United States Department of Energy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
United States Department of Energy

Seal of the U.S. Department of Energy
James V. Forrestal Building, headquarter building named after James Forrestal
Agency overview
Formed	August 4, 1977; 47 years ago (1977-08-04)
Preceding agencies	Federal Energy Administration (FEA) Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA)
Jurisdiction	U.S. federal government
Headquarters	James V. Forrestal Building 1000 Independence Avenue Southwest, Washington, D.C., U.S. 38°53′13″N 77°1′34″W / 38.88694°N 77.02611°W / 38.88694; -77.02611
Employees	14,382 federal civilian (2018) 93,094 contract (2008)
Annual budget	$31.7 billion (2020)
Agency executives	Chris Wright, Secretary Vacant, Deputy Secretary
Key document	Department of Energy Organization Act

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is a part of the U.S. federal government. Its main job is to manage the country's energy rules and how energy is made. It also works on researching and developing nuclear power. The DOE is in charge of the military's nuclear programs and making nuclear reactors for the United States Navy. It also does a lot of research related to energy and helps people learn about energy conservation (saving energy).

The DOE was created in 1977 after a big oil shortage in 1973. It supports more science research than any other U.S. government agency. Most of this research happens at its special National Laboratories. The DOE also started important research into genomics, which includes the famous Human Genome Project.

The leader of the department is the Secretary of Energy. This person reports directly to the president of the United States and is a member of the President's top team, called the Cabinet. The current Secretary of Energy is Chris Wright. The DOE's main office is in the James V. Forrestal Building in Washington, D.C.. They also have other offices in Germantown, Maryland.

How the Department of Energy Works

How the U.S. Department of Energy is set up

The Department of Energy has many different parts that work together. It is led by the Secretary of Energy. The Secretary gets help from a Deputy Secretary, who takes over if the Secretary is away.

There are also three "Under Secretaries" who manage big areas of the department's work. Several "Assistant Secretaries" are in charge of specific parts of the department. All these leaders are chosen by the President.

Here are some of the important offices and programs within the DOE:

• Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy: This office supports new ideas for energy technology.
• Energy Information Administration: This group collects and shares information about energy.
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission: This commission helps regulate energy industries.
• Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: This office works on making energy use smarter and finding new, clean energy sources.
• Electricity: This group focuses on making sure our electricity system is strong and reliable.
• Fossil Energy and Carbon Management: This office deals with traditional energy sources like oil and gas, and ways to manage carbon pollution.
• Nuclear Energy: This part of the DOE works on nuclear power.
• Office of Science: This office supports basic scientific research.
• National Nuclear Security Administration: This administration is in charge of the country's nuclear security.
• Loan Programs Office: This office provides loans for energy projects.
• Various power administrations like Bonneville Power Administration and Western Area Power Administration manage electricity in different regions.

What the DOE Seal Means

The official seal of the Department of Energy has special symbols. It has a green shield with a gold lightning bolt. On the lightning bolt, you can see a sun, an atom, an oil derrick, a windmill, and a dynamo (a type of generator). Above the shield is a white eagle's head on a white rope. All of this is on a blue background, with the agency's name in gold on a green circle around it.

• The eagle shows how much care and effort are needed to meet the country's energy needs.
• The sun, atom, oil derrick, windmill, and dynamo represent different ways we get energy.
• The rope shows how all these energy technologies are connected and important for our future.
• The lightning bolt stands for the powerful natural forces that give us energy and the challenge of using them.

The colors on the seal also have meaning:

• Blue stands for air and water.
• Green represents mineral resources and the earth.
• Gold shows how energy is created from natural forces.

These colors remind us that the nation wants to get its energy while also protecting the natural environment.

Where the DOE Works: Facilities

The Department of Energy runs many national laboratories and technical centers. These places are where important research and development happen.

• Ames National Laboratory
• Argonne National Laboratory
• Brookhaven National Laboratory
• Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
• Idaho National Laboratory
• Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
• Los Alamos National Laboratory
• National Energy Technology Laboratory
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
• Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
• Sandia National Laboratories (SNL)
• Savannah River National Laboratory
• DOE/SNL Scaled Wind Farm Technology (SWiFT) Facility
• SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
• Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility
• Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory and Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory design nuclear engines for the U.S. Navy.
• Kansas City National Security Campus
• Nevada National Security Site
• Pantex Plant
• Savannah River Site
• Y-12 National Security Complex

The DOE and Nuclear Weapons

A map showing federal land in southern Nevada, including the Nevada Test Site

The DOE, through its NNSA, is responsible for designing, testing, and making all nuclear weapons for the U.S. The NNSA works with special contractors at several government sites:

• Research and Development: Los Alamos National Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
• Non-Nuclear Parts and System Integration: Sandia National Laboratories
• Making Key Parts: The Kansas City Plant, Savannah River Site, and Y-12 National Security Complex.
• Testing: Nevada Test Site
• Assembling and Taking Apart Weapons: Pantex

Important Laws Related to Energy

Many laws have shaped how the Department of Energy works and how the U.S. manages its energy. Here are a few important ones:

• 1946 – Atomic Energy Act: This law created the first agency to deal with atomic energy.
• 1974 – Energy Reorganization Act: This law changed how atomic energy was managed, splitting it into two new groups.
• 1977 – Department of Energy Organization Act: This is the law that officially created the Department of Energy as we know it today.
• 1992 – Energy Policy Act of 1992: This law focused on making energy use more efficient and promoting renewable energy.
• 2005 – Energy Policy Act of 2005: This law aimed to make sure the U.S. had enough energy and encouraged new energy technologies.
• 2007 – Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007: This law focused on reducing America's reliance on foreign oil and improving vehicle fuel economy.

Leaders of the Department of Energy

The Secretary of Energy is the main leader of the department. Here is a list of the people who have held this important job:

Images for kids

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  Sign in front of the United States Department of Energy Forrestal Building

See Also

In Spanish: Departamento de Energía de los Estados Unidos para niños

• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
• National Council on Electricity Policy
• United States federal executive departments