Transcripts For CSPAN2 Congressional 20240703

My name is andre and i am a big plan, leader really inspiring. Yes. There is the view on the floor, people hosting comments. Thank you. Please give angel a very large applause. She has been working on this and i am delighted to see each of you. I will take a moment because im so happy to see the chairman of the Democratic Caucus. In the midst of government today, the workers of government, defenders of government, people who seek not for ourselves but for all of you. Please come, we are in the midst of an Energy Resolution as you well know. We have messages of strength and empowerment and looking at green energy and energy from around the nation from the continent of africa but looking to find ways to Work Together for the benefit of the world and the world climate. Chairman pete aguilar of california, the best Democratic Caucus in the nation. Thank you for the opportunity. I wanted to say i look forward to this panel. The leadership is unquestioned. She works for the community, she works well in congress and she keeps us together and this discussion of how to address climate with the fierce urgency of now means so much to us and it should be and all of the above strategy working with our communities, with local governments, working with the international partner, thank you for being here and being willing to listen and learn and thank you so much for your leadership. [applause] one more. Youre welcome to move up. Its okay. Let me also thank your staff. Dont know shes here, helping us with the meat and match, thank you very much, very much. I will let people get in just for a moment. Thank you very much for continuing to make sure the resolution on the agenda. We have Climate Change commitments made, my own Energy Declaration in september. All the African Leaders for once to make a command decision with different agendas, some are promoting to protect fossil fuel, some of them champion Renewable Energy, they have a common voice to make the statement and that is advocate is ready for business and up legal role in the current climate challenges and the main focus was to access a project to live up to the challenge the world needs. Suffering from years of slavery, drama and today, buying the burden of the exchange that have not exploited, the competition for leaders here to be interested here how to find ways to make sure. [applause] weve come to hear our wonderful panel so allow me to give a few provocative statements but as i do so let me acknowledge the Dynamic Panel that we have. Angel is the founding chair of the league in africa, our moderator. Let me acknowledge the assistant administrator, bureau for international development. Are you in the room yet . On the way. Let me thank al williams, Vice President of corporate repairs chevron. In the general manager of internal affairs 0 america. Doctor pin gibson. Are you in the room, executive director agent. Ralph cleveland who is president of the association of black communities. Jerome ringo who has been involved in green energy as long as ive known him. And adam wright, ceo blind college, on the way. Looking forward to our congressional guests and we will acknowledge them. The reverend is not in the room yet i dont believe. Jackson is not in the room yet. We will acknowledge them as they come. Shepard and mccormick, we will acknowledge them as they come. Let me just speak again with a few provocative words. First of all, the last trip i took and his last trip i believe almost, president obama at the end of his term, a delegation of members to lead congressional leadership and to interact with African Leadership on the power africa and this was 2016. That we were in sort of east africa looking at the huge gap, the huge gap of Energy Deficiency on the continent. The continent that over the years has had an enormous, how should i say, i will use a polite term, of investment from Different Countries around the world and companies around the world. Interestingly enough, the region has just found new assets, in this instance fossil fuel but when we were there we were dealing with young entrepreneurs trying to project energy in a green way so that the housing of the villages outside of the city which is the bulk of where many africans live that have some form of energy. That is not even a decade ago. We are longing and what we should be doing as americans, what we should be doing as people of color, what we should be doing with the enormous technology, expertise and affection we have for democracy, no one else should be helping, america can collaborate with a narrow perspective that you having your questions. But we must give the best of what we have. The best i saw congressman bowman, the best of what i have. You stand up, you are the best of what i have. At some moment i will call you up before you get a word, we are talking to an array of africans and African Americans, black americans, you know the terminology varies, you are an inspiration and educator and one of the places you can be in africa is to educate so i am delighted to have you here. Let me quickly indicate i have shared the energy brain trust for 28 years. My predecessor mickey leland, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus organized the energy brain trust to begin a dialogue that did not lead people of color outside the circle. Jerome ringo may have known me and knew of his commitment even today, his footprint, we have mickey leland, toxic air asthma center. Has member of the budget committee, Homeland Security committee kept in active footprint, Homeland Security idea, Cyber Security which is both Cyber Security infrastructure protection, transportation security subcommittee, border security, all of these woven in to how we move energy. The brain trust is convened to serve as a platform for all relevant stakeholders, the industry and variety of a mixture of energy. Leave no one out but we want everyones mind to be openminded. The title of this is the Africa Partnership for ensuring Equitable Energy transition in africa creating a nexus for the World Energy Capital from the gulf coast to the africa coast. Every community depends on energy, power, citizens, lives, energy, Food Production has a stake in addressing the impact of global Climate Change. Mickey leland died on the side of an ethiopian mountain trying to deliver food to the sahara desert, the area between there and ethiopia. We are still dealing with the drought in that region. Energy can power water, energy can help with food and in that region today it is still lax. We have work to do. Every community in the world depends on energy to power its citizens lives. Every community has a stake in addressing the impact of global Climate Change. Indisputably energy is one of our life bloods. In our and our ever changing and challenging world, traditional and emerging Energy Challenges and innovation are charged today, the issues of the day, innovation, lets not leave out people who once we leave here today and turn our lights, get in our ev vehicle or gas fueled vehicle, go to hotels, lights and room service that there are people today who are deprived of the quality of life because they have no power. And even in the United States we are challenged for places without adequate power, many of these places are places in states that we know, whether they are midwest, the south and you know most of us who have hurricanes have to rebuild after each, that includes places like louisiana and texas, so let me quickly conclude to say to you think about how you are going to package energy, how we are going to put communities and businesses to gather, how to create job opportunity, how do we put flickering lights in a village in tanzania, rwanda, ethiopia where we were. How do we ensure those young entrepreneurs can turn their business into an economic engine uncorrupted in their country, how can we assure that those who have intent to dominate and i will use the term, our friends in faraway places, some would say china. How do we ensure the independence of africa continues to produce for themselves . The fact of the matter is an International Energy initiative after it is put together, so today we will listen to a number of