ALBUQUERQUE , NM – During a visit today to Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety, & Health (EH) John Shaw promoted the Advanced Energy and American Competitiveness Initiatives, announced by President Bush in his State of the Union address.  Assistant Secretary Shaw met with lab officials to discuss the important role Sandia will play in the development of these new initiatives, as a premier research and development institution in energy and environmental technologies. 

 

“Emerging energy technologies must not only meet the demand of the growing marketplace, but must do so in a way that is clean and safe for the American people and our environment,” Assistant Secretary Shaw said.  “Sandia plays an important role in maintaining our competitive edge and strengthening our national defense capabilities through technological innovation.”

 

In addition, Assistant Secretary Shaw announced a new worker safety rule (10 CFR 851) at the meeting with Sandia leadership.  The new rule will provide a consistent level of protection for contractor workers by establishing a uniform set of standards that will require department-wide compliance and monetary fines for contractors who fail to apply these regulations.  The new regulations are aimed at improving worker safety across the DOE complex, and are part of DOE’s dedication to providing the safest possible environment for all employees. 

 

“Secretary Bodman has been clear since his first day on the job that we must maintain worker safety to ensure employees work in an environment that will allow them to meet the goals of the department,” Assistant Secretary Shaw said. 

 

During today’s visit, Assistant Secretary Shaw outlined ways Sandia can help to contribute to the President’s new energy initiatives.  In his State of the Union Address, President Bush outlined the Advanced Energy Initiative to help reduce America’s reliance on foreign sources of energy, specifically by developing new technology.  The Advanced Energy Initiative requests $2.1 billion, a 22 percent budget increase, to develop new technologies and alternative sources of energy to help diversify and strengthen America’s energy mix.  President Bush also announced the American Competitiveness Initiative to encourage American innovation and strengthen our nation’s ability to compete in the global economy.  The American Competitiveness Initiative is a multi-agency commitment to ensure that America remains competitive in the global marketplace.  Funding for scientific research will double to nearly $19.5 billion in 2016 at DOE’s Office of Science, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology.  The funding increase will begin in FY 2007 with the three offices receiving a total of $10.66 billion, an increase of 9.3% over FY 2006. 

 

As part of the Bush Administration’s broader effort to promote production and use of alternative and renewable sources of energy, Administration officials are traveling the country to promote President Bush’s energy initiatives.  Secretary Bodman made a total of four stops around the country this week, promoting the Advanced Energy and American Competitiveness Initiatives, in addition to highlighting a number of energy efficiency programs, notably biomass (including cellulosic ethanol), and solar. 

 

Yesterday, Secretary Bodman met with students and teachers at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility in Newport News, Virginia, to discuss the importance of science and math education.  Also yesterday, Secretary Bodman toured the Archer Daniels Midland Ethanol plant in Decatur, Illinois, and announced a $160 million solicitation for Biorefinery Construction.  Earlier this afternoon, Secretary Bodman visited GT Solar Technologies in Merrimack, New Hampshire, to promote President Bush’s Solar America Initiative, which seeks expand the use of solar energy technologies throughout the U.S. by 2015.  He also promoted President Bush’s $1.2 billion, five-year commitment to the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative, as part of President Bush’s Advanced Energy Initiative, while visiting the General Motors Global Alternative Propulsion Center in western New York today. 

 

Also this week, DOE Assistant Secretary Karen Harbert will visit green manufacturer Steelcase in Grand Rapids, and provide remarks at the Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center, in Muskegon, Michigan; and Assistant Secretary Jeff Jarrett will visit the National Energy Technology Laboratory in Morgantown, West Virginia.  Acting Assistant Secretary Doug Faulkner will make two stops, the first to deliver remarks at a biofuels conference in Auburn, Alabama, the second to deliver remarks at the Gerdau Ameristeel Steel Mill Energy Savings Assessment in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.

 

For more information, visit energy.gov.