FY 1997 Department of Energy Budget Request: Basic Energy Sciences

Within its Office of Energy Research, DOE funds research in materials, geosciences, and other areas under the Basic Energy Sciences (BES) account. Details of the FY 1997 request for BES, from DOE’s “FY 1997 Congressional Budget Request: Budget Highlights” document, are quoted below:

BASIC ENERGY SCIENCES

“The Basic Energy Sciences program supports high quality research to develop and improve energy technologies, provides world class scientific facilities, and designs and builds advanced facilities for future research needs. Large National Laboratory scientific facilities, staffed by laboratory, university, and industry researchers, are used to conduct investigations in materials and chemical sciences, engineering and geosciences, and energy biosciences. Capital equipment and construction supports research activities. The program funds full operation and maintenance of these state-of-the-art scientific user facilities. Facilities include research reactors, accelerators, X-ray and ultraviolet light sources, a laser facility for combustion research, and other specialized facilities.”

“The FY 1997 budget request for Basic Energy Sciences is $653.7 million, a slight decrease from FY 1996. Funding will support continuation of ongoing research activities and operation of all user facilities. Materials and Chemical Sciences will fund high-priority, peer reviewed research, while also providing support for ten scientific user facilities. Operation of user facilities will require one-third of the Basic Energy Sciences budget. Research and design activities for a spallation neutron source will continue at the $8.0 million level. Funding for construction projects increases slightly, reflecting scheduled funding for Phase II of the Combustion Research Facility ([Total Estimated Cost] $26.8 million, FY 1996 - $2.0 million, FY 1997 - $9.0 million, completion FY 1999), offset, in part, by completion of the 6-7 GeV Synchrotron Radiation Source at Argonne in FY 1996 ($-3.2 million.)”

Highlights of Program Changes

Increase construction funding for Combustion Research Facility from FY 1996-$2 million to FY 1997-$9 million: +$7.0 million

Complete 6-7 GeV construction in FY 96 (-3.2 million) and reduced 6-7 GeV equipment (-$4.7 million): -$7.9 million