Hearing Of The Subcommittee On Energy And Water Development Of The House Committee On Appropriations - Dept. Of Energy: Energy Efficiency And Renewable Energy, Fossil Energy, Electricity Delivery And Energy Reliability, FY2011 Budget

Statement

Good morning. The Subcommittee on Energy and Water
Development meets today to hear testimony on the fiscal year 2011
budget request for the Department of Energy's applied research and
development programs in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable
energy, fossil energy, and the electricity delivery system.
America faces persistent challenges to its energy sector that
continue to threaten our economy, national security, and environment.
Our economy--from our citizens' cars to our military's planes--relies
heavily on petroleum fuels, much of which is imported from overseas.
Power prices have been rising for years, and our electricity supplies
depend on energy sources that give off harmful emissions and on a
congested and aging electric power grid.
Today we consider the budget request for applied R&D activities
at the Department of Energy aimed at addressing these difficult
challenges. We have before us the Undersecretary of Energy, Dr.
Kristina Johnson, who oversees the Department's applied energy
research and development offices. We especially look forward to your
account of the measures you are taking to break down the stovepipe
mentality at the Department in order to foster collaboration and
cooperation across offices and programs.
We also have before us Assistant Secretary Kathy Zoi, to discuss
the Administration's fiscal year 2011 request for Energy Efficiency
and Renewable Energy. Assistant Secretary Zoi will discuss the
Administration's work on technologies that can reduce our energy
consumption, decrease our dependence on petroleum fuels, and
provide clean, domestic, renewable energy.
Currently, most of our electricity comes from fossil energy
sources, and James Markowsky, Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy,
is here to discuss the Department's work on technologies that can
provide cleaner, low-carbon electricity generation using our vast
domestic resources of coal and natural gas.
Finally, Ms. Patricia Hoffman, Acting Assistant Secretary of
Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, will address the
Department's budget request for research and development activities
that can squeeze more out of our existing resources and allow the
expansion of clean energy generation by modernizing and securing the
nation's electricity transmission and distribution system.
Welcome to you all; please keep your testimony today to no
more than five minutes. Your full written testimony will be entered
into the record. After the hearing, we may have some questions for
you to answer for the record--Secretary Johnson, I ask that you
ensure the responses, and any supporting information requested by the
Subcommittee, are delivered in final form no later than four weeks
from today.
If Members have additional questions they would like to submit
for the record, please provide them to the Subcommittee by 5:00 PM
tomorrow.
With those opening comments, I would like to yield to our
ranking member, Mr. Frelinghuysen, for any opening comments that
he would like to make.

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