The Department of Energy (DOE) is a cabinet-level department of the United States Government that is concerned with the nation’s energy policy, including nuclear power and renewable energy. Its goals are to ensure access to reliable and affordable energy, promote American competitiveness in clean energy technologies, and support the transition to a low-carbon economy. The DOE was created in 1974 by combining the Federal Energy Administration, the Energy Research and Development Administration, and the Federal Power Commission.
The DOE’s responsibilities include:
• Advancing America’s nuclear security through science and technology
• Leading international scientific efforts to understand global climate change and its impacts on American communities
• Ensuring the safety, security, health, environmental cleanup of America’s nuclear weapons stockpile
• Managing America’s strategic petroleum reserve
• Promoting efficient use of American energy resources through research & development, voluntary programs, standards & appliance efficiency certifications
• overseeing uranium enrichment activities at USEC Inc.
• administering loan guarantees for innovative clean energy technologies under section 1703 of Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005
The Department of Energy has an annual budget of $32.5 billion USD and employs over 100,000 people across more than 200 facilities nationwide.