Committee Discusses Fossil Energy R&D Priorities
(Washington, DC) – Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Energy Subcommittee held a hearing to examine the research and development activities of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE). FE’s research focuses on reducing the environmental impacts of fossil fuel extraction and utilization. Testifying before the Committee was the Honorable Chris Smith, Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy.
Ranking Member Alan Grayson (D-FL) of the Subcommittee on Energy said in his opening statement, “Nearly every activity within the Office of Fossil Energy is focused on climate disruption in one form or another, and how that’s brought about by fossil energy. I commend you for focusing on that—for focusing on matters of environmental mitigation.”
He went on to say, “In order to deliver on emission reduction targets agreed to in the Paris Climate Agreement and in the future, carbon capture technology may well be needed in the U.S. as well as around the world, particularly in developing countries that rely heavily on coal.”
Democratic Members discussed the importance of capturing, sequestering, and reducing CO2 emissions. Members also raised concerns about the Department of Energy’s proposed cuts to various research programs within the Office of Fossil Energy and the office’s recent decision to withdraw support for the Texas Clean Energy Project (TCEP) in the FY 2017 budget request.
Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said, “We can’t bury our heads in the sand if we’re serious about tackling climate change. We can’t just focus on developing one set of energy sources, as promising as they are. We need to do it all.
“This is why I was so excited about the announcement of Mission Innovation, a commitment that the President and leaders from 19 other nations made to double their government-supported clean energy R&D investments over the next five years.
“And yet, just a few months after Mission Innovation was announced, the Department proposed large cuts to or the outright elimination of a number of worthwhile programs carried out by Assistant Secretary Smith’s Office, with little justification for those cuts provided in the budget request. All of these programs aim to make fossil energy systems cleaner and more efficient, which is consistent with the goals of Mission Innovation.”
Related Content
Next Article Previous Article