Identify "all of the above" energy strategy for the next five years by the Department of Energy

The US government really does have a plan for how advanced-drivetrain technology will help the country meet its goal of cutting petroleum imports in half by the end of the decade, which means US emissions will need to be 17 percent lower than they were in 2005. The plans involves, among other things, battery improvements, hydrogen fuel-cell technology, biofuels and more vehicle-electrification advancements. Not to mention lions, and tigers and bears. Oh my.

The widest possible swath of companies can expect to benefit from the government-funded efforts.

The details are laid out in the Strategic Plan 2014-2018 (PDF), which the Department of Energy released last week. And it admittedly and proudly takes an "all of the above" approach when it comes to transportation-related petroleum-dependence reduction over the next four years, meaning that the widest possible swath of companies can expect to benefit from the government-funded efforts (thanks, politics). The plan also says the US will double the amount of energy produced by renewable sources such as wind, sun and geothermal sources. A lot of public-private partnerships will continue to be involved, and we envision many photo opportunities.

Check out the Department of Energy press release below and take a look at the 27-page plan here.

Department of Energy Releases 2014 Strategic Plan

Washington, D.C. - The Department of Energy today released its 2014 Strategic Plan, a comprehensive blueprint to guide the agency's core mission of ensuring America's security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions.

"Following this roadmap, the Department will continue building a cleaner energy environment, strengthening our economy, creating jobs, and fostering innovation in the process," said Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. " The priorities outlined in this plan are critical to advancing the nation's energy security and providing for a more secure and prosperous country for future generations."

The DOE Strategic Plan is organized into 12 strategic objectives aimed at three distinct goals – Science and Energy, Nuclear Security and Management and Performance. These objectives represent the broad cross-cutting and collaborative efforts taking place across the Department's headquarters, site offices, and national laboratories. These include, but are not limited to:

Advancing the goals of the President's Climate Action Plan by supporting prudent development, deployment, and efficient use of "all of the above" energy resources that also create new jobs and industries;

Delivering the scientific discoveries and major scientific tools that transform our understanding of nature and strengthen the connection between advances in fundamental science to technology innovation;

Maintaining the safety, security, and effectiveness of the nation's nuclear deterrent without nuclear testing; and

Strengthening key science, technology, and engineering capabilities and modernizing the national security infrastructure.