Frequently Asked Questions — Learn more about the Energy Futures Initiative, our people, and its areas of analysis

The Energy Futures Initiative (EFI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to harnessing the power of technology and policy innovation to facilitate the clean energy transition. Employing an all-of-the-above approach, the analysts of EFI focus on technologies and policy options that lower atmospheric carbon in an equitable, economic, and ecologically safe manner to confront the challenge of climate change efficiently and catalyze the clean energy transition. 

We analyze pathways to develop and deploy climate solutions, issuing detailed public reports of technology often paired with federal and regional policy recommendations. By convening policymakers, scientists, stakeholders, and experts in the field we advance these solutions and influence policy and action. Through alliances such as the Labor Energy Partnership, we support and promote the 21st Century energy workforce that will forge the transition to clean energy.

In 2017, Ernest Moniz, the thirteenth Secretary of Energy under President Barack Obama, founded the Energy Futures Initiative upon leaving office. In government, he made science the foundation of the Department of Energy’s strategy and led administration efforts placing the U.S. at the forefront of energy innovation. Moniz was a key architect for the Iran Nuclear Deal, a lead diplomat for the Paris Agreement, and helped create Mission Innovation, an initiative launched alongside the Paris Agreement to double government investment in RD&D for climate solutions. Under his leadership, EFI has become the preeminent thought leader on clean energy pathways.

EFI consists of a core group of three principals and about 30 analysts and communications staff, supplemented by a cadre of Distinguished Associates, who join the team on a project basis. The Distinguished Associates bring considerable expertise in various project domains and experience in analysis, research, policy, and business. In addition, EFI is guided by an international Advisory Board, which convenes at least once a year to brainstorm the most significant ways EFI can contribute to the energy transition. These Advisors may also participate directly in projects of specific interest.

The Energy Futures Initiative is part of the EFI Foundation, a Washington-based registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization (EIN 87-3398574). We are dedicated to educating the public on issues relating to harnessing the power of technology and policy innovation to accelerate the clean energy transition.

In keeping with our principle of analytical independence, EFI projects are funded by a variety of sponsors, and those entities have no control over the methodology, analysis and recommendations made by the project team. All funders for each project are prominently displayed on our reports and do not have any editorial control over the analysis or editorial process. In some instances, such as co-productions & partnerships, our reports may also be published on partner websites, in their entirety and without change. EFI’s foundational funders include The William + Flora Hewlett Foundation and The David & Lucile Packard Foundation.

EFI has conducted project-based partnerships with the Bipartisan Policy Center, Breakthrough Energy, The Linden Trust for Conservation, S&P Global, the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), and several other thought leadership organizations.

All EFI analysis is published and publicly available on this website. Some of our analytic work is informed by private workshops, usually conducted under the Chatham House Rule, which allow for baseline understanding of a topic area. On major projects, we convene public events and workshops to present our work. In addition, EFI staffers participate in thought leadership events throughout the year and occasionally brief federal, state, and local policymakers on issues related to the energy transition. EFI also communicates its findings through opinion pieces in major publications; more than 20 opinion pieces by EFI experts have published since 2017, including articles in The Wall Street Journal, the Boston Globe, the Los Angeles Times, The Hill, and Politico.

EFI has inspired and informed more than 10 federal initiatives, including the Energy Act of 2020, Establishment of Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, and Carbon Dioxide Removal RD&D authorizations and appropriations.

Formed in 2020, the Labor Energy Partnership is a collaboration between EFI and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) to support the 7.5 million workers in the U.S. energy sector and spur economic growth through research to identify actionable recommendations for clean energy policy.

From 2018 through 2020, EFI collaborated with the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) to produce the annual U.S. Energy Employment Report. It began as a federal project in 2016 under the Obama Administration.

Our offices are located at 900 17th St. Northwest, Suite 1100, Washington DC, 20006. Our office phone number is (202)688-0010. During the Covid-era, our staff has been remotely distributed and most of our thought leadership events have been conducted virtually.

EFI is pleased to offer paid internships and fellowships on a regular basis (winter and summer). Internships are three-month engagements with undergraduate students studying energy and the environment, climate communications or some other related field. Fellowships are six-month engagements for graduate students who have a degree in a related energy discipline. Check out our careers page for the current opportunities.

EFI is always looking for talented and dynamic individuals to join the team. Please see our careers page for current job openings.