individuals that i hope will be constructive on our next step, constructive on our legislative policy, constructive on realizing we must not ignore Climate Change, and constructive on numbers. According to the International Energy agency, africa needs 300 billion in investments to achieve universal electricity by 2030. I would venture to say it is much more. What do we do before we leave this place . I have another brain trust trying to be able to be a problem solver. Let me say that we are engaged with the african president , we welcome the president of the democratic republic of congo on the issue of ai and the issue of in particular Precious Metals which ties into Energy Production but since im a member of the Human Rights Commission all of this is wrapped around in the decency of human rights and ability to lead nations without corruption. As you have questions, think of the global needs that need the values of this nation. That is what i hope we will hear in our presenters and i hope we will hear from our audience. As i go to my seat i want to thank all the bostonians who might be in the room, thank you very much. And i did see, i thought, representative ron reynolds, please stand, dont sit down so quickly, one of our leading voices in houston and head of the state of texas legislative caucus which is a big caucus had a powerful force in the state legislature, we are delighted you are here, hope you will have a powerful question for us and mr. Cornell davis, is that who i see . Mister jerome love, would you stand up, indicated i would amplify you because maybe in some of these persons need to be there but mister love has one of the most provocative and impactful expos that i have seen in the United States of america. We hope that you will join me in june of 2,024 and amplify the work that hes doing, thank you so much for being here. Thank you. Will my moderator please come so the reason for the persons here will be elevated . You are here. Thank you all very much. Let us think, let us believe and let us do. Thank you very much. God bless all of you and god bless the United States of america. [applause] to make it very simple. I will ask each of the panels to introduce the company and the program and in 10 minutes of what it could look like and the lessons. Thank you, angel, and thank you, congresswoman Sheila Jackson lee who has been a champion and a pioneer in bringing together the industrial community, the Environmental Community and won a card for many years so we could Work Together to save this planet. Im jerome ringo, the chairman of so what it global, and Energy Company dealing with inefficiency, we are 61 minorityowned company and we are now in the carbon credit business. We, as a result of the International Intercontinental Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change decision in 2012 to ban freon as a refrigerant. Our company has developed an alternative to freon like honeywell, like dupont. Fortunately my companys refrigerant is the only one in the world that once you take the freon out of the cooling system and put hours in, we cut your energy bill by 40 . Nobody else in the world can do it. What does that mean for places like africa . We generate a huge amount of verifiable carbon credit from making an environmentally friendly refrigerant. Tesla makes more money from carbon credit than they make from selling cars. They make electric cars but they get a huge carbon credit from selling electric cars. We now, to is the, carbon credit banks, they trade carbon credits and sell carbon credits to Companies Like chevron. Tesla has determined that my company is Super Premium carbon credit. Carbon credit we are the only one in their portfolio. This was part of the Tesla Foundation of tesla automotive, their present and german just went to work for me for me two weeks ago. Now we are setting up tesla carbon banks. What were going to start trading carbon coated. What does it have to do with africa . Doctor apollo and come be called the cold just exploded on buddha by the african union, the Pan African Parliament to set up a Carbon Market in africa. They signed an agreement with us to system and establishing their Carbon Market. Many people, Many Companies are growing to gain carbon credits because the exchange of carbon and oxygen in and mr. But it is not verifiable. You cannot determine exactly how much carbon is being taken from the atmosphere from a tree. Ours, we can. We can monitor and so we taking these programs into africa. Were looking at a deal to sign with the Pan African Parliament that we can change the refrigerant in all government buildings in africa, and the 40 on electricity they say they can reinvest that money into humanitarian issues like eradicating malaria or dealing with covid or whatever they so choose to do. Im anxious to talk to the gentleman from chevron, and make him aware of our carbon credit banks that we are establishing. I made 89 trips to africa, 89 in the last five years. So how we can exchange of Course Energy one to another and ideas in the energy space, but there are efficiency plays that we can help stimulate the african economy through the trading of carbon credits that would be a benefit to American Companies and also to african nations. So thats basically what i do, angelle and i would love the opportunity to speak further, especially to the gentleman from exxon and my brother with the blacks in energy. Thank you. Let me just take a brief moment because as i come and thank m you, jerome very much. You said some very powerful things. I want topo make sure that you l put your most provocative things on the table. Because the success of this session will be when you finishn the engagement, and i want people thinking in big ways. And you are doing big things. So let me pause for a moment first to acknowledge Lonnie Johnson is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus foundation board, if you would please stand, and is been a supporter of her work in the energy drain energy brain trust for many years. Of the Board Members and let me welcome you. [applause] let me allow as i indicated bowman in new york but you find educators in many interesting places, and he serves on one of our subcommittee on energy which he will explain, and ive asked him toxp give us a provocative minute because he is traveling from place to place and when you go to the reentry please mention my name because thats usually where i go. We happen to be overlapping. Its one of my passions, so as you make your remarks away, please call out that im in total support of the work. I know youre insupportable we do here and would you welcome congressman jamal bowman from the great state of new york. [applause] good afternoon, everyone. So i will try my best to provide a provocative minute. Its an honor to be with you. Thank you so much, representative jackson lee for allowing me to say a few words. So i was blessed enough to win my election in 2020 and begin serving in congress in 2021. Of course three days later the with an insurrection and we had a few challenges there. But during my freshman trump i i serve as the chair of the Energy Subcommittee of e the science space and tech committee. The reason why i chose to be on that committee in particular is because i wanted to be at the table front and Center Writing legislation as relates to green clean sustainablela Renewable Energy for the future of not just america and around the world. Thats our mission. Our mission is 100 clean, green Renewable Energy and we have the human intellectual capacity to get it done. We just have to leverage it not just hereal but globally. Now, as an africanamerican, my connection to africa goes without saying but i will say it out loud here for everyone to know. I believe that i am raised and brought up in the black radical tradition. And i take very seriously the importance of africanamericans connecting to thenn continent of africa. We have to work with the ds press in order to respond to the historical oppression that is happen to our people the aspr both her and on the continent. I am crystalclear the wealth and infrastructure that has been built that we all live within today was built on genocide, enslavement, and colonization