Secretary Wright Joins a Fireside Chat at The Powering Africa Summit - March 19, 2026

Why It Matters

Accelerating clean‑cooking and grid access in Africa unlocks a massive market, reduces poverty, and aligns U.S. strategic interests with climate and economic development goals.

Key Takeaways

• Clean cooking fuels are top priority for energy poverty reduction
• Logistics, regulation, and entrepreneurship drive clean cooking adoption
• Mission 300 delivered 44 million new energy connections since 2024
• Public‑private‑philanthropy partnerships unlock capital for African energy projects
• DOE labs and renewables can power remote African communities

Summary

Secretary Wright used the Powering Africa Summit fireside chat to spotlight the United States’ commitment to ending energy poverty, emphasizing clean‑cooking fuels as the most cost‑effective lever for rapid uplift.

She traced her personal motivation to a childhood encounter with homelessness, then outlined how logistics, streamlined regulations, and a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem are essential to scale clean‑cooking solutions across the continent. Wright highlighted the Mission 300 initiative, which has already added 44 million new electricity connections since its 2024 launch, and stressed that similar policy reforms can unlock private capital.

Wright praised the Rockefeller Foundation, Global Energy Alliance, and DOE labs for pioneering public‑private‑philanthropy models that have attracted over $100 million in funding. She warned against over‑regulation, citing U.S. examples where premature coal‑plant closures raised prices and risked blackouts, and advocated for pragmatic energy mixes—solar, geothermal, and even transitional diesel or LNG—to serve remote African villages.

The discussion signals a strategic shift: U.S. policy will prioritize African clean‑cooking and grid expansion, creating investment opportunities for businesses while demanding African governments adopt transparent, business‑friendly reforms. Successful scaling could transform millions of households, accelerate climate goals, and deepen trans‑Atlantic energy partnerships.