ASME Urges Government Leaders to Support Programs Tied to the Nation's Energy Future

NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2010 – ASME is asking members of the United States Senate to support programs that the engineering society believes could catalyze innovation in energy research and development while moving the country a step closer to energy independence.

In a letter issued on Jan. 27, ASME urged members of Congress to direct funding to three programs within the Department of Energy (DOE) and National Science Foundation: Regaining Our Energy Science and Engineering Edge (RE-ENERGYSE), the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), and the DOE Innovation Hubs.

If funded adequately, ASME believes, the three programs could place scientists and engineers in the energy research and development pipeline, working “toward the collective goal of energy independence with clean energy sources.”

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the International Society for Optics and Photonics, and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers collaborated with ASME on the letter, which calls for reinvigorating and catalyzing scientists and engineers to make solid contributions to the energy future of the United States, particularly in the area of clean energy.

“Strong and sustained allocations for RE-ENERGYSE, the DOE Innovation Hubs, and ARPA-E will set the nation’s energy technology future on the path toward independence and prosperity,” says the letter, which represents an official position of the Society.

The letter represents the most recent correspondence from the Engineering Energy Policy Alliance, an initiative that ASME, in partnership with IEEE, launched in 2009. The aim of the Engineering Energy Policy Alliance is to share information relating to energy policy and to identify opportunities to collaborate on energy-related issues, projects, and activities.

About ASME ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real world challenges. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world.

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ASME Contact: John Varrasi varrasij@asme.org or 212.591.8158

Media contact: Regina Nisita rnisita@affectstrategies.com or 212.398.9680 ext 145