here and on the continent. And right now as i continue to learn because im not an expert yet on energy in africa, i want to learn with you and from you and want to plug in their so i can learn so much more, but what i read and what a heres quite disturbing to me. Because africaur is wealthy beyd measure in terms of its natural resources. N [applause] but africa needs to benefit from the wealth of its natural resources. [applause] and right now because of the infrastructure that is in place that i call white supremacy, others may call western africa has a benefit as much as it could. So how can i as the first African American member of congress in history of my districty plug into our brothers and sisters on the continent to do that work that represents whats on this shirt, which is decolonizing africa . [applause] and not just decolonizing the continent but decolonizing the minds and behaviors of us here in america. So, looking for to continue learning. Thank you for allowing me to say a few words. Sorry i am dressed and butter money a little bit late. My panel tomorrow, my panel is tomorrow. I will be in a suit i promise. God bless you all. I promise you. All right. Have a great day. God bless you. I love you cant. Cant wait to learn from you. [applause] thank you very much, congressman. Onma the floor of United Nations this week said the same thing. Africa biggest asset is its African People on the continent and here in america. Thank you very much for Congress Wins remarks and then going to lead you to the second panel. Thanknk you. Thank you. Good afternoon, everyone. Its a pleasure to bene here. Theresswoman, thank you for opportunity. I am the general manager of here in the u. S. We were actually founded in 2015 so we are what i consider a small and robust independent power producer, and we were founded in japan between tokyo electric and tubal tubo eh was a first and Third Largest Power Production in japan. And by combining those assets that is what jera americas. Accommodation of that we are now the first and largest producer. Her and transport of lng in the nation and in the world. But lng is not only are only thing that we do come were also in the renewable space advancing onto an offshore wind, across the world and here globally. We are doing solar, battery storage. Where doing tv innovation. But what im most excited about ev hedging and reading is innovation and the ammonia and hydrogen space. A lot of times when we think about energy, we are left with that of what weve been doing traditionally, and in the conversation of Energy Transition i think that that causes us and it should cause us to think about what we should be doing nontraditionally. And thatsra exactly what jera s doing. So were fortifying by natalie investing nationally butin internationally. I think thats where the conversation with africa comes in to play. I think when you look at history of japan, it is actually resource strapped. The fact that japan is resource strapped and jera has been able to make thead commitment to be Carbon Neutral i20 35 and 0 Carbon Neutral by 2050, it is something we can take two of the part the world that are resource strapped but as we all know, africas that resource strapped. Its just beenn resource raped. And so how do we take what we have been doing in other parts of the world by japan and make sure were ensuring best practices with our neighbors in africa . I look forward to the conversation. I look forward to learning and hearing from each of you about how we can look at this Energy Transition in a way that is not only fortifying what we are doing here in the u. S. But again, to our partners and friends in africa. Thank you very much. Next on the panel, we have vision tech with ms. Gibson. Hello. Hello. I am dr. Gibson. I am from earth by way of new orleans and chicago. My grandmother and great aunt worked on the manhattan project. I am a generational scientist following behind their footstep. My work is in minerals. That is why i was invited to this panel. My research has been Rare Earth Minerals specifically around the partnerships and possibilities with africa, i have visited maybe a fifth of the 53 nations in africa. The specifics of this work around what i do in my company which is equal tech visions, we focus on supply Chain Innovation, providence technology as it relates to supply Chain Innovation and then Drain Technology within that. Hydrogen, solar, some blue Tech Innovation supporting entrepreneurs who address some of the supply chain issues that exist there. As it relates to your question about disruptive solutions, i think there are about three things we could focus on and well talk about them further but the first is around the issue of refinement. So when you are looking to refine Rare Earth Minerals for any type of mining process, there is a lot of waste output, there is a lot of opportunity in the trash to treasure ecosystem. Whether that is around Carbon Sequestration that we could there is a lot of opportunity for entrepreneurs to play a role in that. Increasing commercialization is something i think my company has a specialty in. Getting access to the different rfqs. This allows Minority Companies to access the funding within the u. S. And in africa. I think there are a lot of opportunities that people dont know exist in the lot in a lot of the funding allocations. They are directed toward commercialization and technology. My alma mater, m. I. T. Has some of the best research and eventually provides free tech transfer for people to commercialize the technology that already exists. Most universities do but going with some of the best institutions, you can actually commercialize existing technology. You dont have to find your own innovation. Americans can and you can bring that to bear in other countries by africa, the countries in africa. I think one of the issues for shoring up the partnerships wanting to steer clear of what happened in south africa. It is big supply chain, it is just adding senses and different elements to the supply chain so that are actually producing can get some of the money for the different steps in the supply chain. Looking forward to talking more about that and with the federal government is looking to deal with commercialize some of that technology. Most of it exists in the block chain space. People are still unclear about the difference between the block chain and the ledger. The ledger is extremely valuable and can be utilized to solve a lot of these issues that we see in terms of getting products from point a to point b. Quick i want to say thank you, congresswoman. For being a leader and a champion for decades. Your leadership has helped advance our u. S. Policy and how it is gazing with africa and other countries around the world. I really want to pick up on some of the things you said in the opening remarks. I thought i would start with just taking a look at some of the realities today. When you look at the energy, we are Forecasting Global Energy Demand to grow in the next few decades. Think about this, that is the equivalent of adding another United States to the entire demand for human energy in the globe. The demand for the energy that they can produce will continuously increase. What we see is growing demand will still require us to be able to deliver affordable product and be reliable. Africa provides and produces more in the world. 