While Congress debates incremental changes to our energy policy, China is racing to secure perhaps the most transformative energy technology since nuclear power: the ability to beam limitless solar energy from space to Earth. Unless America acts soon, we may find ourselves buying this game-changing capability from Beijing rather than developing it for ourselves.

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David Steitz served as NASA’s Deputy Associate Administrator for Technology, Policy and Strategy and as the agency’s Deputy Chief Technologist, retiring in 2022. Steitz now works as a technology policy and strategic communications consultant in Washington.