Evan Chapman is senior director of policy for Clean Tomorrow.
A new frontier in energy is emerging — and that leaves us with an important choice that will determine whether the United States continues to lead the world in energy innovation, as we have for the previous 150 years, or cedes that leadership to other countries.
Our energy system has historically represented American ingenuity and dominance. If we fail to develop and deliver clean energy technologies at scale here at home, the consequences will be significant. America’s national security, economic might and global standing will all suffer.
The path forward is clear: Now is the time to rebuild American energy innovation leadership to create a more affordable, cleaner and secure energy future. If America acts now, we can lower costs for families, create jobs across the country and ensure our energy future is developed domestically. That’s the promise of energy innovation for Americans nationwide, and that’s why our team has released our new report, Re-Energizing America.
Our history offers a blueprint for progress. Half a century ago, a global oil crisis sent shockwaves through our economy. With foreign producers and global markets determining the price of oil, our weaknesses were exposed. In response, we did what Americans do best: we took action. Our leaders founded the Department of Energy, launched massive investments in energy research and committed to making and powering things right here at home.
DOE remains at the heart of American energy innovation. From the first viable solar cells invented in New Jersey to the infrastructure and ingenuity enabling the shale boom in Texas and Pennsylvania, American innovation has allowed these technologies to flourish. Continued leadership of the next generation of energy tech, however, will require smart economic strategy, a competitive edge on the global stage and sustained federal investment.
Four policy priorities drive the need for renewed federal commitment: energy security, affordability, economic opportunity and decarbonization. Our dependence on foreign supply chains — alongside China’s dominance in emerging energy technologies — is creating new national security risks. Meanwhile, rising energy costs have reminded us how closely power prices shape economic stability and household budgets.
To adequately address these key imperatives, we must prioritize American energy innovation. With major federal funding set to expire this year, our nation faces an innovation cliff. To ensure we lead the world in energy innovation, the solution is straightforward: a federal investment of $25 billion for DOE’s research, development and demonstration programs by 2030. This budget, representing less than one percent of the total 2030 federal budget, is built from a strategic assessment of technology priorities, historic investment and comparison of the U.S. to global peers and competitors.
Success in meeting America’s energy challenges will also require a fundamental change in how federal agencies approach innovation. Transforming DOE will take both structural reforms and cultural shifts that prioritize collaboration, speed and long-term thinking. The goal must be to create an institution built for sustained engagement — one that serves as a reliable partner to American innovators and a trusted engine for our nation’s energy security and economic future.
The scale and urgency of today’s energy challenges demand future-forward investments and a renewed sense of national purpose. The next 50 years will be defined by how we respond to transformational forces such as electrification, AI-driven industrial change and the global transition to cleaner energy systems — all while ensuring America’s global standing, resilient supply chains and the economic benefits and jobs that come from successfully navigating this transition.
Now is the time to choose our energy future. The choice is ours to make, but we must decide to act. Let’s show the world that America can meet this moment decisively, boldly, and on our own terms.
