Renewable Energy

The federal government has for years supported the research, development, and deployment of renewable energy technologies. From 1978 through 1998, the Department of Energy (DOE) was given nearly $10.3 billion for the research and development of renewable energy. A significant portion of this money went to technologies that convert wind or sunlight into electricity. Wind is converted into electricity through the use of wind turbines, while sunlight can be converted into electricity through the use of solar cell technology, known as photovoltaics. GAO found that since the 1970s, the objectives of the wind and photovoltaic programs have expanded from fundamental research to include larger market shares for U.S. wind turbine companies and increased domestic and international sales by U.S. photovoltaic companies. The markets for wind and photovoltaic technologies have grown rapidly in recent years and now extend internationally.

GAO noted that: (1) since fiscal year 1978, DOE has provided more than $3 billion to develop wind and photovoltaic technologies; (2) since the 1970s, the objectives of the wind and photovoltaic programs have expanded from fundamental research to include larger market shares for U.S. wind turbine companies and increased domestic and international sales by U.S. photovoltaic companies; and (3) the markets for wind and photovoltaic technologies have grown rapidly in recent years and now extend internationally.