Reply To: 600 kmph MonoRail Ship Ferry VLCC Fare $1/100 km

[Rezwan]

I googled “ARPA-E” and found on this site http://opencrs.com/document/RL34497 that:

In August 2007, Congress authorized the establishment of the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) within the Department of Energy (DOE) as part of the America COMPETES Act (P.L. 110-69).

Yet the Mercury article quoted in first post above says that:

Deep in the $787 billion stimulus bill that became law two weeks ago is $400 million to launch ARPA-E, the Advanced Research Projects Authority for Energy.

I guess in August 2007, ARPA-E is “established”, but with $400million in 2009, it gets “launched”. Oh, wait! Reading further in the opencrs article, we see the Bush administration didn’t want to really fund ARPA-E:

The Bush Administration questions whether the DARPA model can be used for the energy sector and is concerned that it might redirect funds away from current DOE research activities, particularly the DOE Office of Science. Instead, the President’s FY2009 budget requests funding for six new technology transfer collaborations. ARPA-E proponents doubt that DOE can achieve ARPA-E’s goals with its existing structure and personnel, as opposed to the ARPA-E’s innovative R&D;management design.

So, it was funded, but not actually funded (authorized funds – psych -not appropriated):

Congress authorized $300 million for ARPA-E in FY2008 and “such sums as are necessary” for FY2009 and FY2010. Congress subsequently appropriated no funds for FY2008. The Administration requested no funds for ARPA-E in FY2009.

Where does that leave us now? $400 million, but will that be authorized/not appropriated as well?

And who are the contact people there! I’m off to find an address. Is it even up and running yet? Has it only been on paper since 2007?

It will be cool if Obama becomes the “Fusion President”.