechnologiesandpartnershipsthatcanbestmeetitsstrategicobjectives.Toachievethis,ourreportproposesathree-partbalance,benchmark,

buildframework,consistingof(1)balancingpolicyobjectives,(2)benchmarkingstrategicpriorities,and(3)buildinginstitutionalandoperationalcapacity.Together,thesepillarsaimtoconvertAmerica’sstrengthsintolastinggeopoliticalinfluenceandcommercialadvantage.

Balance

USenergypolicy—athomeandabroad—haslonglurchedbetweenideologicalextremes,privileging

onefuel,technology,orheadlineobjectiveattheexpenseofothers.Theresultisafragmentedtoolkit

thatfrustratesallies,detersinvestors,andleavescriticalsupplychainsvulnerable.Torestorecoherence

andcredibility,Washingtonmustadoptaconsciouslybalancedapproachthatweighsthreeinseparable

aimsineveryoverseasdeal:bolsteringenergysecurityfortheUnitedStatesanditspartners,capturing

economicopportunitiesinfast-growingcleantechmarkets,andadvancingenvironmentalstewardshipthatresonateslocallyandglobally.Balancedoesnotmeansplittingthedifference;itmeansrecognizingthe

interdependenceofthesegoals,sequencingactionssothatprogressononereinforces—noterodes—theothers,andembeddingclearguardrails(frommethanestandardstolocal-contentrules)thatkeepany

singlepriorityfromderailingthewiderstrategy.

Benchmark

Withlimiteddiplomaticbandwidthandpubliccapital,Washingtonneedstodirectitsenergytoolkitwhereitprovidesthegreateststrategicbenefit.Athoroughbenchmarkingprocess—basedontechno-economicdataandgeostrategicalignment—canidentifywhichtechnologies,valuechainsegments,andpartner

countriesdeservethatfocus.Regularenergysecurityriskandeconomicopportunityreviews,ledfromtheWhiteHouse,wouldincorporatethisanalysisintodecision-making,ensuringthatscarceresourcesgotowardstrategictechnologiesandpartnershipsmostlikelytokeeptheUnitedStatesanditsalliessafer,stronger,andmoreprosperous.

Thisreportoffersanillustrativemethodologyforsuchareview.Thefirststepassesseseachenergy

sectorbasedontwoquestions:HowvulnerableistheUnitedStatestosupplychaindisruptionshere

(energysecurityrisk)?andHowmuchbusinesscouldUSfirmswinifthesectorgrows(economic

opportunity)?Plottingthesescoreshelpsdeterminehoweachsectorshouldbecategorizedintooneoffourstrategicpaths:(1)friendshore—workwithtrustedalliestosecurecriticalinputs;(2)leapfrog—backnext-generationtechnologiesthatcansurpassforeignincumbents;(3)exportpromotion—helpmature,competitiveUSindustriesscaleabroad;and(4)alternativevaluecreation—guidedeclining

industriestowardnewsourcesofvalue.Finally,eachpathalignswiththeappropriatepartnership

goal:FriendshoringmakesAmericasafer,leapfrogginganddevelopmentdealsmakeitstronger,and

exportpromotionmakesitmoreprosperous.ThissimpletriageshowspolicymakerswhereUSoverseasfinancingwillyieldthegreateststrategicbenefit.

Secure,Competitive,Global:TheplaybookforUnitedStatesenergystatecraftinanewtechnologicalera

/10

Build

Strategicprioritizationmusttranslateintoinvestmentsthatyieldtangibleanddurableassets.This

includesforginghigh-impactenergypartnerships(backedbyflexiblefundsandstaffed“dealteams”),

streamlininginteragencyprocessesunderaccountableleadership,anddeployingacomprehensive

toolkitoffinancinginstrumentstode-riskprojectsandcrowdinprivatecapital.Italsomeansupdating

mandatesandresourcesfortheExport-ImportBankoftheUnitedStates(EXIM),theUSInternational

DevelopmentFinanceCorporation(DFC),andrelatedagenciessotheycancompeteatthenecessaryscale.WithCongressconsideringreauthorizationsforDFCandEXIMin2025–26,thereisatimelywindowto

implementmanyofthesechanges.

Policyrecommendations

ThecurrentadministrationandCongressarerestructuringforeignassistance,focusingonaselectnumberofstrategicpriorities.Theobjectiveistoleveragelimitedresourcestoattractprivatesectorinvestmentinassetsandopportunitiesdeemedstrategicallysignificant.Lessbureaucracyandmoreflexibility,asproposedinthepresident’sbudgetrequest,canleadtogreaterefficiencybutnotifunaccompaniedbyclearprioritiesand,importantly,bipartisansupportfromtheHilltosupportwithresourcesandfocusbeyondthespan

ofoneadministration.AsCongressappropriatesresourcestosupportUSenergyandeconomicinterests

abroad,thepolicyrecommendationsproposedbelowcouldserveasausefullystreamlinedexampleofhowtomaintainafocusonenergyrelationshipsandinvestmentsthatmattermostforUSlong-terminterests.

