Keep the Atomic Energy Commission and all those elements of the DOE that were in existence prior to 1976.

Eliminate the remainder.

Argument:

Overall the Department of Energy has been a failure.  It was organized to make this country more independent of other countries in the development and acquisition of energy resources but despite the existence of this department, we are more dependent upon foreign oil today than we were prior to its formation.

One could argue that this is not the fault of the DOE but one could more logically state that the DOE has been ineffective at opening federal lands and offshore sites to oil companies for development.  They certainly have been ineffective in opening ANWR to drilling and many explored sites exist in the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific that must be tapped if this country is ever to lessen the leverage that our Middle East and Venezuelan trade partners have against us.   We must not continue to be dependent upon the nations that use our money to finance wars against our country. 

The DOE has also been ineffective at the introduction of new refining capacities, nuclear power plants, clean coal power plants and natural gas and shale oil extraction.  If anything it would appear that the DOE has been impotent in its relationships with environmentalists, the EPA and all administrations beginning with their creator, James Earl Carter.  

Prior to 1976 this nation had an Atomic Energy Commission that was responsible for this nation’s nuclear safety.  This and any other part of the DOE that was in existence prior to 1976 should remain at least until those programs might also be evaluated.   But, it is clear that the verdict is in on the portions of the DOE that were chartered with responsibility for energy independence.   They have been ineffective and there is no justification for maintaining the Department of Energy in its present form.