Columbia International Affairs Online: Working Papers

CIAO DATE: 09/2014

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: Reorganizing for Results

September 2004

The National Academy of Public Administration

Abstract

Of the Department of Energy’s $23 billion budget, the $1.3 billion allocated to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) offers important opportunities to assist in resolving one of the major issues facing the Nation today—the need for sources of clean, reliable, efficient, secure and affordable energy.

EERE’s programs—which include advanced hydrogen fuel concepts, renewable power technologies, transportation and building technologies—are aimed at improving this country’s efficient use of energy, increasing the diversity of energy sources on which we rely, and making us less dependent on foreign energy sources.

Assistant Secretary Garman and the staff of the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee asked the Academy to assess the reorganization and follow its implementation over an 18-month period. The project has involved the Academy in an unusually interactive arrangement, with a high level of collaboration between the Academy Panel and staff and EERE senior management. Rather than waiting until the end of the study, the Panel provided observations and recommendations as the reorganization progressed. As a result, EERE has already accepted an overwhelming majority of the Panel’s recommendations and made many changes to its structure and processes.