Cleaning Up: Leadership in an Age of Climate Change

⁠The Future of Clean Tech Under Trump — Ep198: Jigar Shah

Feb 26, 2025

Jigar Shah, former Director of the U.S. Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office, discusses the role of government in advancing clean tech. He highlights his efforts in committing over $100 billion in clean energy loans and addresses the challenges posed by the Trump administration. The conversation includes insights on advanced nuclear energy, clean hydrogen, and the competitive landscape between the U.S. and China. Shah emphasizes the need for trust between public and private sectors and the importance of entrepreneurship in driving innovation forward.

01:08:17

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Jigar Shah

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Quick takeaways

Jigar Shah transformed the U.S. Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office, significantly increasing financial support for innovative clean energy projects.

The podcast emphasizes the importance of bridging the gap between clean energy innovation and its large-scale commercialization amidst political challenges.

Shah advocates for modernizing financing approaches to meet the unique needs of clean technology enterprises, ensuring broader project accessibility and growth.

Deep dives

The Increasing Demand for Electricity

The U.S. economy is experiencing a significant surge in electricity consumption due to various factors, including the growth of clean energy technologies. The urgent need for more electricity suggests that the nation will require robust clean energy solutions to sustain its economic expansion. While some experts focus on further advancements in clean energy research, the podcast emphasizes that the real challenge lies in the commercialization and large-scale deployment of existing technologies rather than lab breakthroughs. Ultimately, overcoming the cultural divide and political hurdles surrounding clean energy will be vital for meeting this growing demand.

Intro

2min

Navigating Clean Energy Financing

19min

Evaluating Clean Technology Opportunities

8min

Assessing the Prospects of Advanced Nuclear Energy

3min

Exploring Carbon Management and Clean Technologies

9min

Navigating Clean Energy Complexities

12min

Navigating Clean Tech Leadership

11min

Empowering Entrepreneurs in Clean Tech

3min

How can the U.S. government bridge the gap between clean energy innovation and large-scale deployment? Will the Trump administration accelerate progress or put up roadblocks for clean tech? And how can the U.S. stay competitive with China, which already holds a commanding lead in the sector?

Jigar Shah joins Cleaning Up fresh from his four-year tenure as Director of the U.S. Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office (LPO). Appointed in 2021, Shah transformed the once-obscure office into a clean-tech commercialization powerhouse, committing more than $100 billion in loans to U.S.-based companies. But with a new administration implementing sweeping cuts to the federal workforce, is all his work at risk? Or will market forces and the very real risk of blackouts keep clean energy innovation moving forward?

In this conversation with Michael Liebreich, Shah shares how he turned the LPO into a driving force for clean technology deployment, and what lessons can be learned by policymakers, investors and entrepreneurs. He also offers a candid assessment of the opportunities and challenges across key sectors—from advanced nuclear to sustainable aviation fuels.

Leadership Circle

Cleaning Up is supported by the Leadership Circle, and its founding members: Actis, Alcazar Energy, Division Kempner, EcoPragma Capital, EDP of Portugal, Eurelectric, the Gilardini Foundation, KKR, National Grid, Octopus Energy, Quadrature Climate Foundation, SDCL and Wärtsilä. For more information on the Leadership Circle, please visit https://www.cleaningup.live.

Links and more

DoE Liftoff Reports: https://liftoff.energy.gov
Episode 9 with Jigar Shah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJhhinSeh9I
Episode 193, Mike Headroom's AI Audioblog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwZ2iNh133A

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