PCAP - Presidential Climate Action Project

Direct DOE to develop a registry of energy technologies that should be given highestpriority in national policy because they reduce vulnerability to terrorist attack on USinfrastructure and energy supplies. Use the registry to support a request to Congressto give priority funding to these technologies.B-3The President should direct the U.S. Department of Energy to develop a registry of energytechnologies that should be given highest priority in national energy policy because they reducevulnerability to terrorist attack. The President should propose to Congress that it give specialconsideration in appropriations to technologies on the registry. PCAP Report 4:7.Background. A registry is basically a formal list or record. Thus, this proposal is a request forthe DOE to compile and provide information in a particular form and maintain this information,keeping it up-to-date.Statutes. The DOE is the primary agency for implementing energy plans and programsincluding those that develop and deploy energy technologies. 129 Some examples include:establishing the innovative environmental technology transfer program; 130 chairing theCommittee on Climate Change Technology, 131 overseeing nuclear energy research anddevelopment programs, 132 and substantial authority under the Energy Independence and SecurityAct in overseeing research and development into other alternative energy technologies. 133 Thisproposal falls within the mission of the DOE. 134 Further, the DOE is already under statutoryobligations to compile and report on similar or related information, for example, the content ofthe least cost energy strategy, 135 a list of eligible technologies under the innovativeenvironmental technology transfer program; 136 information collected for the biofuels andbiorefinery information center, etc. 137The President has a substantial role in planning energy policy, see e.g., Chapter II, and has acentral role in maintaining national security. This proposal goes to both energy planning andnational security.In addition to the protection of the health and welfare, this proposal furthers the purposes ofstatutes that address energy security issues; for example, the President is required to submit to129 See, e.g., 42 U.S.C. Chapter 84, Department of Energy.130 42 U.S.C. § 13387.131 Id. at § 13389(b).132 Id. at §§ 16271-16277.133 Pub. L. No. 110-140 (Dec. 19, 2007).134 See, 42 U.S.C. § 7112 (purpose of Department).135 Id. at § 13382 (b).136 Id. at. § 13387(h).137 Id. at § 17033.CEES 32 | P age