GAO Report Released: Batteries and Energy Storage Federal Initiatives Supported Similar Technologies and Goals but Had Key Differences

GAO Report Released: Batteries and Energy Storage Federal Initiatives Supported Similar Technologies and Goals but Had Key Differences

from PEN-e from Pace Law School Library by Taryn Rucinski

Recently, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released its report, titled Batteries and Energy Storage Federal Initiatives Supported Similar Technologies and Goals but Had Key Differences GAO-12-842 (Aug. 30, 2012). This 79 page report, available here, was conducted as the

GAO was asked to (1) identify the scope and key characteristics of federal battery and energy storage initiatives; (2) determine the extent to which there is potential fragmentation, overlap, or duplication, if any, among these initiatives; and (3) determine the extent to which agencies coordinate these initiatives. GAO focused on fiscal years 2009 through 2012 because DOE made large investments in these technologies during these years. GAO surveyed initiatives identified in six agencies: DOE, DOD, NASA, NSF, EPA, and NIST. GAO included questions about the following key characteristics: funding obligations, technologies, uses, technology advancement activities, goals, eligible funding recipients, and funding mechanisms. GAO analyzed survey responses and interviewed agency officials to gather more information. GAO examined external coordination for all agencies and internal coordination in DOE and DOD because they had the largest obligations of the agencies GAO reviewed.