Energy: Federal Role

The Federal Government played its first significant role in energy policy during the 1970’s when President Richard Nixon signed into law the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), requiring Federal Agencies to consider the environmental impacts of any project before work on it could begin.  NEPA set the goal of creating national policies that encouraged sustainable relationships between growth and development, and environmental welfare.

The need for a coherent national energy policy strengthened with international events of the 1970s.  The OPEC oil embargo forced lawmakers to think critically about energy policy as a strategic and economic issue. Under President Jimmy Carter, the Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) achieved cabinet status and was renamed the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).  By the late 1970’s Congress had passed the first ever comprehensive energy legislation and laid the groundwork for broad Federal oversight of national energy policy.

With the OPEC embargo persisting through the 1980’s and the energy fears following the first Gulf war, public alliances began to organize and promote energy independence, sustainability, and efficiency. National awareness began to grow as the voices for change were increasingly heard around Capitol Hill. Increased public attention on energy issues led the Federal Government to frame energy policy as one of its most important domestic and international issues.

Energy security and sustainability will continue to be a priority for Congress so long as the United States remains dependant on foreign oil, and climate change necessitates increased efficiency and innovation. It is the Federal Government’s duty to enact policies and programs that promote energy security and provide viable solutions to global warming. Every energy bill to come out of Congress in the past decade has sought to address these issues. Energy policy reform is a major issue for the 110th Congress. New bills are calling for increases in fuel efficiency standards, greater ethanol and biofuel production, gasoline price gouging provisions, grants and loans to promote research for fuel efficient cars, and incentives to increase the production of alternative energy sources.  Congress will continue to encourage and fund the private sector in the production and exploration of renewable energy to advance the United States’ goal of energy security, independence and efficiency.