Hardin noted that renewable energy sources are expected to make up around 93% of new U.S. capacity additions this year. At the same time, she said, workforce constraints pose a significant barrier to scalability. Construction workers, welders, and electricians are essential to building the physical infrastructure that’s needed to scale clean energy technologies.

“If you think about the $650 billion in infrastructure projects announced since 2022, that’s going to require a tremendous workforce,” she said, citing the current shortage of around 500,000 construction workers in the U.S.

Vagneur-Jones grounded domestic developments in a global context, observing that the U.S. represents less than 10% of global demand for EVs; around 25% for batteries; and roughly 10% and 4% for solar and wind, respectively. China, which dominates clean energy manufacturing, accounts for 50% to 70% of global market share in the sector.

“We’re seeing a huge rise in Chinese exports to emerging economies, which is bringing the energy transition within reach for countries where it really wasn’t seriously considered,” Vagneur-Jones said, pointing out that Thailand now has a higher share of electric vehicles in passenger vehicle sales than the United States.

Speakers also noted that policy uncertainty—including questions about tariffs and tax credits—has complicated business planning. Building capacity takes time, Fazili noted, and there needs to be a “strong and consistent demand signal before companies can make large-scale capital investments.”

When it comes to U.S. manufacturing investments, Vagneur-Jones argued that continuity matters most.

“You’ve got to commit to one approach, and you have to do it over several years,” he said, adding that through sustained policy, “there is waste, and there are mistakes, and there are cycles—but there is also progress.”

Watch the keynote.