Department of Energy

www.energy.gov

Overview

The Department of Energy has two broad mandates of interest; one is its titular energy brief – dealing with energy companies and policy, generally acting as an advocate for industry interests in administration policy development, a position which frequently puts it at odds with the Environmental Protection Agency.

The department also handles the development, construction and dismantling of the nation's nuclear arsenal at its eight nuclear sites around the country.

Relevant Congressional Committees

Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy & Water Development
Senate Armed Services Committee
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
Senate Select Intelligence Committee

House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy & Water Development
House Armed Services Committee
House Energy & Commerce Committee
House Resources Committee
House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

OUTSIDE GROUPS (for both EPA & DoE)

There is a great deal of overlap between environmental and energy issues, so I have grouped them together.

The League of Conservation Voters (http://www.lcv.org/). One of the more politically active environmental groups. Jeff Gohringer is the press contact, 202-454-4573, jeff_gohringer@lcv.org.

National Environmental Trust (http://www.environet.org/) Sharon Ternes is the press contact, 202-540-6218.

Sierra Club (http://www.sierraclub.org/) Maggie Kao is national press secretary, 202-675-2384.

Natural Resources Defense Council (http://www.nrdc.org/) Jennifer Powers is the press contact, jpowers@nrdc.org, 212-727-2700.

Environmental Working Group (http://www.ewg.org/)  They do large-scale data crunching. The Public Affairs Department is at 202-667-6982.

Competitive Enterprise Institute (http://www.cei.org/) 202-331-1010. Myron Ebell, director of energy & global warming policy, is a very sharp pro-business commentator on energy issues, mebell@cei.org.

National Mining Association (http://www.nma.org/) Carol Raulston is senior vice president of communications, 202-463-2610, craulston@nma.org.

Nuclear Energy Institute (www.nei.org) Media Relations is at 202-739-8000.

American Land Rights Association (http://www.landrights.org/) 360-687-3087. A group focusing on property-owners rights vis-a-vis federal regulations, endangered species act, etc.

Arctic Power (http://www.anwr.org/) 202-248-4468. Alaska and industry-funded lobbying group focused on opening up a portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for energy exploration.

Project on Government Oversight (http://www.pogo.org/) – Investigative group, has done a great deal on DoE weapons research security problems. Joe Newman is communications director, (202) 347-1122, jnewman@pogo.org.

Publications

Greenwire- http://www.eenews.net/gw/
CQ Greensheets- http://www.cq.com/corp/show.do?page=products_greensheets
National Journal's Energy Daily- http://nationaljournal.com/

Does this agency's information need updating? programs@nationalpress.org