It's purpose for being created was to help ween the U.S. off of the use of FOREIGN oil.
That was better than 39 years ago and today the DOE has a 30 plus BILLION dollar budget, thousands and thousands of employees and does NOTHING in regard to its initial goal.
If things don't change.. they stay the same!
RE: It’s purpose for being created was to help ween the U.S. off of the use of FOREIGN oil.
While that was one reason for the formation of the Department of Energy, the other big reason was to have one Department handle all aspects of the nation’s nuclear program (from reactors to bombs to disposal of waste). In essence, have a “one-stop shop” where anyone that needed a nuclear expert could go.
That’s why they handled the development and production of our nuclear weapons and currently handle their maintenance. (and would design and build more if we were doing that)
And, I think, they are also responsible for helping develop nuclear power plants. Or at least, having their nuclear scientists set the safety standards.