Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation (FESI)

Thank you to Oak Ridge National Laboratory for hosting FESI CEO Rick Stockburger earlier this month for an inspiring visit and a tour of the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF) and LEEP Demo Day 2026!   The Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program (LEEP) supports founders with early-stage energy startups and emerging technologies, helping them advance their innovations and bring them to market through a fully funded fellowship at national labs.   FESI is proud to partner with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to accelerate innovative solutions in support of American energy security, prosperity, and leadership.

We are pleased to welcome Brad Levine, CEO of Synergist Technology, and Bill Fehrman, CEO of American Electric Power, to our Board of Directors.    "Brad Levine and Bill Fehrman represent exactly the kind of bold, experienced leadership that will help FESI fulfill its mission at this critical moment for American energy security," said FESI’s CEO, Rick Stockburger. "Brad's entrepreneurial track record in building transformative technology companies and Bill's unmatched experience leading some of America's largest energy enterprises make them extraordinary additions to our board.”     With these additions, FESI continues to build a board of distinguished leaders, advancing our work as a bridge between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) industry, researchers, and funders to accelerate the speed, scale, and stability of American energy innovation.     Read the full announcement: https://lnkd.in/e9WeJKbn

Earlier this week, FESI Chief of Staff Lara Cottingham joined the Climatech event at Boston Climate Week to discuss how the U.S. can accelerate energy technology commercialization. Lara highlighted a core FESI belief: the U.S. does not have an innovation problem. We have a commercialization problem. The challenge is getting technology into the communities, markets, and operations that need it most. She discussed how the defense sector has long built pathways from R&D to deployment by integrating technology, capital, and customers in ways the broader energy ecosystem can learn from. She also emphasized why partnerships across energy, defense, utilities, and industry are not just valuable, but necessary. FESI was created to bring speed, scale, and stability to the energy innovation ecosystem. Conversations like this help move that mission forward. #FESI #EnergyInnovation #SpeedScaleStability #bostonclimateweek

Foundation CEO Rick Stockburger joined fellow energy leaders a few weeks ago at #ARPAE26, hosted by Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E).    At the “Building America’s Energy Ecosystem” panel, Rick moderated a discussion on what it takes to move breakthrough energy technologies from the lab to real-world deployment. The conversation highlighted the importance of strong partnerships, clear policy pathways, and sustained collaboration to accelerate American energy innovation.    We are grateful to have been part of this important dialogue shaping the future of energy.     #FESI #EnergyInnovation    Evan Loomis, General Partner, Overmatch Ventures  Jeff McClure, Senior Advisor, DOE Office of Energy Dominance Financing  Jacqueline Tame, Operating Partner, External Affairs, Global Playground 

Small businesses are the backbone of American innovation and ingenuity. We’re excited to work alongside the DOE Office of Technology Commercialization to support high-impact energy research and technology on its journey from lab to market. #FESI #EnergyInnovation #SpeedScaleStability

CEO Rick Stockburger joined Dana Marie Perkins, Chief Growth Officer at the Bloomberg NEF Summit in New York this week to speak alongside some of the most important voices in energy today.    The discussion explored how to better align private and public capital to support the tech and energy infrastructure that falls between early-stage innovation and large-scale deployment, and how FESI can help to close that gap in a moment when energy security has never been more critical to America's economic and national security interests.  We look forward to building partnerships with the BloombergNEF team and the many funders and energy leaders we had the pleasure of meeting and learning from during the week.     #FESI #EnergyInnovation #BloombergNEF 

FESI welcomed its Board of Directors to Washington, DC this week for a day of meetings on Capitol Hill followed by a special Reception bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, start-ups and friends of the organization.     The week’s gatherings were a great opportunity for FESI CEO Rick Stockburger, to share more about the organization’s path forward – and its unique role working alongside DOE and its partners to help bridge the gap between research, development and real-world commercialization.     #FESI #EnergyInnovation Mung Chiang Stephen Pearse   Tomeka McLeod  Vicky A. Bailey Kathleen (Katie) McGinty Mike Boots Nancy Pfund Miranda Ballentine Dr. Rita Baranwal Noelle Laing, CFA Jason Walsh Anthony Pugliese James Danly Lara Cottingham

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Mung Chiang, President of Purdue University, has been elected Board Chair for the Foundation for Energy Security & Innovation’s Board of Directors. Since joining the inaugural board in May 2024, Mung has played a key role in shaping the organization’s vision to accelerate American energy innovation. His leadership and experience across government and industry positions him well to help guide FESI’s next phase of growth.      As the official congressionally chartered nonprofit partner of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), FESI works in partnership with the energy ecosystem to bring resources and funding that help accelerate new innovations and technologies to market.   Dr. Darío Gil, Under Secretary for Science at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), said of Chiang’s new role, “Dr. Mung Chiang’s experience across academia, industry, and government makes him a strong choice to serve as Chairman of FESI’s Board. Together, we will continue strengthening the partnerships needed to move DOE-supported technologies from the lab to the marketplace.” Read the full announcement: https://lnkd.in/gDiN4JXr

This week, the FESI team joined start-ups, innovators, and investors at the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) Industry Growth Forum (IGF).     This two-day event was an important opportunity for deepening connections with innovators and investors across the energy ecosystem and building new networks for future collaboration. FESI also sponsored a networking reception to help facilitate new connections among attendees.  #EnergyInnovation #EnergySecurity #FESI #IGF2026    Rick Stockburger Lara Cottingham Trish Cozart William Farris Jud Virden Jr

A great day working alongside the DOE Office of Technology Commercialization for the #EPICPitch Competition. Honored to help recognize some of America's visionary entrepreneurs! bit.ly/4bhWISq