WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and a senior member of Environment and Public Works Committee welcomed the launch of Mission Innovation in Paris by President Obama, President Hollande, and other world leaders.

“Mission Innovation is a game changer with the potential to create brand new energy technologies that can revolutionize the world,” said Senator Cardin. “The possible breakthroughs in five years thanks to this groundbreaking U.S.-led effort should create new, clean, reliable and affordable energy projects spurring economic development and improving global energy security. Mission Innovation is an international effort supported by governments of 20 countries, while the Breakthrough Energy Coalition is comprised of renowned international private investors led by American Bill Gates, who will offer critical early stage capital to worthwhile energy initiatives. This public-private effort is unparalleled in scope, ingenuity, and progressive thinking and underscores the U.S.’s firm international commitments to improve access to affordable clean energy technology solutions. For the Department of Energy led so skillfully by Secretary Moniz, at our National Laboratories, cutting-edge research universities and scientific incubators nationwide, the future is now and it must be seized.”

Mission Innovation is an initiative spearheaded by 20 countries representing 80 percent of global clean-energy research and development budgets. These nations, including the United States, have committed to double their investments in clean, affordable, and reliable new technologies.

###