Energy Research at DOE

In legislation appropriating funds for DOE's fiscal year (FY) 2000 energy R&D budget, the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee directed an evaluation of the benefits that have accrued to the nation from the R&D conducted since 1978 in DOE's energy efficiency and fossil energy programs. In response to the congressional charge, the National Research Council formed the Committee on Benefits of DOE R&D on Energy Efficiency and Fossil Energy. From its inception, DOE's energy R&D program has been the subject of many outside evaluations. The present evaluation asks whether the benefits of the program have justified the considerable expenditure of public funds since DOE's formation in 1977, and, unlike earlier evaluations, it takes a comprehensive look at the actual outcomes of DOE's research over two decades. Table of Contents Front Matter Executive Summary 1 Introduction 2 Framework for the Study 3 Evaluation of the Energy Efficiency Programs 4 Evaluation of the Fossil Energy Programs 5 Overall Findings and Recommendations Appendix A: Biographical Sketches of Committee Members Appendix B: Presentations and Committee Activities Appendix C: Bibliography Relevant to DOE R&D Policy, Congressional Mandates, R&D Results, and Evaluations Appendix D: Measuring the Benefits and Costs of the Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Fossil Energy R&D Programs Appendix E: Case Studies for the Energy Efficiency Program Appendix F: Case Studies for the Fossil Energy Program Appendix G: Glossary Appendix H: Acronyms and Abbreviations