Images de page
PDF
ePub

་་ ་་ བ་་

Funding for Solar Energy Research

Question: Funding for solar energy programs in FY 1985 is reduced by approximately $18 million under last year's request. As you know, research and development efforts usually require long-term planning and the benefits to be derived from research today cannot be possibly responsive to tomorrow's crises. In order to plan for future interruptions in oil supplies, we must insure that our search for alternate sources has proven successful and we must have available the kinds of technology information which we know is ready for commercialization. Just because we are experiencing a period of price stability and oil availability, we should not curtail our efforts to advance our domestic efforts. Does the Department's proposed reduction in solar research represent a short-sighted Federal policy that will increase the likelihood of negative consequences of future fuel shortages if the flow of imported oil is interrupted? Why shouldn't the Federal Government continue to assist the private sector to the maximum extent possible until this potential renewable energy source is commercially viable?

[ocr errors]

Answer: The FY 1985 budget request for solar energy represents a professional judgement on our part as to the level of funding required to sustain the scientific and technical momentum established to date by industry and federal research community. Further, funding of these technologies supports the energy policy objective, as articulated within the Fourth National Energy Policy Plan, of conducting research and development of a number of potentially promising energy supply alternatives to a point where informed private sector decisions can be made regarding the viability of these technologies.

The FY 1985 Solar Energy budget request reflects a strengthening, not a reduction, of support for a long term research and development program. The Department completed full funding of a number of important activities in FY 1984 and has a legitimate requirement for reduced funding in a number of other areas. For instance, funding requirements for test and evaluation of the Barstow facility have dropped from $7.5 million in FY 1984 to $4.5 million in FY 1985, entirely in keeping with a long-standing analysis plan for this project. The FY 1985 Solar Energy budget proposal represents a sound commitment to a stable research program. While individual topics may receive decreased or increased emphasis within the DOE request, several important new initiatives are reflected with Department's Solar Energy proposal illustrating our further commitment in maintaining momentum for these technologies as a whole.

Especially important within the FY 1985 budget request is the increased emphasis upon technology transfer. The Department through these activities seeks to gain additional insights into industrial research priorities early in the federal planning process, and improve upon an already effective technical information program in order to better provide timely knowledge to interested parties in a form responsive to their specific needs.

DOE will also continue to work with the private sector whenever possible on cooperative, mutually beneficial research. As solar energy technologies advance as a result of both private and public research, industry can be expected to increase its investment in technology development and commercialization.

MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

STATEMENT OF MARTHA O. HESSE, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

Senator JOHNSTON. Next, we have Martha O. Hesse, Assistant Secretary for Management and Administration.

Ms. Hesse.

MS. HESSE. Thank you, Senator.

The Secretary and I have a tradition of joint appearances and there is a pattern starting with our confirmation hearings which you participated in. The Secretary engaged in about 3 or 4 hours of very lively questioning and debate and then he finished and left. It was then my turn and there was not a single question, so we will see how today goes.

I am the spokesman today for the departmental administration appropriation which includes most of the managerial and support service activities of the Department. At this time, with your permission, I would like to submit for the record my prepared statement as well as the six remaining segments of this appropriation.

Senator JOHNSTON. Yes. [The statements follow:]

[blocks in formation]

STATEMENT OF MARTHA O. HESSE, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR MANAGEMENT
AND ADMINISTRATION

Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee:

I am Martha 0. Hesse, Assistant Secretary, Management and Administration, of the Department of Energy. I appreciate the opportunity to appear before you today in support of the FY 1985 budget request for the Departmental Administration Appropriation, and Technical Information Services and InHouse Energy Management requested in the Energy Supply Research and Development Appropriation.

The total fiscal year 1985 request for these activities is $178.0 million. This includes $143.4 million for salary and related expenses, $134.3 million for support services, $24.0 million for In-House Energy Management and $15.4 million for Technical Information Services. Also included is $115.7 million for the Cost of Work for Others Program, $219.4 million in revenues resulting from this work and a $29.0 million deferral which will be used to offset our FY 1985 request. The overall budget request for these activities reflects $9.7 million in savings resulting from Management Reform Initiatives. Of this amount, $6.4 million consists of savings to be realized from deobligations and initiatives begun in 1984 which offset our FY 1985 request. The remaining $3.3 million in savings are included as offsets in the FY 1985 budget requests for the various organizations within Departmental Administration and the Technical Information Management Program. This request fully supports the goals and strategies as set forth in the National Energy Policy Plan.

My testimony on Departmental Administration will cover Management and Administration, the Office of the Secretary, five multi-purpose Operations Offices, and the financial accounts of Cost of Work for Others and Miscellaneous Revenues. Under the Energy Supply Research and Development Appropriation I will discuss the In-House Energy Management Program, Technical Information Services, and Plant Engineering and Design. Although I have given you the total funding levels requested for Departmental Administration, separate statements detailing the requests of the remaining six major organizations under the Departmental Administration Appropriation will be submitted for inclusion in the record. These organizations include General Counsel;

Inspector General; the Office of Minority Economic Impact; the Assistant
Secretary for Policy, Safety and Environment; the Assistant Secretary for
Congressional, Intergovernmental and Public Affairs; and the Assistant
Secretary for International Affairs and Energy Emergencies.

MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

Management and Administration (MA) provides the essential management and institutional systems and services necessary to support the Department's programs and missions. A major goal of Management and Administration continues to be the identification and elimination of waste and costly administrative overhead, while promoting increased efficiency and effectiveness in management, administrative and financial support systems and services.

The FY 1985 request for Management and Administration includes funding for employee salaries, benefits and travel for the Procurement and Assistance Management Directorate, the Office of the Controller, and the Office of Administration. The request also includes support service costs for Headquarters employees. Of the $134.2 million requested in FY 1985, $44.9 million is for salaries and benefits for 1,110 full-time equivalents and $2.0 million for related travel. The support services request of $87.3 million provides for Headquarters space rental, supplies, transportation, communications, printing and security, and purchase of capital equipment. This budget request reflects $0.9 million in savings resulting from Management Reform Initiatives in the areas of administrative organization management, travel management and printing and publications.

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

The request for the Office of the Secretary includes $1.6 million for salaries, related expenses and travel costs to support 31 full-time equivalents.

OPERATIONS OFFICES

Five of the eight Operations Offices are multi-purpose and are therefore funded within Departmental Administration Appropriation. Of the $90.1 million requested in FY 1985, $63.7 million is for salaries and benefits for 1,624 full-time equivalents; $2.1 million for travel expenses; and $24.3 million for space rental, utilities, supplies, transportation, communications, related support services and capital equipment.

« PrécédentContinuer »