NEW INFO: According to ScienceInsider, the Head of DOE's Biological and Environmental Research arm, Anna Palmisano said "We chose to interpret our guidance quite literally," apparently citing the White House preference, not stated by Congress in the final bill, that the money be used for "shovel-ready" projects. Steven Chu, the new DOE director mentioned that "biology, biotechnology, environment and climate" would be among DOE's "priorities".
Posted 02/17/09 - The stimulus package will provide $1.6 billion provided for basic research in the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Science; and approximately $30 billion for investments in applied research, loan guarantees and grants to develop new technologies in partnership with industry, and energy efficiency and conservation activities (including $2.5 billion for applied research, development, demonstration and deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies). In addition, the stimulus bill provides $400 million to DOE for the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E), a new research agency authorized in the America COMPETES Act but never funded until now.
For the Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Programs the stimulus bill provides $2.5 billion for energy efficiency and renewable research, development, demonstration, and deployment projects. Of that, $800 million is set aside for biomass (FY 08: $198 million) and $400 million for geothermal energy (FY 08: $20 million). There would also be $1.0 billion specifically for R&D programs within a $3.4 billion total Fossil Energy appropriation, which will fund R&D related to cleaner coal, oil, and gas technologies, including research on carbon sequestration.
