Developing Innovative Energy Infrastructure Financing

The United States is missing opportunities to lead in renewable energy, representing billions of dollars in lost technology exports and contributing to continued dependence on energy imports. Market dynamics -- notably, the very low cost of natural gas -- have created challenges for renewables, despite their importance to climate stabilization and role in reducing U.S. dependency on foreign oil.
Another obstacle to the development of crucial renewables in the U.S.: the government agencies charged with promoting energy infrastructure improvement have been stymied by political gridlock and fiscal constraints. Meanwhile, other countries, like China, are out-investing the U.S. in this area, causing a drop in our global competitiveness.
To look for ways forward, the Milken Institute, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Energy Policy and New Uses, convened experts from the public and private sectors in a Financial Innovations Lab.