Engine No. 1 LLC is a San Francisco-based investment firm founded in 2020 by Christopher James. The firm pursues an "active ownership" strategy, collaborating with company management to drive long-term value, with a focus on reindustrializing the United States through investments in innovation, decarbonization, and supply chain relocalization.
It gained prominence in 2021 for its successful activist campaign at ExxonMobil, securing three board seats with just a 0.02% stake to push for improved climate strategies and returns in the energy sector. The firm manages around $430 million in assets and invests across energy, agribusiness, and related areas, including stakes in ExxonMobil, Occidental Petroleum, and Bunge Limited.
Recent activities include partnerships in power generation, such as a 2025 joint venture with Chevron and GE Vernova for natural gas-powered plants serving U.S. data centers, and an exclusivity agreement with Chevron and Microsoft for behind-the-meter electricity supply to support AI infrastructure.