40 of the Global Reserves for cobalt and platinum, these are just key ingredients for the technologies we will need in the future. They are going to create new export opportunities that dont exist today. This is for many africans and other businesses that want to do business with them around the world. The irony of all this is the congresswoman alluded to this. Africa is rich in resources. But in 2021, as of 2021, nearly 43 of africans that is about 600 Million People lack access to electricity. When at the same time we here in america are afforded the quality of life that has been enabled by the resources in africa. They dont even have it at home. As we talk about meeting the demands of tomorrow with the lower carbon footprint, we have to ensure that that transition to that lower carbon future brings everyone along including providing Affordable Clean Energy today. As we explore the question on how to facilitate a Energy Transition in africa, i think it is important to remember no one individual, Company Country or industry can do this alone. It really requires all of us working together to address the climate challenges and aspirations that you hear my colleagues and others talk about. And that is what we need to work on together. Whether or not is from d. C. To houston and the gulf coast to the Energy Capital and africa. We have to continue to design the policies that will allow us to be able to continue to be creative, have viable markets, create opportunities, create businesses that will be able to connect between our two continents that will bring the solutions to bear in the marketplace. As we think about adjust transition, as chevron, we believe there are three important things we should consider. First, Energy Investment must meet countries where they are. They have to establish a balanced Economic Prosperity and they have to allow congress to grow. This is a space where one size does not fit all. We have to have solutions that allow each economy to flourish. Not just the developed economies to flourish. Second, we must recognize that Many Solutions are needed to achieve progress to meet the needs of tomorrow. In this space, there are no silver bullets. You have heard from a few of my colleagues. We will need to address these challenges. To do that, we are going to have to have that collaboration between the private sector and the Public Sector to unlock this innovation. Third, we must recognize the enormous skill of the Global Energy system and a magnitude of the massive investment system will be required. You heard mention earlier by the congresswoman that nearly 300 billion will be needed to be able to even meet the needs of africa today and in reality there will be trillions of dollars required to be able to meet not only their needs but the growing images in the world. With that level of skill, and really requires collaboration to move our Energy System forward. As we embark on this journey, i think it is very important that we keep in mind that as we look to continue to evolve our Energy System, that we leave no one behind. We need to be solving the Energy Poverty today while we are trying to create an even better Energy System for tomorrow. With that, i thank you. The last but not the least is coming up. Good afternoon. We can do better than that. Good afternoon. I need to start with who we are. I am rough cleveland. I am the president and ceo for the American Association of black energy. We have been around since 1977 being the voice for the aspirations of africanamericans in the energy space. Being the voice for the most vulnerable in our community and i can tell you that Sheila Jackson lee has been a steadfast supporter of our organization and i just want to thank her for allowing me to be on the panel but for years of support for our community. We are 1700 members strong in 40 chapters around the United States in almost every sector and every activity within the Energy Sector. As such, we think we must click the congresswoman who walked in the room, she knows what we do. We need to greet her. She is coming from florida. Yes, she is. She is a member of the committee. And a member of the veterans committee. Thank you very much for coming here. Quest good afternoon, everyone. I am congresswoman she up. My subcommittee is something here in africa. It is a pleasure to be here today. The work we are doing today is what will change the trajectory of the United States his with africa. It is extremely poor that we are moving from innate perspective straight to a trade perspective. We are engaging africa more and more as a trade partner. It is even more of an honor to be here with representative Sheila Jackson lee who is more than a mentor. She has been leading the cdc in ways she has never seen before. There is no greater pleasure than to be here addressing you under Sheila Jackson lee. It is so important what we are doing here. As we see the emerging markets in africa, making sure that african nations have access to enter the market, competing equitably is the most important thing. I just want to address that. Thank you. Thank you very much, congresswoman. I apologize for interrupting you. I know how to do what i am told. As i was sharing, 1700 active members in our organization from every sector of the Energy Business and there is so much here today already from this very distinguished panel. There are a couple of things i want to add and then i want to tell you a personal story. In this Energy Transition, i will talk about trillions, they will need to be something spent in his Energy Sector, in this Global Economy 130 plus trillion dollars to make this Energy Transition and to meet the Climate Change goals. The question becomes where are we going to be in that transition . Are we going to have the necessary representation . Are we going to be at the table as the saying goes. If you are not at the table, you probably on the menu. We need to organize ourselves in order to make a difference. You have heard the call to action by congressman bowman. I will share a personal story. I have been to africa 89 times but i went to south africa, it was the first time. I traveled all over the world and i arrived in africa and the mayor greeted me in this way. He said we want to welcome you home. He says we have watched you here. We use when you do know that we have watched her struggle and we are so very proud of what you have accomplished. I wont tell you, it is hard for me not to get emotional. I had the opportunity to speak with the minister of minerals and energy, and he made this comment to me. He said, we have the richest gold mines in the world, we have the richest diamond mines in the world, but if i want to buy my wife a diamond ring, its imported. I want to think about that. Part of the challenge here is how do we get involved in such a way that we can open up these value chains to them. We can localize the value chains in africa. And that we can help them build their economy, based on the resources that they have. And that we can participate in that. Because let me just tell you, one of the things described is the Rare Earth Minerals that will be wired required for this new economy. The the fact that al described 40 of the reserves are in africa. So, the question becomes how do we help them move forward in such a way that they can build out the entire value chain as close to africa, and as close to those reserves as possible . Because i dont want the story to be the next time that i am in africa, that i am not doing something. This is the way i have described it. None of us should be satisfied until the peoples of africa are as rich and wealthy as the continent itself. We have a job to do. In the Energy Sector, we are, as africanamericans, as blacks, we make 650,000 jobs in the Energy Sector there. You cant tell me that we cannot organize ourselves to make a difference. The thing that i would share with you is that other countries russia, china has been mentioned already, building our infrastructure in africa. Doing what they can to get access these Rare Earth Minerals. The question becomes, how do we as the United States best position ourselves to have access . To participate . I would say to you that here in the u. S. , we hope something that russia, that china does not have. We have an African Diaspora. We are a strategic advantage to the United States. Our skills, our abilities, our ability to organize, our understanding of the ins and outs of the industry. We can make a difference. The question is, are we empowered . Are we organized . I just want to encourage all of you, first off, if you are in the Energy Sector and youre not a member, you need to come join us. If you never have been to one of our national conferences, you need to come. Because that is a place where you can connect, you can network, you can begin to organize. To make a difference. We cant do it by ourselves. None of you can do it by yourselves. We have to organize. So, as i leave you, as we continue this conversation, i just want you to know that i am personally committed that we as the