Fossil Energy Research and Development had a fiscal 2016 enacted budget of $632 million, though its 2018 budget request was $280 million. It had 638 full-time equivalents in 2016.3
• Leads the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy in its mission to enhance U.S. economic and energy security by: managing and performing energy-related research that maximizes the efficient and environmentally sound production and use of fossil fuels; supporting the development of policy options that benefit the U.S. public by ensuring access to adequate supplies of affordable and clean energy; partnering with industry and others to advance clean and efficient fossil energy technologies toward commercialization in the U.S. and international markets; maintaining strategic crude and heating oil supplies to protect the U.S. against sudden and major supply interruptions and shortages; and maximizing the value of certain government-owned oil and gas fields
• Manages three major program areas in the department: the Fossil Energy Research, Development and Demonstration; the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve; and the Naval Petroleum Reserves
• Develops strategy for assigned programs to achieve goals and objectives established by either Congress or the secretary, or directed by national energy policy, as well as environmental protection, worker and public health safety, and safeguards and security
• Develops a balanced program to research, develop and demonstrate the technologies needed for the efficient and environmentally sound production and use of fossil fuels consistent with the National Energy Plan
• Manages and assures the readiness of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve’s emergency supply of crude oil as mandated by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, as amended, to reduce the nation’s vulnerability to severe petroleum supply disruptions4