Say Anything Blog

I actually got the idea to make this post from an email I received this morning. The email asked if I knew the reason the DOE was established. SO I went and investigated. Only to find another depressing fact of incompetence by our Government. If the DOE had done their job, it would have gone a long way to improving everyone’s live in the U.S. But, that is not how our Government works. A department is established to insure jobs and grow Government. Such as the Department of Homeland Security. Anyway, here is some facts about the DOE that I thought were interesting.

November 7, 1973
President Nixon launches Project Independence, with the goal of achieving energy self-sufficiency by 1980. Recalling the Manhattan Project, Nixon declares that American science, technology, and industry can free the United States from dependence on foreign oil….

October 11, 1974
President Ford signs the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974. The Atomic Energy Commission is abolished. The Energy Research and Development Administration, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and Energy Resources Council are established….

April 18, 1977
President Carter announces National Energy Plan in his first major energy speech. His plan calls for the establishment of an energy department.

August 4, 1977
President Carter signs the Department of Energy Organization Act. The Federal Energy Administration and Energy Research and Development Administration are abolished….
President Carter signs the National Energy Act, which includes the National Energy Conservation Policy Act, the Power Plant and Industrial Fuel Use Act, the Public Utilities Regulatory Policy Act, the Energy Tax Act, and the Natural Gas Policy Act…..

So, the DOE has been around for over 30 years. Outside of spending most of their time and budget on Nuclear waste and the super-conductor, what have they done to make this Country self-sufficient when it comes to energy. But they did get those taxes and regulations in real fast. Another example of the Government missing a real opportunity to make the US a stronger and safer Country. The timeline that I copied this information from is at http://www.energy.gov/about/timeline1971-1980.htm It covers the years 1939 - 2004.