Ricky Hernandez

Period 5
02/25/2014
U.S. Department of Energy
The department of energy in the United States has its goal and mission very clear
and states it just as clearly. They state on their website, The mission of the Energy
Department is to ensure Americas security and prosperity by addressing its energy,
environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology
solutions. This department uses what knowledge they have, acquire, and seek the
knowledge needed to assure the safety, affluence, and health of our country. By
researching engineering techniques, energy systems and sources, and through innovation
they manage to keep our country moving forward in a high-tech, yet eco-friendly,
manner. After the Cold War, it was very clear how much damage nuclear contamination
can cause and what a lasting toll it has on a country. This is why they are also in charge
of security as well as many other tasks, which they succeed in accomplishing pretty well
most of the time. They are knowledgeable of what the dangers are and how to handle the
material. Dr. Ernest Moniz and Daniel B. Poneman are the two highly qualified,
experienced, and intelligent intellectuals that lead this department. The employees run a
lot of risks in their daily operations, but in my personal opinion and considering the
potential threat that an error on their behalf could cause, they have been fairly effective at
keeping situations under control. With plenty of oil stains on their record, they have made
errors and caused damage to our ecological system, but they have also helped us progress
immensely and develop much more effective instruments and methods to utilize our
energy systems and sources.
Leading the U.S. Department of Energy as of 2013 is the Secretary of Energy, Dr.
Ernest Moniz. Dr. Moniz has an outstanding resume along with his current position. He
was deeply involved with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), being a
professor of Physics and Engineering Systems, leading the Department of Physics and the
Bates Linear Accelerator Center; furthermore, he was the founding director of MIT
Energy Initiative and the director of MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment.
Under him is Deputy Secretary Daniel B. Poneman with a similarly impressive resume
having been in the department since 1989 and being Director of Defense Policy and Arms
Control for the National Security Council. These two men are in charge of assuring that
the department achieves its goals and implements missions that will support the
presidents goals for growth in economy, enhancement in security, and protection for the
environment. The department is also responsible for managing the nuclear deterrent,
reducing nuclear danger for the country, healing the damage from the Cold War, and
leading the country in the topics of science and clean energy technology. These tasks
have been addressed throughout its history in different manners and with different levels
of effectiveness.
There have been multiple oil spills that have caused millions and billions of
dollars in damage and even more damage to the eco-system. However, this department
and its laboratories are constantly working with nuclear matter and even antimatter in
2010 when they were successful in capturing it in a magnetic bottle. But, these other very
dangerous materials have been handled and used safely and effectively. We havent had
any major nuclear leaks in the United States that were caused by our own nuclear plants,
and the weapons that are being produced by it have been safely maintained. It has had
numerous great achievements such as actually capturing antimatter (which up until recent
years was only a theory), producing robot security patrol vehicles, hundreds of
innovations to clean energy as well as alliances to move further and quicker together with
Canada and other countries as well, and scientific victories such as manufacturing a Z
Machine which produces plasma at a temperature hotter than the interior of some stars.
Along with this is millions of other successes and failures which have had a huge impact
on our planet and country, but it is largely responsible for our conditions in society and
progression throughout the decades.
My personal opinion may differ from someone who has a different view on
society and their environment, but I feel that this program has been very effective and
successful at accomplishing most of its tasks. The main task I feel is for them to continue
innovating, discovering, and developing new techniques for clean energy systems. We
have come a long way from where we used to be and although it has felt like slow
movement, its been very significant if you look at it on a different scale. We havent
been around for too many years and there have been more breakthroughs than in most
other countries, empires, or regions. Plus, we havent had any huge nuclear explosions so
obviously they arent doing too terribly.
Overall, this countrys department of energy is responsible for assuring that we
progress in our field of clean energy to help take the toll off our planet and environment;
progress in our safety and security level and technology; progress scientifically by
achieving new levels of understanding and implementing our discoveries into society to
benefit the country and world. With such outstanding leadership and epic breakthroughs,
its safe to say that the pros outweigh the cons, meaning that it is an effective program
and vital for our nation.