American Association of blacks in energy, we have individual organizational membership, we can support you and your aspirations in this industry. We want to help make a difference, both home and in the diaspora, so with that i will turn it back to our moderator. [applause] thank you very much. I will turn it back to our moderator as well. Let me personally thank each and everyone that has made a presentation and has a different perspective. It is now for about 28 minutes, your time to engage on creative thinking. I think with congresswoman mccormick and congressman bowman and myself you have heard different streams of thinking. The main focus when we think of the overall response and your respective local jurisdiction, is how do we connect to the continent of africa and build an infrastructure over the pond, over the ocean, that benefits and drives opportunities for those of us in america. Houstonians, in particular, where you have come from, from one part of the nation to the next, and the various cities and rural villages on the continent. How do we generate jobs, thinking . Im so delighted to welcome a thirdgeneration scientist and Precious Minerals expert. That is the raw material that is in the drc. It is in zambia as well and other african countries. Let that not be a circumstance where it is not utilized and invested and used for the most sophisticated levels of advancement. I want to say this. I mentioned our friends in china, i want to make sure that any nation that comes to the continent comes for the betterment of the continent. That means United States, it means great britain, it means france, brazil, venezuela. I am just naming canada whatever place comes, the asiapacific. Whatever place comes, the islands, like singapore, nation. Whatever comes, i think africa is out of white in 2023 point in 2023 that the investment that comes must be for the betterment of the people and generations to come on this very, very laboring continent. Even though we have a concept of slavery coming across the ocean, i can assure you that africans on the continent labored. They are d and they argue the benefits of their centuries of laboring. And if we can bring some nexus to that, that is what i hope, small measure, year after year thatat we get out of this episo. Im going to yield to their exciting a provocative question by very exciting, provocative moderator. Thank you very much and thank you to all of you. If some people are in the midst of questions, they will know that ive already thank you very, veryy much. Thank you. Im going to contribute to the provocative. Unfortunately, we do not have anyone from you is covered here. I checked theed record yesterda. Since 2001 there was 21 billion of deals made specifically to power africa. Was 22 billion. So this december, the last year of the african summit, they were 57 bills specifically for power africa, prosper africa, 5 billion. Im curious how many africanAmerican Companies have been able to benefit from that . None of you . Not if you . Do you know . With carbon credit with all the commitment you made on Climate Change, interesting. So members of africa subcommittee should take note spitters is anyone familiar with power africa . So just give us your comments about, it does still exist. It is, it is a part of i think the u. S. Department of energy if im not mistaken. So give me why and give me what we need to do, give me something. I spoke to secretary granholm about this very thing, and the fact that throughout africa when you look atwh the amount of investment that is being made by the chinese and many of the colonizing nations, comparatively, americans have not made that level of investment in africa, though the money is there in many respects. But in startingt my company, whn i went to banks initially, it is all the money i raised my company and to start it i rad about 20 million, none of which was institutional money. But when he went to institution theyre very interested in my technology, very interested in what i was doing but i mentioned about investment in africa they lost interest. They stopped talking. Well, what do you want to invest here . What do you want to start here . And so i ran into that roadblock more often than not, which pretty much it drove be awaym the institutions, and decided to build into the private sector, to seek the funding that i needed to build those relationships. I built four plants. I got one in oregon right now. We are opening a new plant in youngstown, ohio, in two weeks that will generate 200,000 pounds of refrigerant and day. Our plant in oregon is to generate an Million Pounds per month. We have one in birmingham, alabama, before the end of the year, and mayor jackson lee we want to open one in houston. It is at the top of our list and ive been wanting to sit down and talked you about that. We need to run that through your platform and your plans for houston. Were ready to go. Without any help, sorry to say, from the government. Actually, the banking industry, the Public Sector has been a roadblock honestly for us going forward. I have depended very, very much on a private sector in very, very much on rains in family and those that are investors, those Angel Investors that helped lead in what were doing and what we can do in africa. So fortunate. Thank you. And to your. 1 of the things the way to doo because what you find and we seems in america where African Americans are disadvantaged accessing the Financial Institutions here thats even greater in countries like africa where people have a bank account, there dont have an established history. What we been able to do in number of locations is, now take for example, in nigeria and niger delta, Partnership Initiative that we started over a decade ago. Thats really how to go about putting funds and then bringing the committee together . Just at least provide framework and let them make some of those decisions without a lot of the bureaucracy and then say what are those right things we want for our community that builds t some of the infrastructure . And im proud to say, to share with you that something we soared start over a decade or so ago thatt in the recent legislation in nigeria they passed their most recent energy bill and theyve taken what we started in partnership with the community and that mandated it for all their Energy Projects to have this structure in place where a percent of the resource dollars go back into the committee, and the community is empowered to be able to make those decisions, get around some of the hurdles the other agencies wouldld put t there for these communities but its very difficult to meet the requirements. Then it becomes a barrier to them to continue to make progress. Two thinks. Let me interject for just a moment. Im not dealmaking, im collaborating. But al, jerome some work is free on, and then do know that chevron is one of the companies that started doing environmental work with a long time ago. So the questionn is, is this a discussion at least tous be hads one of the environmental components that this company that has now legitimized itself, as the product, would fall under chev runs footprint of the environment in particular on the cognitive africa . These are the kinds of discussions we want to have. Ill just tell you say that this is somethingll that you all coud engage in, had conversations or get more information about. Absolutely. Congresswoman, when you take a look at what jeromes company is doing, part of where our views weve got to have entrepreneurs like jerome and others to bring forth the solutions. The thing were able to do is bring entrepreneurial expertise and talent, and we have the ability to scale and helped actually get to where it needs in the marketplace in ways it hasnt before. Im quite interested especially when you talk about the carbon credits, in addition to the lower Carbon Intensity for. Thosee are things that dont worry, ill get it, i i would have your card. Were going to be able to type into that. Those are things which are hitting on, we have this in america, allow Companies Like us to be a means to be able to get past some of those barriers and look at being able to leverage her ingenuity ideas, and thats what we can be a resource. It