Renewable Energy R&D Funding History:
A Comparison with Funding for Nuclear
Energy, Fossil Energy, and Energy Efficiency
R&D
Fred Sissine
Specialist in Energy Policy
October 10, 2014
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
RS22858
Renewable Energy R&D Funding History: A Comparison
Summary
Energy-related research and development (R&D)—on coal-based synthetic petroleum and on
atomic power—played an important role in the successful outcome of World War II. In the post-
war era, the federal government conducted R&D on fossil fuel and nuclear energy sources to
support peacetime economic growth. The energy crises of the 1970s spurred the government to
broaden the focus to include renewable energy and energy efficiency. Over the 37-year period
from the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) inception at the beginning of fiscal year (FY) 1978
through FY2014, federal funding for renewable energy R&D amounted to about 17% of the
energy R&D total, compared with 15% for energy efficiency, 26% for fossil, and 38% for nuclear.
For the 67-year period from 1948 through 2014, nearly 12% went to renewables, compared with
10% for efficiency, 25% for fossil, and 49% for nuclear.
Congressional Research Service
Renewable Energy R&D Funding History: A Comparison
Contents
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1
Cumulative Funding History ..................................................................................................... 1
FY2013 and FY2014 Appropriations ........................................................................................ 1
Guide to Tables and Charts .............................................................................................................. 1
Background ...................................................................................................................................... 2
Evolution of the Department of Energy..................................................................................... 2
Evolution of Energy Technology R&D Funding ....................................................................... 2
Figures
Figure 1. DOE Energy Technology Share of Funding, FY2005-FY2014 ....................................... 4
Figure 2. DOE Energy Technology Share of Funding, FY1978-FY2014 ....................................... 5
Figure 3. DOE Energy Technology Share of Funding, FY1948-FY2014 ....................................... 6
Figure 4. DOE Energy Technology Share of Funding, Comparison over Three Periods ................ 7
Tables
Table 1. DOE Energy Technology Cumulative Funding Totals ....................................................... 3
Table 2. DOE Energy Technology Share of Funding....................................................................... 4
Contacts
Author Contact Information............................................................................................................. 7
Congressional Research Service
Renewable Energy R&D Funding History: A Comparison
Introduction
Cumulative Funding History
This report provides a cumulative history of Department of Energy (DOE) funding for renewable
energy compared with funding for the other energy technologies—nuclear energy, fossil energy,
and energy efficiency. Specifically, it provides a comparison that covers cumulative funding over
the past 10 years (FY2005-FY2014), a second comparison that covers the 37-year period since
DOE was established at the beginning of fiscal year 1978 (FY1978-FY2014), and a third
comparison that covers a 67-year funding history (FY1948-FY2014) for DOE and predecessor
agencies.
FY2013 and FY2014 Appropriations
The final amount of FY2013 Energy and Water Development appropriations for DOE energy
technologies was established on March 26, 2013, by the FY2013 Defense and Military
Construction/VA, Full Year Continuing Resolution (P.L. 113-6). Those appropriations were
considered in the context of the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA, P.L. 112-25), which
established overall discretionary spending limits for FY2012-FY2021.1 P.L. 113-6 completed the
FY2013 funding, which had been covered initially—through March 27, 2013—by the Continuing
Appropriations Resolution, 2013 (P.L. 112-175).2
Final funding for FY2014 was set by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (P.L. 113-76),
which contained appropriations for all FY2014 appropriations bills, including Energy and Water
Development programs (Division D).3
Guide to Tables and Charts
Table 1 shows the cumulative funding totals in real terms (2013 dollars) for the past 10 years
(first column), 37 years (second column), and 67 years (third column). Table 2 converts the data
from Table 1 into relative shares of spending for each technology, expressed as a percentage of
total spending for each period.
Figure 1 displays the data from the first column of Table 2 as a pie chart. That chart shows the
relative shares of cumulative DOE spending for each technology over the 10 years from FY2005
through FY2014. Figure 2 provides a similar chart for the period from FY1978 through FY2014.
Figure 3 shows a chart for FY1948 through FY2014.
1 The American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA, P.L. 112-240), enacted on January 2, 2013, made a number of significant
changes to the procedures in the BCA that apply during FY2013.
