In my new capacity as acting assistant secretary, it is my pleasure to kick off this latest issue of Amped Up! Magazine.

I am humbled by the opportunity to lead this tremendous organization as we continue to support a clean energy revolution that is strengthening our economy and tackling some of the world’s most urgent challenges. As we move forward, my top priorities are accelerating the pace of innovation we have seen over the past several years, ensuring the long term sustainability of our progress across all of our programs, and supporting the people who make the Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) great. 

This issue includes some of my thoughts on how we’re going to deliver on these three priorities. It also includes a recap of the tremendous progress EERE made during the tenure of Dave Danielson's leadership. Dave's vision around innovation and manufacturing as cornerstones of a clean energy economy and his support for EERE's R&D efforts were critical to our success. His passion for our work was clear and helped drive support for all that we do.

I share that passion and see it every day in all of our staff. Our team has an incredible story to tell as we continue to see record growth and progress on cost-competitiveness across the full range of clean energy technologies. I hope this issue of Amped Up! helps highlight to our partners and stakeholders just how far we have come as a country in innovating how we make and use energy - and how instrumental EERE has been in turning our vision of a clean energy revolution into reality.

This issue focuses on our Tech-to-Market program and its work in building and strengthening what we call our country’s “innovation ecosystem” – an environment to support top clean energy innovators and entrepreneurs so they can successfully develop and commercialize game-changing new technologies. Building this network requires the full participation of partners from every sector of our economy, including universities, industry, and our world class national laboratories. 

You will get to hear from Dr. Martin Keller, the director of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, who discusses the groundbreaking R&D underway at the laboratory campus in Golden, Colorado. You’ll also come across three very successful summits we held over the course of a very busy May, highlighting the successes of our Lab Impact, Clean Energy Manufacturing, and Better Buildings initiatives.

These initiatives represent just a portion of our work to build the infrastructure that can accelerate the growth of clean energy in the United States–and the jobs, clean air, and stronger economy that will come with that growth. I look forward to working with all of our team to make this year our most impactful yet. Enjoy this edition of Amped Up! Magazine.

David

Amped Up! Magazine is the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s publication that highlights breaking technologies and achievements in renewable power, energy efficiency and sustainable transportation that influence global change toward a clean energy economy.