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WASHINGTON - Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President and Chairman Kimberly A. Reed yesterday joined Foreign Policy magazine and ClearPath in a virtual dialogue event titled, "Clean Energy Innovation: A Path to Strengthen U.S. Competitiveness and Drive Global Development."

Chairman Reed participated in a panel discussion moderated by Allison Carlson, Managing Director, FP Analytics that also featured Brendan Bechtel, Chairman and CEO, Bechtel; Piotr Naimski, Poland's Minister of Energy and Secretary of State for Strategic Energy Infrastructure; and Rich Powell, Executive Director, ClearPath, and Member, EXIM Advisory Committee. The panel explored clean energy innovation from the private sector, government, and international trade as a strategy for boosting domestic economic recovery and achieving a sustainable, resilient energy future around the world.

"We want the world to buy high-quality 'Made in the USA' goods and services, and EXIM has placed an enhanced focus on providing export finance for renewable energy projects in markets where commercial lenders are hesitant to assume risk," said Chairman Reed. "I thank Foreign Policy magazine and all of the speakers-as well as U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (ND) who kicked off yesterday's event and is a leader on EXIM issues-for this important dialogue on clean energy innovation and strengthening our nation's competitiveness."

Foreign Policy Magazine's Virtual Dialogue on Clean Energy Innovation

Chairman Reed discussed EXIM's historic 2019 reauthorization, which requires EXIM to "promote the export of goods and services related to renewable energy sources, energy efficiency (including battery electric vehicles, batteries for electric vehicles, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure), and energy storage." She also emphasized the importance of EXIM's new Program on China and Transformational Exports, which is designed to advance U.S. comparative leadership in ten key sectors-including renewable energy, energy storage, and energy efficiency-relative to the People's Republic of China.

Chairman Reed also highlighted a recent project. Earlier this year, EXIM's Board of Directors unanimously approved $91.5 million in loan guarantee financing to support a U.S. small-business exporter, Weldy-Lamont LLC of Mt. Prospect, Illinois, for design engineering and construction services-including renewable energy technology through the export of solar panels-to the Republic of Senegal. The transaction, which is expected to bring electricity to approximately 330,000 Senegalese in more than 400 villages, will increase access to reliable electricity for rural communities throughout Senegal while supporting an estimated 500 U.S. jobs in 14 states. United States-based Weldy-Lamont was selected for the project over foreign competition being supported by at least four other governments, including China.

Chairman Reed and Poland Energy Minister Naimski during today's virtual dialogue.

To watch the full virtual dialogue online, click here.

ABOUT EXIM:

EXIM is an independent federal agency that promotes and supports American jobs by providing competitive and necessary export credit to support sales of U.S. goods and services to international buyers. A robust EXIM can level the global playing field for U.S. exporters when they compete against foreign companies that receive support from their governments. EXIM also contributes to U.S. economic growth by helping to create and sustain hundreds of thousands of jobs in exporting businesses and their supply chains across the United States. In recent years, approximately 90 percent of the total number of the agency's authorizations has directly supported small businesses. Since 1992, EXIM has generated more than $9 billion for the U.S. Treasury for repayment of U.S. debt. 

For more information about EXIM, please visit www.exim.gov.

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