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Four charts that show the U.S. spends too little on energy research

At his confirmation hearing last week, Energy Secretary nominee Ernest Moniz told the Senate that the United States spends far too little on energy R&D. “We are underinvesting by a factor of three,” he said, directly citing AEIC’s previous statements. Indeed, although U.S. energy R&D has been growing in recent years, levels are still below their peak in the 1970s — and they’re set to drop in the years ahead. We’re spending less on R&D to develop various clean-energy technologies than groups like the International Energy Agency have recommended. Moreover, federal energy R&D is lower than what a variety of experts have argued is necessary to tackle climate change.

The article was written by Brad Plumer and can be read on the Washington Post Wonkblog.

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