‘Energy independence is a buzzword of the past’ – Jonathan Brightbill at the AIEN International Energy Summit
At the 10th annual AIEN International Energy Summit, Dr. Frederic Sourgens, James McCulloch Chair in Energy Law, Tulane University Law School, sat down with Jonathan Brightbill, General Counsel, U.S. Department of Energy to discuss current priorities, regulatory developments, and policy issues in the United States that are shaping the energy sector.
Brightbill started with an overview of what the Department of Energy actually does.
‘Very often, the Department of Energy is not the primary regulator when it comes to energy. We are more in the role of promoting development. Our role is in the international trade of energy – for example, the export of natural gas and electricity – and making those policy determinations.
‘This administration released a pause on energy exportations and we are now seeing the highest rate of LNG exports ever. Energy independence is a buzzword of the past. President Trump wants to be a dominant exporter and we are now doing that. We now export more LNG and crude oil than any other country in the world. It doesn’t end there – nuclear innovation is something we are focused on. We want to export nuclear technology around the world for future generations. We are some years off this, but there are some wonderful things happening in this space.’
Sourgens then asked how policies have changed since the new administration came in last year.
‘We want to provide leadership to the world. Two billion people live in energy poverty – using wood or charcoal for cooking. This leads to pollution and contributes to deaths around the world. We can lead the world in the export of clean-burning cooking fuels to spur innovation and raise the standard of living around the world.’
When it came to the subject of nuclear energy, Brightbill was enthusiastic. ‘During the period of the so-called energy transition, the target was coal, but the casualty was nuclear. There is now a rising demand for electricity, which was essentially flat 20 years ago, and this really leans into support for nuclear for the AI/data centre revolution. Its power is unmatched in terms of any other kind of energy generation.’
Finally, Sourgens asked how foreign investors can go about investing in US projects.
‘Pick up the phone and call!’ said Bightbill. ‘The US is very much open for business when it comes to energy.’
Tags:
