DOE to Terminate Three Energy-Related Federal Advisory Committees

On January 13, 2021, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced plans to eliminate three energy-related federal advisory committees and establish a new Fuels of the Future Advisory Board. The three committees to be terminated advised the Secretary of Energy on various aspects of alternative energy research. The Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee advised on biomass and biofuel research and provided evaluations and recommendations to the Biomass Research and Development Board. The Methane Hydrate Advisory Committee offered advice on the applications of methane hydrate, made recommendations to the methane hydrate research and development program, and contributed to Congressional reports regarding that program. Lastly, the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical Advisory Committee provided advice regarding the DOE’s hydrogen research and development, and consisted of representatives from academia, the fuel industry, financial organizations, and environmental groups. 

DOE indicated that it will replace the three terminated committees with a newly created  Fuels of the Future Advisory Board which will assist the Secretary of Energy with “the development of alternative fuels throughout the DOE.” The DOE notice details that the new advisory board will “develop recommendations on broad programmatic priorities for various alternative fuel research and development programs” which may include “the methane hydrate research and development program, bioenergy research and development, and the hydrogen and fuel cells research, development, and demonstration program.” While the objectives stated in the public notice align with the three advisory committees to be terminated, some have expressed concern that termination of the committees would lead to a loss of expertise and thus reduce the breadth and depth of advisory work.