Federal Energy Administration
Encyclopedia
The Federal Energy Administration (FEA) was a United States government organization created in 1974 to address the 1970s energy crisis
. It was merged in 1977 with the newly-created United States Department of Energy
.
, which was passed on October 11, 1974 in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis
. The Energy Research and Development Administration
(ERDA) was created through the same Act and managed the energy research and development
, nuclear weapon
s, and naval reactors
programs.
The Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 created the first U.S. agency with the primary focus on energy and mandated it to collect, assemble, evaluate, and analyze energy information. It also provided FEA with data collection enforcement authority for gathering data from energy producing and major consuming firms. Section 52 of the FEA Act mandated establishment of the National Energy Information System to "contain such energy information as is necessary to carry out the Administration’s statistical and forecasting activities."
The Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977 created the United States Department of Energy
(USDOE), which merged ERDA and FEA under USDOE. It also created the Energy Information Administration
as the primary Federal Government authority on energy statistics and analysis.
1970s energy crisis
The 1970s energy crisis was a period in which the major industrial countries of the world, particularly the United States, faced substantial shortages, both perceived and real, of petroleum...
. It was merged in 1977 with the newly-created United States Department of Energy
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
.
History
The FEA was created as part of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974Energy Reorganization Act of 1974
The Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 is a United States federal law that established the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, a single agency, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, had responsibility for the development and production of nuclear weapons and for both...
, which was passed on October 11, 1974 in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis
1973 oil crisis
The 1973 oil crisis started in October 1973, when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries or the OAPEC proclaimed an oil embargo. This was "in response to the U.S. decision to re-supply the Israeli military" during the Yom Kippur war. It lasted until March 1974. With the...
. The Energy Research and Development Administration
Energy Research and Development Administration
The United States Energy Research and Development Administration was a United States government organization formed from the split of the Atomic Energy Commission in 1975...
(ERDA) was created through the same Act and managed the energy research and development
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
, nuclear weapon
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
s, and naval reactors
Naval Reactors
Naval Reactors is an umbrella term for the U.S. government office that has comprehensive responsibility for the continued safe and reliable operation of the United States Navy's nuclear propulsion program and thus for United States Naval reactors...
programs.
The Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 created the first U.S. agency with the primary focus on energy and mandated it to collect, assemble, evaluate, and analyze energy information. It also provided FEA with data collection enforcement authority for gathering data from energy producing and major consuming firms. Section 52 of the FEA Act mandated establishment of the National Energy Information System to "contain such energy information as is necessary to carry out the Administration’s statistical and forecasting activities."
The Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977 created the United States Department of Energy
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
(USDOE), which merged ERDA and FEA under USDOE. It also created the Energy Information Administration
Energy Information Administration
The U.S. Energy Information Administration is the statistical and analytical agency within the U.S. Department of Energy. EIA collects, analyzes, and disseminates independent and impartial energy information to promote sound policymaking, efficient markets, and public understanding of energy and...
as the primary Federal Government authority on energy statistics and analysis.
Leaders
- Rogers MortonRogers MortonRogers Clark Ballard Morton was an American politician who served as Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Commerce under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, respectively...
- William SimonWilliam SimonWilliam Simon or Bill Simon may refer to:* William E. Simon, former Secretary of Treasury of the United States* William H. Simon, Columbia Law School professor* William S. Simon, president and CEO of Walmart U.S....
- John C. SawhillJohn C. SawhillJohn Crittenden Sawhill was president and CEO of The Nature Conservancy and the 12th President of New York University ....
(1974) - Frank Zarb (1974)
- John F. O'LearyJohn F. O'LearyJohn Francis O'Leary was an American government official and business executive. He held top positions in the Federal Energy Administration and the U.S. Department of Energy before moving to the private sector, where he rose to chairman and chief executive officer of General Public Utilities...
(1977)
External links
- General Records of the Department of Energy via United States National Archives