Department of Energy Expenditures in Connection with Solar Energy Programs

Concern was expressed about the appropriateness of Department of Energy (DOE) expenditures which were reportedly made to influence national policy and legislation. These expenditures related to $187,000 granted to the organizer of Sun Day and for travel by advocacy groups to meetings held in Washington on August 4-6 and 8-9, 1978. The purpose of the grant was to obtain for each state public interest group views on solar energy potential, barriers to the realization of that potential, and methods for eliminating those barriers. There was no basis for concluding that the expenditures violated any legislation with regard to appropriated funds with the exception of payment of per diem for part of August 6. DOE questioned the activities carried out during that portion of the meeting because they may not have been directly relevant to the grant and may have involved preparations for a new group using lobbying as part of its functions.