gets back to what ralph said. A lot of it is a supply chain and value chain and how to get these Creative Solutions into them . So, therefore, they can actually start making a difference on the continent of africa. And at the same time that connectivity back to the africanamerican expertise and talent here that cannn bring foh these opportunities. Im going to get a live stream of talking. I want to finish my point. That means i wantwa you to creae jobs in africa and jobs in the United States. And then i want these good words that al has said to translate to his sister and Brother Companies because they can be more effective. Not recall the name of the state but we know who they are. They cangl overwhelmingly be effective. They had been africa for years. Their footprint is not as large ala sum of the countries that ae coming now with a huge takeover, because it do business in a different way. They givewa money. And we and the United States are not prone because of own regulatory scheme to be able to do that. T. But youve got to get the hearts and minds of the continent, because of who we are and how we create. I just want to get this last point off because i dont want to keep the ladies out. Are there any private equity people in the audience . Okay. So here is the angst, because theres an amazing private equity infrastructure in america. We are emerging into. Obviously, Companies Run by africanamericans have to be profitable. We are emerging. But what youve said is absolutely appalling but thats were private equity should step in. Thats were private equity has to have its own social justice arm. Because most people dont think to go to them because you dont know who they are. And they can be very effective, which is the way facebook became maga or mecca whatever it is called now, excuse me, whatever. Mehta, im sorry, take your money. [laughing] shielded and say, foundation didnt say, we all use that vehicle. But in any event, they started one with an idea in a harvard dorm butin the then had to e equity. And so weve got to break through places where we are not. And it is for me shameful to you said that what you said because, do they have any analytical skills to realize what i said at the beginning . Africa is going to be the largest continent, bar none. Bar none. They are going to the most people in the world. That means the most consumers in the world. Do you want them to be able to consume . Then you need to put them in a predicament or excuse me, a position to consume. The are no private equity bentleys are put on record and thats what our next up is. I am going to yield to the gentleman. Im going to build on whats been described here. It is already difficult for us as africanamericans to scale our business here. Citigroup did a study that showed that systemic racism costs our economy 1. 6 trillion aea year because our community s underserved from and access to capital standpoint. Less than 3 of all private equity, assets under management, is managed by women and minorities. We are in need of new intermediaries that no one community. Our i mean, you all know theres an opportunity, theres 1. 6 trillion 6 trillion on the table. So, therefore, as an Underserved Community that has tremendous potential for growthou and impat in our economy, that part of the issue here is that folks think this is aa zerosum game. If somebody is winning that mean some of the had to lose. Thats not the way the economy works. The way the economy works is opportunity for our Community Creates opportunity for every other community. Because as representative Sheila Jackson lee has described, that gives us new consumers. And so rising tide carries all ships are to question becomes, how do we help to create these new intermediaries who can tell our stories, who can invest in our businesses, who can, if youre sitting in the csuite, make some decisions to partner, to help scale and grow our companies to a different place . That becomes the issue. And are we, those of us that have the ability to articulate whats going on, are we going to Work Together to improve the system . And are we willing to put something on thein line to maket happen . Because how many of you all know, nobody is going to give it to us. We have to organize ourselves and go get it. Yeah, thank you. [applause] we also need to know that there is a onestop shop called prosper africa and the job is to collect information to communities. The one stop for Africa Trade Office is on to give information. So the diaspora front, Excellent Bank whose exports is goods and services, site m. O. U. Africa bank is also the African Import export finance branch, 500 million a city study t African Diaspora in the condo. They discredit about that half ago they put 2 billion into caribbean to create between trade. Those are avenues as well. We have less than 15 minutes left. I think im going to open the floor for q a. The gentlelady in green will give you the mic. Hello, everyone. Hello. My name is karen soros and time Program Director for the clean Energy Initiative for hbcu Community Development action coalition, hbcu seed act. I had the opportunity just last week, well, i just came back just last week from ghana. And what i tell you, it was a transformational experience, i mean that. My family is from kate berti islands, but inlaws. My fatherinlaw shared a story of how his sister passed away. I never got the opportunity to meet because there was not clean drinking water. And i and then the tech field that i was in the tech field back then animate a decision that there was something i could do in africa, in west africa, something. Im on a plain one day to the Canary Islands and i saw an article. It was a water Desalination Plant powered by wind turbines. I knew then i wanted to be in that space and do something i want to start an i. T. , Energy Institute in uptown charlotte, north carolina. I say all that to say this. We had a mission. We met with the university of ghana to talk about clean energy. Any question was asked, what has africa done for the world . My answer, africa feeds the entire world. What has the world done for africa with my answer, not much. Not enough. We met with sheets, locals, and i was overcome with meeting with a village, a town to core. Thats the most Vulnerable Community in africa, in ghana. In that community, question . Im sorry. My question is, so that theres an opportunity for us to make a difference in were all the debris from the Atlantic Ocean washes up in that town. Its a fishing town. They cannot fish. They have to import fish and they cannot fish because of the pollution. We are working on a project to change that pollution, that waste and energy. And my question is, will you work with me . Will you helpll me help them . When i say me, my organization. I would love, weve already asked cocacola whos interested. I want to aska you the same thing. Will you, we can make a difference right now, this era, turned his moment into t a movement. The answer is yes chevron is not saying thats a big well, the answer they are leaning yes. The answer is maybe a little more complicated, so the reason they arent fishing ten years ago when a i was living in ghana for a year is because ghana sold off all their waterways to china in orderer to fund the loans tht they had took 20 years before that from the ips and the world bank, that they were about to go defunct on. All those loans have clauses in it that dont allow them to buy equipment toeq actually do the means of production which is the second point brought up in my point before that andin to dance africa or the u. S. Even, because our funding from hud and or from the department of energy has the same typesho of clauses if youe wondering why we dont see factories springing appear in inner cities. Set because people dont have the ideas, the innovation, the passion, et cetera. Its because of the funding has specific requirements that dont allow the means of production, the equipment, plant building, real estate purchase, et cetera. So thats what happened in ghana. And as such when you have an unutilized resources, you dont, you waste it. It gets polluted. It gets ruined, et cetera. Where i think the problem lies and why were here and what the