Washington (Platts)--4Mar2009

US Energy Secretary Steven Chu has approved plans for how the Department
of Energy will spend much of the money it will receive from the $787-billion
economic recovery package signed by President Obama in February.

In its first weekly report on the stimulus, which was released Wednesday,
DOE said Chu has "reviewed and approved the spending plans" for the Office of
Science, the Office of Environmental Management, and part of the Office of
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

While the progress gives no further details, the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act authorized DOE to receive $1.6 billion for the Office of
Science, $5.6 billion for defense and non-defense environmental cleanup in the
Office of Environmental Management, and $16.8 billion for the EERE office.

In a spreadsheet posted to its web site Wednesday, DOE said it has taken
12 "major actions" so far, and has set an equal number of near-term goals to
develop and fund stimulus projects.

The report notes that DOE's Office of Public Affairs will issue a "press
release on contract ceilings."

The department has also met with the Department of the Treasury to begin
planning the administration of an investment tax credit program for renewable
energy technologies, and has met with energy lawmakers, the report said.

The report stems from a White House directive requiring DOE and other
agencies to issue regular reports on efforts to implement the stimulus
measure.