OIG received a request from Henry Waxman, Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, United States House of Representatives, soliciting our opinion on matters related to legislation being considered by the Committee that would provide relief to certain retirees who worked at the former Department of Enegery's sites in Portsmouth and Paducah.
The Department of Energy's Opportunity for Energy Savings Through Improved Management of Facility Lighting
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) highlighted the
importance of reducing the Nation's dependence on foreign oil and conserving scarce energy resources. The Department of Energy, as the designated lead agency for promoting new technologies, providing leadership for energy conservation and helping Federal agencies reduce energy costs, plays a pivotal role in achieving the Recovery Act's energy related goals. The Department spends nearly $300 million per year in energy costs for its 9,000 buildings at 24 sites. Electricity costs, totaling $190 million, account for close to two-thirds of the Department's total energy expenditures, with roughly 40 percent or $76 million of those costs attributable to the cost of lighting. New lighting technologies and advanced lighting systems offer the Department the opportunity to significantly reduce energy consumption; decrease operating costs
at its sites throughout the country; and, demonstrate the benefits of using new lighting
technologies that are currently being developed in its laboratories and by other sources.
Because of its energy conservation leadership role, we initiated this audit to determine whether the Department's facilities had implemented lighting conservation measures.
importance of reducing the Nation's dependence on foreign oil and conserving scarce energy resources. The Department of Energy, as the designated lead agency for promoting new technologies, providing leadership for energy conservation and helping Federal agencies reduce energy costs, plays a pivotal role in achieving the Recovery Act's energy related goals. The Department spends nearly $300 million per year in energy costs for its 9,000 buildings at 24 sites. Electricity costs, totaling $190 million, account for close to two-thirds of the Department's total energy expenditures, with roughly 40 percent or $76 million of those costs attributable to the cost of lighting. New lighting technologies and advanced lighting systems offer the Department the opportunity to significantly reduce energy consumption; decrease operating costs
at its sites throughout the country; and, demonstrate the benefits of using new lighting
technologies that are currently being developed in its laboratories and by other sources.
Because of its energy conservation leadership role, we initiated this audit to determine whether the Department's facilities had implemented lighting conservation measures.
Management Controls over Warranties Involving Newly Constructed and Renovated Facilities at National Defense Laboratories
The Department of Energy's (Department) National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA)
research, surveillance, and manufacturing capabilities are carried out in facilities, many of which
are 50 to 60 years old. Since these facilities are beyond their economic lifetime, NNSA
requested and acquired funding not only to construct new facilities but also to restore and
revitalize older ones. These construction projects enable NNSA to maintain the critical
capabilities necessary to support its programmatic efforts such as nuclear nonproliferation,
counterterrorism, and emergency response work.
research, surveillance, and manufacturing capabilities are carried out in facilities, many of which
are 50 to 60 years old. Since these facilities are beyond their economic lifetime, NNSA
requested and acquired funding not only to construct new facilities but also to restore and
revitalize older ones. These construction projects enable NNSA to maintain the critical
capabilities necessary to support its programmatic efforts such as nuclear nonproliferation,
counterterrorism, and emergency response work.
The Department of Energy's Use of the Weatherization Assistance Program Formula for Allocating Funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) was enacted in February
2009, to strengthen the U.S. economy, create jobs and spur investments in the Nation's energy
future. Under the Recovery Act, the Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program
(Weatherization Program) received about $5 billion, a ten-fold increase over the Fiscal Year
2009 funding, to weatherize over 590,000 homes owned or occupied by low-income persons.
The Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) manages the
Weatherization Program with support from field offices at the National Energy Technology
Laboratory and the Golden Field Office. Through these offices, and based on an allocation
formula published in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), the Department awarded
Weatherization funding to all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 5 U.S. territories. The
formula considers a variety of factors and includes a calculation designed to compensate for
climate conditions. Given the risk associated with significant program changes, dramatic
increases in funding and demands related to weatherizing hundreds of thousands of homes, we
have initiated a series of audits to assess the Weatherization Program's ability to effectively
allocate, award and monitor Weatherization funds. This report, one in the series, discusses the
Department’s use of the formula to allocate Recovery Act funds.
2009, to strengthen the U.S. economy, create jobs and spur investments in the Nation's energy
future. Under the Recovery Act, the Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program
(Weatherization Program) received about $5 billion, a ten-fold increase over the Fiscal Year
2009 funding, to weatherize over 590,000 homes owned or occupied by low-income persons.
The Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) manages the
Weatherization Program with support from field offices at the National Energy Technology
Laboratory and the Golden Field Office. Through these offices, and based on an allocation
formula published in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), the Department awarded
Weatherization funding to all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 5 U.S. territories. The
formula considers a variety of factors and includes a calculation designed to compensate for
climate conditions. Given the risk associated with significant program changes, dramatic
increases in funding and demands related to weatherizing hundreds of thousands of homes, we
have initiated a series of audits to assess the Weatherization Program's ability to effectively
allocate, award and monitor Weatherization funds. This report, one in the series, discusses the
Department’s use of the formula to allocate Recovery Act funds.
The National Nuclear Security Administration's Site Office Training and Staffing
The National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA), a semi-autonomous agency within the Department of Energy (Department), mission includes maintaining and enhancing the safety, reliability, and performance of the nuclear weapons stockpile. To meet its mission, NNSA uses Federally-run site offices to oversee the management and operating contractors that operate each of NNSA's eight nuclear weapons research and production sites. The site offices provide the necessary communication between Federal and contractor employees and oversight to improve management procedures. In September 2009, the Department's statement on management reform emphasized that Site Office Managers were to act on behalf of mission organizations for day-to-day decision making on operational matters.
The Department of Energy's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act -Florida State Energy Program