One of DOE's primary strategic goals is “to protect our national and economic security by promoting a diverse supply and delivery of reliable, affordable, and environmentally sound energy.” NETL contributes to this strategic goal through cutting-edge research and development, focused on the clean production and use of our Nation's domestic fossil energy resources. Advanced technologies provide policymakers with expanded options for meeting vital national energy, environmental, and security needs.

Expanding U.S. options for tackling critical challenges

	Secure and Reliable Energy Supplies How will our Nation secure tomorrow's energy supplies? Domestic coal, oil, and natural gas resources are a fundamental part of the equation. NETL is advancing cost-effective technologies for finding and producing domestic fossil resources while meeting environmental requirements.
	Clean Power Generation Technology advances will equip power generators to use fossil resources with ever-greater efficiency and reliability, in ways that protect our natural environment. NETL is leading Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) efforts to make today's coal power plants cleaner and to enable tomorrow's systems to perform with near-zero emissions.
	Toward a Hydrogen Economy Hydrogen fuel cells produce power through an electrochemical (battery-like) process that differs radically from traditional combustion-based approaches. NETL is working on cost-effective ways to derive hydrogen from domestic coal and natural gas, and to utilize fuel cells for power generation. Each step takes our Nation closer to an energy future where hydrogen systems deliver virtually pollution-free energy and reduce our dependence on imported oil.
	Climate Change NETL provides a portfolio of technology options that further the President's Global Climate Change Initiative. In addition to clean power generation and hydrogen advances, the Laboratory pursues novel approaches to monitoring, capturing, and sequestering greenhouse gases.
	Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy DOE invests in R&D to make more efficient use of energy in buildings, transportation, and industry, and to accelerate development of renewable energy options. NETL supports DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in managing research partnerships.
	Critical Infrastructure Assurance Major energy stoppages due to natural or man-made disasters can disrupt the lives of Americans, harm our economy, and cause cascading impacts to other critical infrastructures. NETL contributes to disaster response by deploying resources to emergency command centers and by providing vital information about critical infrastructures. Also, NETL is addressing the critical issue of upgrading the nation's aging electricity transmission and distribution (T&D) system through the development of a nationally coordinated grid modernization framework and management of T&D research and development projects.