Jigar Shah (@JigarShahDC on Twitter) is the director of the Loan Programs Office at the Department of Energy. Mr. Shah was formerly the co-founder and President at Generate Capital, where he focused on helping entrepreneurs accelerate decarbonization solutions through the use of low-cost infrastructure-as-a service financing. Jigar also has the best laugh of any prior guest on the podcast and celebrated his two year anniversary at the DOE on March 3rd – the day we recorded.
Topics:
The mandate of the Loan Programs Office
The calculus of leaving the private sector for the DOE
The “alphabet soup” of government programs focused on the Energy Transition
The laziness of big companies
LPO loans – by invitation only
Inspiring action where action wouldn’t otherwise happen
Why Jigar can’t comment on a loan application to LAC for Thacker Pass
Downstream battery investment vs upstream
The contribution of recyclers
Jigar Shah – the “long term lithium bull”
“Friend-shoring” challenges
Tesla
What defines a “friend” of the US
Supply chain risk management
Rapid fire
Closing comments on the BMO conference and lithium price
