Message from the Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu:

Today, our nation is at a cross road. While we have the world’s greatest innovation machine, countries around the world are moving aggressively to lead in the clean energy economy. We can either lead in the development of the clean energy economy or we can stand back and wait for others to move first toward a sustainable energy future.

For the sake of our economic prosperity and our national security, we must lead. The Department of Energy (DoE) plays a central role in that effort by unleashing technological innovation, which can create new jobs and industries while building a cleaner, more efficient, and more competitive economy.

During this time of hard budget choices and fiscal challenge, we must ensure that our work is impactful and efficient. The question we face is: “How should the Department choose among the many technically viable activities it could pursue?” This first Quadrennial technology review (QTR), launched at the recommendation of the President’s council of advisors on science and technology, lays out the principles I believe must guide these difficult choices.

Traditionally, the Department’s energy strategy has been organized along individual program lines and based on annual budgets. With this QTR, we bind together multiple energy technologies, as well as multiple DoE energy technology programs, in the common purpose of solving our energy challenges. In addition, the QTR provides a multi-year framework for our planning. Energy investments are multi-year, multi-decade investments. given this time horizon, we need to take a longer view.

We also recognize that the Department is not the sole agent of energy transformation. Our efforts must be well coordinated with other federal agencies, state and local governments, and with the private sector, who are the major owners, operators, and investors of the energy system.

This Report specifically places our efforts in a multi-agency policy framework. While the Department’s QTR is not by itself an integrated federal energy policy, I believe it is the necessary first step of a multi-agency Quadrennial Energy Review that could dramatically improve the integration and effectiveness of the government’s energy policy.

Finally, I would like to commend and thank Under Secretary for Science Steven Koonin for leading this inaugural review. He and his dedicated team sought advice from hundreds of energy stakeholders; engaged experts from academia, industry, and national laboratories; and consulted with our agency counterparts from across the government. as part of the Obama administration’s commitment to open government, the Review was conducted transparently and inclusively. It establishes a firm foundation upon which we can make significant progress in addressing our Nation’s energy challenges.

The stakes are high for our country, and I am optimistic that we can still lead the world in technological innovation. the Qtr will help ensure that we make thoughtful, wise investments to achieve our national energy goals and to strengthen our economic competitiveness in the 21st century.