The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has published a Request for Information (RFI) in order to get opinions from the general public and other interested parties on the Department’s first-ever agency-related Foundation.
The Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation (FESI), authorised by President Biden’s bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, will assist DOE in carrying out its crucial mission to ensure continued security and prosperity for the United States through innovative science and technology solutions.
ISI’s main objective is to raise money through partnerships with the private sector and philanthropic communities and invest it in projects that will hasten the commercialization of new and existing energy technologies.
In order to support solutions-driven research and innovation that strengthens America’s energy and national security while assisting in the achievement of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ambitious clean energy goals, the Foundation will assist DOE in making additional resources, tools, and capacities available to potential partners and communities across the nation.
“FESI will help ensure that the breakthroughs in science and innovation at DOE are used to their fullest capacity in maintaining America’s edge as a global energy powerhouse throughout the 21st Century and beyond,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “This first-of-its-kind foundation will serve as a critical new partner to the Department in our efforts to strengthen American ingenuity and deliver the technologies of the future so critical to an equitable clean energy economy.”
Read also: Stakeholders propose remedies for the threat of climate change to food security
Since 1959, twelve agency-related independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations have been created, which have averaged a return of $67 for every dollar in federal contributions.
Once established, FESI will bring the potential for greater flexibility and efficiency to how the Department supports a broad portfolio of energy research, commercialization and coordination and support a variety of stakeholder groups.
FESI will help foster public-private partnerships, invest in companies commercializing critical energy technologies, support underrepresented groups and regions responding to DOE funding opportunities, and tackle a wide variety of systemic and distributed federal, state, and local deployment challenges.
This RFI seeks input on how DOE may engage with FESI and the communities it will serve, as well as how stakeholders will engage with the foundation directly.
“Investing in research and development – particularly as it pertains to energy – is a no-brainer. FESI is an opportunity for the Department of Energy to partner with the private sector, creating a unique opportunity for innovation,” said U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC). “I look forward to working with my colleagues, stakeholders, and the Secretary to launch the foundation and foster new ideas and partnerships to keep America on the cutting edge of economic and technological developments.”
U.S. Senator Chris Coons also said that the foundation will boost American competitiveness and channel private sector investments into critical partnerships between the Department of Energy, its world-class National Labs, the private sector, and the philanthropic community.
“I’m grateful that Secretary Granholm is making this a priority,” he said. “Through its flexible design, FESI will accelerate the commercialization of clean energy technologies that are needed to meet our climate goals. I was proud to lead the legislation to create this foundation with Senators Graham and Lujan, and I look forward to working with the Department to support its success.”
This story was adapted from Energy.Gov.
