February 27, 2012 - IMM@BUCT

ENERGY: MORE DOLLARS
FOR CLEAN AND
RENEWABLE ENERGY R&D
For 2013, the President has proposed a Department
of Energy budget of $27.2 billion, a
3.2% increase over the 2012 appropriation.
As Energy Secretary Steven
Chu rolled out the proposal,
he underscored familiar themes:
6.6%
a focus on clean and renewable energy R&D,
support for domestic energy-related manufacturing,
a drive to ensure U.S. leadership in
the international energy technology marketplace,
and the creation of more U.S. jobs.
The department seeks $10.3 billion for
overall R&D funding, a 6.6% jump over
last year. The biggest share would go to the
Office of Science, which would get $5.0 billion,
2.4% more than in fiscal 2012. The Basic
Energy Sciences program, which funds
much chemical science, would get the largest
funding boost, 6.6% to $1.8 billion.
Another program of key interest to chemistry
is the Advanced Research Projects
Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), which would get a
27.3% increase to $350 million under the proposed
budget. ARPA-E supports risky, highpotential
R&D projects. In less than three
years, it has funded 180 projects. While Congress
supports ARPA-E, the levels it has appropriated
have been far below those sought
by the Administration. Last year, DOE proposed
a budget of $600 million for ARPA-E,
but Congress gave it only $275 million.
DOE’s second-biggest energy research
area is the Office of Energy Efficiency &
Renewable Energy. It would get $1.9 billion
in funding, a 28.6% increase from last
year. Vehicle R&D technologies—such
as advanced batteries, improved electric
recharge capabilities, lightweight materials,
and efficient internal combustion
engines—would get $420 million, 24.2%
more than last year. Efficiency research to
support advanced building technologies
would receive a 41.4% funding increase to
$310 million. Funding would jump 7.3%
to $310 million for solar energy R&D and
35.5% to $270 million for biomass and biorefinery
R&D. The budget for wind energy
R&D would remain flat at $95 million.
In presenting the 2013 budget, Chu cited
wind as a DOE success story, noting that
the agency will shift research focus from
onshore to offshore wind energy. Onshore
wind energy is now a mature technology
and competitive with other new electricity
sources, he said, whereas offshore wind
energy is just getting started in the U.S.
Nuclear energy faces cuts in this budget.
The science component would drop 16.5%
to $314 million and overall funding of the
Office of Nuclear Energy would be cut
10.3% to $770 million. Buried in the funds
is some $60 million, Chu said, set aside for
R&D to support recommendations of the
Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear
Future (C&EN, Feb. 13, page 33). The
Rediscover Your Passion
Rediscover Restek
funds would be used to help evaluate and
consolidate radioactive waste currently
stored at some 10 closed reactor sites, one
of the commission’s recommendations.
Chu’s proposed cuts notwithstanding,
Congress historically has looked favorably
on nuclear energy research, as well as fossil
energy research, and has restored funding.
For fossil energy R&D, the Administra-
You care about making a difference.
Whether your work helps protect clean waterways, ensure food
safety, or develop life-saving drugs, it doesn’t just generate a paycheck;
it improves lives. Because so much depends on your data, you
need tools that deliver definitive results and consistent performance.
We specialize in innovative, high-quality chromatography products
and support them with expert technical service, so you have the tools
you need to rediscover your passion and create a better world.
Want to learn more about how
Restek products can help you
make a difference?
Sign up to receive free
literature in your area at
www.restek.com/rediscover
WWW.CEN-ONLINE.ORG 43 FEBRUARY 27, 2012