Drawingfromextensiveexpertinput,historicalprecedents,existingbipartisaninitiatives,andoutside

recommendations,thisreportoutlinesapragmaticreformagendatoaddresscapacitygapsacrosstheprojectdevelopmentcycle.Theproposalsaredesignedtoworkwithin(andmodestlyaugment)existinginstitutionalstructuresratherthancreatewhollynewones.Insummary,werecommendafour-prongedapproach:

Partnerwithpurpose

Authorizethenegotiationofalimitednumberofhigh-prioritybilateralorregionalmasterenergy

agreements(MEAs),formalpartnershipsbetweentheUnitedStatesandkeyalliesthatalignstrategic

technologyobjectivesandcommitresourcesonbothsides.EachMEA,negotiatedbyadedicatedWhiteHousestrategicprojectsofficeandsignedbythepresident(andrelevantcounterparts),wouldprovideanoverarchingframeworktocoordinateallagencyeffortstowardspecificenergygoals.Althoughitmaybeimpossibletostemtheproliferationofwell-intentionedmemorandaofunderstanding(MOUs)betweenandamonggovernments,theseMEAswouldhaveahigherbarforexecutionandfunctionlikeinvestmentagreementsbyidentifyingpriorityprojects,settingjointtargets,andbundlingUSfinancing,technical

assistance,andpolicysupporttoensurethoseprojects’success.

Earlyexamplesofhigh-impactMEAscouldincludeanenergysupplychainmanufacturingpartnershipwithIndia,anIndo-PacificcriticalmineralsallianceanchoredinAustralia,andaregionalpower

integrationandgeothermalagreementinEastAfrica,utilizingareaswhereUSexpertisealignswith

partners’requirementsforsharedbenefits.EachagreementwouldsendaclearsignaltoUSagencies,alliedgovernments,andtheprivatesectoraboutsharedpriorities.Ratherthanascattershotapproach,each

MEAconcentrateseffortsondeliveringafewgame-changingprojectsineachpartnercountryorregion.MEAswouldelevateenergycooperationtoacentralpillarofUSforeignrelations,convertingone-offtransactionsintostrategicalliancesthattransformmarkets.

Secure,Competitive,Global:TheplaybookforUnitedStatesenergystatecraftinanewtechnologicalera

/11

Streamlinetheprocess

Toexecutetheseagreements(andimproveprojectsupportgenerally),establishempoweredenergydeal

coordinators:seniorbureauofficials(oneperMEA)intheStateDepartmentchargedwithservingasa

singlepointofcontactandauthorityforallUSgovernmenttoolsinthatpartnership.BackedbyadedicatedinteragencystrategicprojectsunitattheWhiteHouseandarmedwithaflexibleagreementexecutionfund,thesecoordinatorswouldhavethemandateandresourcestocutthroughbureaucracy—commissioning

feasibilitystudies,blendingfinancing,expeditingapprovals—tofast-trackpriorityprojectsandcatalyze

privateinvestment.Eachcoordinatorwouldleadasmallenergydealteam(mixingseasonedgovernment

staffandprivatesectorexperts)andbeaccountabletoCongressfordeliveringresultsundertheMEA.This

model,inspiredbythesuccessofthe1990sSupportforEastEuropeanDemocracy(SEED)ActcoordinatorinEurope,wouldensurethatsomebodyistrulyinchargeofexecutingtheinvestmentplanslaidoutintheMEA,overcomingthesiloed,adhocapproachinwhichpromisingprojectsorstrategicinvestmentopportunitiestoooftendieonthevineforlackofanempoweredadvocate.

Toclosethegapbetweenintentandexecution,thecoordinatorshouldbeexplicitlytaskedwithpipeline

developmentandcatalyticcapitaldeployment.Inpractice,thatmeansscanningthemarketforhigh-impactbutunderpreparedideas,commissioningthemissingtechnicalstudiesorbusinessmodelwork,andthenmatchingeachopportunitywiththerightformofsupport.AneffectiverecentexampleisDFC’stworoundsofequityinvestmentinTechMetLtd.,whichacquires,builds,andrecycleslithium,nickel,cobalt,vanadium,andrareearthprojectsacrossfourcontinents.

14

Here,asingle,flexibleequityinstrumentwassufficienttounlockadiversified,multijurisdictionalpipeline,exactlythenimbleapproachacoordinatorwouldbeempoweredtotake.Whereitmakesthemostsense,coordinatorsshouldbeempoweredtocreatesuchexternallymanagedfunds,inpartnershipwiththeUSgovernment,leveragingtheirsuperiorexpertiseandreachtocreatedealpipelinesandattractcapitaltoalargergroupofprojectsmorequickly.

Targettherisks

Withthe“what”(priorityprojectsandpartners)lockedinthroughMEAsandthe“who”(anempoweredenergydealcoordinatorandteam)accountableforshepherdingthem,theremainingquestionishowtomovethe

strategicintentofeachdealfromconcepttocommercialcl