Energy

Major questions and concerns affecting the programs of each of the major energy agencies were investigated in an effort to aid Congress in its consideration of each agency's programs, as well as in its development of a cohesive energy policy, and to contribute to a better understanding of the energy problems facing the nation.

Over $11 billion will be spent in fiscal year 1977 on energy problems, primarily by five federal agencies. Within these agencies, the energy programs are diffused among the following program areas: conservation, petroleum and natural gas regulatory programs, energy information and analysis, strategic petroleum reserve, federal energy organization, electricity, pipeline rights-of-way, outer continental shelf, public lands, fossil energy development, nuclear power development, renewable resources development, and international concerns. Many other federal agencies either have their own internal energy-related programs or have an interagency agreement to carry out programs for one of the five major energy agencies. A variety of programs recently enacted by Congress and other proposed programs would substantially expand the activities and the cost of the federal energy effort. The federal response to the energy crisis has not been disciplined by a clearly enunciated and cohesive national energy policy, and at present the United States is more dependent on foreign energy sources than it was 3 years ago.