Department of Energy (U.S.)

The u.s. department of Energy (DOE) was created in 1977 under the administration of President Jimmy Carter, following the oil crises of the early 1970s, when the OPEC countries suddenly increased the cost of oil and caused economic difficulties around most parts of the world. However, the DOE traces its history back to at least the Manhattan Project. The DOE was designed to bring under one federal agency (the 12th cabinet level department) a variety of agencies and organizations that separately dealt with nonnuclear and nuclear sources of energy and their regulation.

In common with all governmental agencies, the actions of the DOE are subject to criticism from those who believe government should do less to regulate economic and social activities, and those who believe it ...