congressional caucus can do and what we all can do in terms of talking to our representatives is shift those policies, specifically the suggestion that i given my resource, the department of commerce job is to find us to do innovation abroad, right . If we want to a do innovation in africa, the department of commerce is funding grants in that. You take away the come on going to give you two to 5 million but you cant purchase a tractor with that kind of obligation. And then donna doesnt have to sell off all their waterways just to continue the traditional production that the you doing. And i think thats the issue. I would say domestically and abroad that doesnt get noticed when we are just looking at whats happening on the surface. It really is set into the loan documents, domestically and abroad, that you can that own the means of production. That is where the issue is. Central africa, west africa, south africa, where the resources are, the issue is about the financial paperwork and document and how its written and what it allows hud and entrepreneurs to be able to do. Right. [applause] let me build on the bit of this. I dont know camille ismi here, camille moore. Camille . Camille is our senior vp of external affairs for American Association of blacks in energy. Weve had meetings with the state department where we talked about we need to catalog in database these u. S. Africa opportunities and projects. And youve heard a really robust conversation here today just on this one issue that was brought up. What we need is to start cataloging these things and to pour into it what we know and understand. And so we intend to work with the state department to help but Something Like that in place. Weveha also got Lawrence Jones who is also head of International Progress for eei who heads up our international committee. And that we young lady isil francis who is heading up our International Programs as well. And so we want to make, we want to actually put things in place where we can organize ourselves. We can understand what the challenges are and come up with the kind of solutions that al and others have talked about. But we first have to catalog those opportunities and those projects i do want to sound like a tech nerd, but the blockchain is the best place to catalog those things because its complete transparency which is what weve been missing forever and its a distributive ledger where no one organization or institution o has control so it cant be manipulated, and its global i would say universal access so that they cant the manipulated. Those companies and projects are trying to do that and bring that transparency to the market. Angelle, please. Let me take you back to the hood, okay . Use all the trash on the ground in ghana . Everywhere. When it rains it goes down the channels into the ocean and comes back up onto the beach and back into theba hoods. I took members of the Golden State Warriors to ghana. We get basketball camps. But what we did in between each section of the basketball camps, we talked toid the kids, 600 ki. I asked how many of you know what Global Warming is . Not one raised their hand. How many of you know about the impacts of you throwing plastic on the ground . Nobody raised their hand. Survival. When you are focused on survival, it is very difficult for you to focus on conservation. All his folks appear must feel younger than me, i have been black 68 years. [laughter] what i have to say about 30 years ago, i never saw others outside of myself. I was we do conversations like this that were never any africanamericans sitting on the panel except when i came to the brain trust of congresswoman Sheila Jacksonlee, that was it. We who lived on the other side of the track, disproportionate impact and you want to find a railroad track, find a black neighborhood. The same thing happens over there. They dont understand what they can do to fix it because theyre just trying to survive. So, the key is education. Weve got to educate young people and thats why i love this panel. Finally, im able to over the years sit down with brothers and sisters like this and people that look like us, to come and say, hey, you know what . We can fix this thing. We can fix it. We can empower ourselves in the United States and make a difference in africa. But the biggest challenge, in been all over the places, its a major, major lack of education. Its not they dont care about the environment, they dont care about the plastic on the ground or they dont care about the trash, they care more about where theyre going to get their next meal from. Youve got a billion people in the world, two billion that cant get a clean glass of water right now. 850 million have never seen a light switch. Theyre focusing on survival. So we first have to educate. Educate, educate, educate. And i think congresswoman Sheila Jacksonlee who is so bright, shes become the glue that connects the dots and this is what has to happen. This type of interaction to where we recognize where the real problem lies and we address those problems through education and then be able to tap into the resources. I will say you should also a lot of times when we talk about the energy conversation, we forget water and i would be remiss if i didnt talk about the importance of water to the energy nexus and conversation. I think as youre doing your work, you should also connect with actual Water Utilities and actually look at some of the water laws, army corps would also be helpful in this. I just came from d. C. Water was my previous role, but there are several of billions of dollars poured into the water industry and the connection between water and energy. You spoke about waste of energy and thats something that energy water need and resource. So if you find a Water Utility thats doing work such as d. C. Water, right . And cleaning up the water ways, if you look at it cleaning up the waterways and new technology, thats a heavy as well. So, will let me, not of my own accord, not of my own desires, but there will be another completely different session in a few minutes. What im going to suggest with all the eloquence that is in this room, there will be opportunities for engaging our panelists outside the room, but right now im willing to let give you 30 seconds, but you cant tell stories, you need to do the question and then im going to yield the stories are vital and important and ive had the same thing said to me so dont take it personally, we all have a passion, but just to get you on the record of this event, of this energy brain trust, of this historic energy brain trust just to get you on the record and giving you seconds to say it so i can get through this line. And ive been in this chair as a speaker pro tem. Dont let me gavel you down. You need to get out what it is and move and then they might be able to make a comment or two. I see the gentleman looks like we go both sides so this gentleman here with the white shirt, youve got five seconds. Im going to hold the mic, im taking it over from the and i do want to i dont want to forget thanking shrina thomas who has given life to the brain trust thats now almost 30 years old. Every one of our sessions have been stupendous and her involvement made it more stupendous. Im brian morris, my question, congresswoman thank you for the panel. Are you keeping up with nigiers, and france is controlling a lot of the countries and not controlling the resources. Thank you, weve got you on the record. Yes, sir, and ill try to comment. My name is dr. Bill jackson. Im running Nonprofit Organization in english its all right. First of all, im hearing youre saying about africa. Please let me say this congresswoman, africa is a continent. Africa is know the a country. We are trying to compare africa like america. We have different issue in africa. Even your students when you present thesis, you cannot present and say africa. You need to choose one country. Even those people are looking money to sponsor one country. So problem of africa like example from kongo you want to tell me to invest in congo, my country at war and youre telling me okay, im coming to bring the development. I think that thank you, sir, youre on the record and i will answer that question, but one thing