The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is responsible for energy policy and nuclear safety. Its responsibilities include the nation's nuclear weapons program, nuclear reactor production for the United States Navy, energy conservation, energy-related research, radioactive waste disposal, and domestic energy production. DOE also sponsors more basic and applied scientific research than any other US federal agency; most of this is funded through its system of United States Department of Energy National Laboratories.


Funding Highlights:

• Begins to build a new economy that is powered by clean and secure energy through funding provided in the 2010 Budget and the $39 billion provided for energy programs in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
• Provides significant increases in funding for basic research and world-leading scientific user facilities to support transformational discoveries and accelerate solutions to our Nation's most pressing problems - including the development of clean energy.
• Supports economic investment and positions the United States as the world leader in climate change technology.
• Accelerates the transition to a low-carbon economy through increased support of the development and deployment of clean energy technologies such as solar, biomass, geothermal, wind, and low-carbon emission coal power.
• Builds on the $11 billion provided in the Recovery Act for smart grid technologies, transmission system expansion and upgrades, and other investments to modernize and enhance the electric transmission infrastructure to improve energy efficiency and reliability.
• Supports and encourages the early commercial deployment of innovative, clean energy technologies through loan guarantees.
• Reduces security risks through the detection, elimination, and securing of nuclear material and radiological sources worldwide while maintaining the safety, security, and reliability of the nuclear weapons stockpile.
• Continues the Nation's efforts to reduce environmental risks and safely manage nuclear materials.

Invests in the Sciences

As part of the President's plan to double Federal investment in the basic sciences, the 2010 Budget, along with the $1.6 billion provided in the recovery Act for the Department of Energy's basic science programs, provides substantially increased support for the Office of Science. The Budget increases funding for improving our understanding of climate science and continues the United States' commitment to international science and energy experiments. The Budget also expands graduate fellowship programs that will train students in critical energy-related fields.

Encourages the Early Commercial use of New, innovative Energy Technologies that Will Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The Budget supports loan guarantees for innovative energy technologies including renewable energy projects, transmission projects, and carbon sequestration projects that avoid, reduce, or sequester air pollutants and greenhouse gases while simultaneously creating green jobs and contributing to long-term economic growth and international competitiveness.

Advances the development of Low-Carbon Coal Technologies

The Budget supports Carbon Capture and Storage technology, and along with the $3.4 billion provided in the recovery Act for low-carbon emission coal power and industrial projects, these funds will help allow the use of our extensive domestic coal resource while reducing the impacts on climate change.

Invests in Clean Energy Technologies to Reduce dependence on foreign Oil and Accelerate the Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy

The Budget provides support for accelerating research, development, demonstration, deployment, and commercialization of clean energy technologies, including biofuels, renewable energy, and energy efficiency projects. These investments will reduce dependence on foreign oil and create long-term, sustainable economic growth in the green industries of the future.

Reduces Proliferation Risks and Ensures the Safety, Security, and Reliability of the Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Without Nuclear Testing

The Budget supports increased efforts to secure and dispose of nuclear material and invests in innovative science and technology to detect and deter nuclear smuggling and the development of weapons of mass destruction programs. Development work on the reliable replacement Warhead will cease, while continued work to improve the nuclear stockpile's safety, security, and reliability is enhanced with more expansive life extension programs.

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