2 For more details, see CRS Report R42498, Energy and Water Development: FY2013 Appropriations, coordinated by
Mark Holt.
3 For more details, see CRS Report R43121, Energy and Water Development: FY2014 Appropriations, coordinated by
Carl E. Behrens.
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Renewable Energy R&D Funding History: A Comparison
Background
Evolution of the Department of Energy
The availability of energy—especially gasoline and other liquid fuels—played a critical role in
World War II.4 Another energy-related factor was the application of research and development
(R&D) to the atomic bomb (Manhattan Project) and other military technologies. During the
post-World War II era, the federal government began to apply R&D to the peacetime
development of energy sources to support economic growth. At that time, the primary R&D focus
was on fossil fuels and new forms of energy derived from nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.
The Atomic Energy Act of 1946 established the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), which
inherited all of the Manhattan Project’s R&D activities.5 A major focus of the AEC was research
on “atoms for peace,” the use of nuclear energy for civilian electric power production. Prompted
by the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973, the Federal Energy Administration was established in mid-
1974. In early 1975, the Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) was
established, incorporating the AEC and several energy programs that had been operating under
the Department of the Interior and other federal agencies.6
The Department of Energy (DOE) was established by law in 1977,7 incorporating activities of the
FEA and ERDA. All of the energy R&D programs—fossil, nuclear, renewable, and energy
efficiency—were brought under its administration. DOE also undertook a small program in
energy storage and electricity system R&D that supports the four main energy technology
programs.8
Evolution of Energy Technology R&D Funding
From FY1948 through FY1977 the federal government provided an extensive amount of R&D
support for fossil energy and nuclear power technologies.9 Total spending on fossil energy
technologies over that period amounted to about $16.4 billion, in constant FY2013 dollars. The
federal government spent about $49.3 billion (in constant FY2013 dollars) during that period for
nuclear fission and nuclear fusion energy R&D.10
4 Regarding coal-based synthetic petroleum production—before, during, and after World War II—see DOE’s
discussion at http://fossil.energy.gov/aboutus/history/syntheticfuels_history.html.
5 DOE, Origins of the U.S. Department of Energy, (DOE/HR-0098, draft), p. 8. Also, see DOE, A History of the
Atomic Energy Commission, (DOE/ES-0003/ 1; by Alice L. Buck) July 1983 http://www.atomictraveler.com/
HistoryofAEC.pdf.
6 DOE, Department of Energy 1977-1994, p. 17-22, (DOE/HR-0098) http://energy.gov/downloads/summaryhistorypdf.
7 The Department of Energy Organization Act, P.L. 95-91, was enacted on August 4, 1977.
8 This program includes R&D on advanced batteries to store electricity and transmission equipment to transfer
electricity with less heat loss (i.e. at higher levels of energy efficiency).
9 DOE. Pacific Northwest Laboratory. An Analysis of Federal Incentives Used to Stimulate Energy Production. 1980.
The spending for fossil energy included coal, oil, and natural gas technologies.
10 Ibid.
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Renewable Energy R&D Funding History: A Comparison
The energy crises of the 1970s spurred the federal government to expand its R&D programs to
include renewable (wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, hydro) energy and energy efficiency
technologies. Modest efforts to support renewable energy and energy efficiency began during the
early 1970s. From FY1973 through FY1977 the federal government spent about $2.5 billion (in
constant FY2013 dollars) on renewable energy R&D, $890 million on energy efficiency R&D,
and $180 million on electric systems R&D.11 Since FY1978, DOE has been the main supplier of
energy R&D funding.12
In real (constant dollar) terms, funding support for all four of the main energy technologies
skyrocketed during the 1970s to a combined peak in FY1979 at about $8 billion (2013 constant
dollars). Funding then dropped steadily, reaching a plateau of about $2 billion (2013 dollars) per
year during the late 1990s. Since then, funding has increased gradually—except that the Recovery
Act provided a one-year spike up to about $12 billion (2013 dollars) in FY2009. For FY2013,
DOE energy R&D funding stands at about $3.7 billion (2013 dollars).
