DOE 40th Anniversary TImeline

PROMOTING our ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration with headquarters in Denver, Colorado is established.

1977

Launch of EnergySmart Hospitals initiative to increase use of energy efficient technologies in hospitals across the U.S.

2008

The Department marshalls the resources of the national laboratories to aid in mitigating the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

2010

First federally sponsored wind generator begins to provide electric power to local community.

1978

Ground breaks for INL Center for Advanced Energy Studies.

Nation’s two largest experimental synthetic fuel plants that convert coal into liquid fuel complete long-term continuous runs.

1981

Five National Laboratories join Stanford Human Genome Center to advance genomics in support of clean energy generation and environmental clean-up.

2007

2006

Cybersecurity tool is created for utilities to strengthen protection of nation’s electric grid from cybersecurity threats.

SLAC designs low-cost, long-life flow battery to enable solar and wind energy as major suppliers to electric grid.

2012

2013

New round of clean coal technology projects valued at more than $1.3 billion selected.

Elk Hills Naval Petroleum Reserves No.1 near Bakersfield, California, operated by Energy Department, produces one-billionth barrel of oil.

Researchers at PPPL produce world record of more than three million volts of controlled fusion power.

1988

1992

1993

Federal government exceeds goal of obtaining 2.5% of electricity needs from renewable energy sources by September 30, 2005.

2005

DOE carbon capture and storage projects reach milestone of safely capturing 10 million metric tons of CO2.

2015

Ground breaks on new Science and Technology Facility at NREL.

2004

The Energy Investor Center is established to build bridges with the private sector and unshackle domestic innovation in energy technology.

2016

In January and February at the direction of Presidents Clinton & Bush, the Department took emergency regulatory actions that prevented a collapse of natural gas and electricity utility services in northern California after the bankruptcy filing of Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

2001

U.S. on track to become net exporter of natural gas for the first time in 60 years.

2017

PROGRESSING our SCIENCE

Fusion researchers at PPPL achieve record temperature of 60 million degrees celsius using neutral beam injection.

1978

Argonne develops catalyst to help diesel truck manufacturers eliminate harmful nitrogen-oxide emissions from exhausts.

2007

DARHT facility fully operational to assess and certify the aging U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without underground nuclear testing.

2008

World’s first superconducting particle accelerator undergoes successful test at Fermilab.

Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF), later renamed Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, is established.

1983

1984

LLNL discovers the newest superheavy element, element 118.

2006

Linac Coherent Light Source opens as the world’s first and most powerful X-ray laser at SLAC.

2010

INL is established.

2005

PNNL’s new supercomputer is ready to run computationally intense climate and biological simulations along with other scientific programs.

2013

Stockpile Stewardship Program is inaugurated.

First National Science Bowl is held.

1991

Human Genome Project successfully completes sequencing of 3 billion DNA letters more than two years ahead of schedule.

1993

Z Machine breaks new limits.

William R. Wiley Environmental Sciences Laboratory at PNNL opens, uses molecular science research for environmental cleanup solutions.

1996

Cassini spacecraft blasts off on mission to explore planet Saturn and its moon Titan, powered by three RTGs and 117 radioisotope heater units supplied by DOE.

2003

1999

1997

ORNL develops unconventional battery chemistry aimed at producing batteries that last longer than previously thought possible.

Scientists at Ames create new magnetic alloy that is an alternative to traditional rare-earth permanent magnets.

DOE announces a high-performance computing initiative that will help U.S. industry to accelerate the development of new or improved materials for use in severe environments.

2014

2015

2017

PROTECTING our NATION

Nuclear Emergency Search Team assists in recovering radioactive debris from break-up of Soviet Cosmos 954 satellite’s nuclear reactor.

1978

Pantex Plant efforts to refurbish the W87 nuclear warhead and extends its life by 30 years are successfully completed.

2004 Agreement with the government of Kazakhstan is signed to create a partnership under the Second Line of Defense program to prevent nuclear and radiological materials from falling into the hands of terrorists.

2006

Construction begins at SRS’ Defense Waste Processing Facility to process radioactive waste for permanent disposal.

1983

Following terrorist attacks on September 11, DOE sends personnel and equipment to New York City to aid disaster recovery effort.

2001 Cibola Flight Experiment by LANL launches aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas-5 rocket and is successfully placed in orbit 350 miles above Earth to monitor nuclear detonations.

2007

As part of Joint Verification Experiment, Soviet scientists join U.S. to monitor underground nuclear test in NV.

1988

NNSA is established to carry out national security responsibilities of DOE.

2000

First refurbished W76 nuclear warhead is accepted into the U.S. nuclear weapon stockpile by the Navy.

2009

Final shipment of damaged fuel from Three Mile Island nuclear reactor arrives at INL.

1990

Ground breaks for Tritium Extraction Facility at Savannah River Site to provide tritium for nuclear weapons replenishment.

2000

Largest fuel removal project in history removes more than 1,000 pounds of Russianorigin highly enriched uranium spent fuel from Poland.

2010

U.S. signs Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty to reduce nuclear weapons stockpile to 6,000 accountable warheads.

1991

SRS becomes preferred site for building and operating pit disassembly and conversion facility for disposal of surplus plutonium.

1998

Fourth experiment designed to improve our ability to detect underground nuclear explosions occurs.

2015

600 kilograms of highly enriched uranium is transported from Kazakhstan to Y-12 plant in Oak Ridge.

1994

Tennessee Valley Authority Watts Bar and Sequoyah reactors become preferred facilities for producing future supply of tritium.

1998

Installation of radiation detection system at Greece’ busiest checkpoint, Kipoi Border Station.

2017