that i will say is, i know very well that africa is a continent. I will maybe try to expand while i use that terminology, but let me let you pursue that with afterwards, were on the record. Thank you, yes, sir. Weve got your point, well answer it. Thank you very much. I live and work in nigeria. Thank you for your experiences. Maam, the subject matter is as urgent, as important an emergency. The problem is how. The problem is africa is about leadership. If you dont seek leadership the cause tomorrow, you dont have a solution. Its about leadership. Yes, sir. Youre on the record. My country just a second, my country nigeria is passing through a terrible, terrible situation. Yes. America to help africa is to get the leadership in each of african countries correct. When you dont have leadership, leaders you bring in to them, they will not understand you and difficult for the real african from all of your efforts and struggle to bring thank you, my brother, ive yielded to you. Ive been to nigeria, i understand. Yes, sir, yes, maam quickly. Thank you, sir. I have it fully in my head and my heart. Yes. Hello i work with the world youth foundation. Welcome. Good to see you all, but you must speak quickly. My question, how can us youth begin to follow in you guys footsteps and us youth begin to help with the Global Climate crisis. Thank you very much. Youre back again . Well, you laughter my name is junior. I know youre not the gentleman with the black shirt, i thought you might have been in another meeting, but go ahead. Thank you, maam. My name is junior, let me just read my question. We need to work with you. Yes, please. So china offer construction to africa. Russia offer military defense to africa. What america offer to africa, a big question mark and read it here and what is agree with you that america has something that china and russia doesnt have, its African Diaspora. Today if you offer american visa or china visa to africa young, you would choose in america. How would you invest in africa without the diaspora. Thank you. I didnt finish. Yes, maam. Let me get this young lady and we may get to your last come on, sweetie, go ahead. Im jordan and i work with the foundation. And i had a question because like you said we could use what we know to pour into the issues, i dont know much about environmental change, Global Warming and green energy and wondering what resources you would recommend. Thank you, you had a last question . I think today the solution of america is what is our big brother here is bringing, carbon bank credits. Thats the thank you, next, come on. Youre right, youre absolutely right. Yes, sir. Im bryce everheart with world youth foundation. How are you guys serving as intermediary to help serve the future which is the future youre talking about. How are you helping our future in general. Are you all taking mental notes . Thank you, young man, appreciate it, young man in the white. Im university senior, in congo my country of origin. I wanted the theres open ground in congo, went there myself. Sugar cane, you could make sugar and send it to different provinces, is there any invests here in the room that would like to go to congo and invest, there are people willing to work, come ready and weve receive you with open hands because we have influence from countries i would rather not mention here, but this is not an influence were welcome with, because near to us and heard about things in the past and the american system is the system weve been used to in the past and worked with in the past. We need to take some steps forward. And make sure to interface with them after the session is over. Thank you, sir. And youre saying sugar cane, correct . All right, thank you. Pardon . Sugar cane and for construction. Thank you. Okay. Ive been given by my very effective arm so there are how many people standing back there . Three. Three. Youre going to pick amongst you who is going to ask the question and maybe you can give her a bit of what youre saying. Youre being a gentleman, sir . He said hes yielding . Yes. Oh, okay. Lets go you with the go ahead youve got the mic in your hand, speak quickly. Yes, yes, yes. So im also from congo and i work with a lot of congo startup, eastern congo and i see how so Many Companies talk about being clean and green, but they do contribute to a lot of Human Rights Violations so i want to know what you all are doing to make sure that that doesnt happen. And youre talking drc. Yeah, drc. Give this lady one last second after question. Hi, everybody. My question, im from congo drc, too. My question i would like to ask to you as important as the issue of energy is my country provides over 70 to the Global Supply for the Clean Initiative and many of the mining of cobalt are women who women and children who labor and enslaved labor conditions. In the mines . In the cobalt mines . Yes. Okay. I think weve got my sisters look to you to bring light to their plight. Thank you. I dont know who is left in the to get her information because thats a congressional matter. Can you go over there and give your information over . Okay, sir, you yielded to someone. I have once again, just one, just recommend the panel to read this article from stevens. Why washington must not allow a not stolen election in congo. Thank you, sir, thats happening across the world. I am going to yield. I want to get i want to make sure that i im going to yield to the moderator to finish, but let me thank dr. Mundy, al williams, let me thanks ralph cleveland, excellent job. Jerome ringo, and did i leave someone out . Dr. Pandwe. Dr. Pandwe gibson. They were stupendous. Give them rousing applause, please. There are people going to move us off the stage, but if you can capture, please, if you could kind of capture the young peoples questions, if you can capture the capital issue and i will make one point to the gentleman, please know that all of us know that the continent of africa is comprised of at least 53 nations. We know this. Please know that we did not say the nation of africa. The concept of this is for us to confront africas huge growth and economic potential and we will be left to in the gentleman when al spoke, he indicated he was in the nigerian delta. The questions regarding nigiers, ive been to that is your rounding area and i know the crisis. They are francophone countries and in congress were trying to deal with that i have to say. The question of leadership, difficult to the United States on the ground and deal with change in leadership, but we can get involved with the people from the perspective of business, research, development, education, nobody can block us from doing that and weve been ineffective in that doing that and weve done that 50 years ago, we would be raising up the kind of leaders in africa that would now be the heads of state. So were late, but were ready and i will yield to you to try to grab up those and i see people coming in and let us finish so they can join on their efforts. Thank you. Thank you so very much. Stupendous. You all go ahead. [inaudible conversations] i can answer a couple of things. For the youth, i specifically spoke about refinement opportunities so you can reach out to local universities for tech transfer offices. Mit has one, georgia tech has one, theres a lot of offices where you can actually pick up technology. The question about where do you find out information, there are Significant Research journals. Mit has the sustainability initiative, its the top one in the nation, in the world possibly. Most Sustainable Research is national and read about it through international journals. The paris accord, just google and read those main sources to find out. If youre interested in entrepreneurship tech transfer dont start anything from scratch. Take innovation that already exists and then build on it. So, we have, as i described, 40 different chapters around the United States. We have a chapter here in d. C. That i would encourage you to get involved with. They are more than glad to mentor you, to lift you up, to encourage you, to empower you, to inspire you. All right. Thank you. [applause] im the vicepresident of political strategy at crooked media, but i also oh, my goodness. I also had theti