Table 1. DOE Energy Technology Cumulative Funding Totals
(billions of 2013 dollars)
Period
FY2005-FY2014
FY1978-FY2014
FY1948-FY2014
Technology
(10 years)
(37 years)
(67 years)
Renewable Energy
$7.87
$ 22.13
$ 22.96
Energy Efficiency
6.70
19.73
19.13
Fossil Energy
10.00
33.91
49.30
Nuclear Energy
11.66
50.14
97.44
Electric Systems
6.26
8.85
8.69
Total $42.50
$132.69
$204.00
Sources: DOE Budget Authority History Table by Appropriation, May 2007; DOE Congressional Budget Requests
(several years); DOE (Pacific Northwest Laboratory), An Analysis of Federal Incentives Used to Stimulate Energy
Production, 1980. Deflator Source: The Budget for Fiscal Year 2015. Historical Tables. Table 10.1. Gross Domestic
Product and Deflators Used in the Historical Tables, 1940-2019.
11 DOE Conservation and Renewable Energy Base Table. February 1990.
12 There has been some energy R&D funding—on a much smaller scale—provided by the Department of Defense and
other agencies. Coverage of that funding is beyond the scope of this report.
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Renewable Energy R&D Funding History: A Comparison
Table 2. DOE Energy Technology Share of Funding
(percent; derived from Table 1)
Period
FY2005-FY2014
FY1978-FY2014
FY1948-FY2014
Technology
(10 years)
(37 years)
(67 years)
Renewable Energy
18.5%
16.7%
12.1%
Energy Efficiency
15.8%
14.9%
10.1%
Fossil Energy
23.5%
25.6%
24.6%
Nuclear Energy
27.4%
37.8%
48.8%
Electric Systems
14.7%
6.7%
4.4%
Total 100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
Sources: DOE Budget Authority History Table by Appropriation, May 2007; DOE Congressional Budget Requests
(several years); DOE (Pacific Northwest Laboratory), An Analysis of Federal Incentives Used to Stimulate Energy
Production, 1980; DOE Conservation and Renewable Energy Base Table. February 1990. Deflator Source: The Budget
for Fiscal Year 2015. Historical Tables. Table 10.1. Gross Domestic Product and Deflators Used in the Historical
Tables, 1940-2019.
Figure 1. DOE Energy Technology Share of Funding, FY2005-FY2014
Source: DOE Budget Authority History Table by Appropriation, May 2007; DOE Congressional Budget Requests (several
years); Deflator Source: The Budget for Fiscal Year 2015. Historical Tables. Table 10.1. Gross Domestic Product
and Deflators Used in the Historical Tables, 1940-2019.
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Renewable Energy R&D Funding History: A Comparison
Figure 2. DOE Energy Technology Share of Funding, FY1978-FY2014
Sources: DOE Budget Authority History Table by Appropriation, May 2007; DOE Congressional Budget Requests
(several years); Deflator Source: The Budget for Fiscal Year 2015. Historical Tables. Table 10.1. Gross Domestic
Product and Deflators Used in the Historical Tables, 1940-2019.
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Renewable Energy R&D Funding History: A Comparison
Figure 3. DOE Energy Technology Share of Funding, FY1948-FY2014
Sources: DOE Budget Authority History Table by Appropriation, May 2007; DOE Congressional Budget Requests
(several years); DOE (Pacific Northwest Laboratory), An Analysis of Federal Incentives Used to Stimulate Energy
Production, 1980; DOE Conservation and Renewable Energy Base Table. Feb. 1990. Deflator Source: The Budget for
Fiscal Year 2015. Historical Tables. Table 10.1.
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Renewable Energy R&D Funding History: A Comparison
Figure 4. DOE Energy Technology Share of Funding, Comparison over Three Periods
Sources: DOE Budget Authority History Table by Appropriation, May 2007; DOE Congressional Budget Requests
(several years); DOE (Pacific Northwest Laboratory), An Analysis of Federal Incentives Used to Stimulate Energy
Production, 1980; DOE Conservation and Renewable Energy Base Table. Feb. 1990. Deflator Source: The Budget for
Fiscal Year 2015. Historical Tables. Table 10.1.
Note: Column to far left shows shares for the period FY1948-FY2014; middle column shows shares for period
from FY1978-FY2014; and far right column shows shares for period from FY2005-FY2014.
Author Contact Information
Fred Sissine
Specialist in Energy Policy
fsissine@crs.loc.gov, 7-7039
Congressional Research Service
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