We are excited to share with you this COBT Special Edition featuring our good friend Jigar Shah, Director of the US Department of Energy Loan Programs Office (LPO). The LPO is the largest private debt fund in the energy space with more than $400 billion available for innovative clean energy projects. As you will hear, Jigar and his team of 250 professionals at the LPO have immensely valuable insights as to what’s really happening with early-stage companies and technologies across the energy spectrum. Jeff Tillery, Brett Rampal and I had the opportunity to visit with Jigar ahead of CERAWeek for a check-in and for a preview of DOE’s plans for the event. It is amazing how much has transpired since our last COBT discussion about six months ago. 
  
In our conversation, we touched on the LPO’s progress since Jigar joined, the 126 applications that have been processed seeking almost $120 billion in funds, Jigar’s assessment that the US is in a deployment-forward position, how the LPO manages risk, harnessing the information that the LPO office receives, which new energy sectors are reaching a tipping point, and the Nuclear, Hydrogen, and Long Duration Energy Storage reports that the office is rolling out during CERAWeek. We also discuss how EPC contract availability is impacting emerging energy projects, the difference between “industrial policy” and “industrial strategy,” the IRA, remedying fragile supply chains, the CHIPS and Science Act’s influence on loans and development, Fortune 500 companies and their role in the energy transition, and more. We greatly enjoyed talking with Jigar and have loved getting to know him over the last year. We hope you enjoy this Special Edition conversation as much as we did! 
  
As we wrap up, we also wanted to share with you some developments with our team. Our longtime friend and partner Colin Fenton has decided to pursue new opportunities in his career and we are certainly sorry to see him move on. His thoughtfulness and creativity will be missed and we wish him massive success in his future endeavors.  
  
All the best to Colin and to all of you as well!