Prepare to be assimilated

[Tempest]

“House Science and Technology Committee yesterday approved legislation to establish a social and behavioral sciences research program at the Energy Department.

The Science Committee also approved three bills to focus DOE research on energy efficiency and advanced energy technologies through programs in advanced vehicle technologies, wind energy and natural gas turbines.
Rep. Brian Baird’s (D-Wash.) H.R. 3247, would authorize $10 million annually over six years to better understand why people make certain decisions about energy technologies in an effort to spur greater market adoption, he said.”

Rep. David Wu (D-Ore.) pointed to numerous studies that show how changes in behavior can lead to substantial energy savings without huge costs. He added that the $60 million price tag over six years, while significant, is worth spending if it will lead to “free savings.”

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) took GOP criticism of the bill one step further, arguing that establishing a program focused on changing people’s behavior oversteps the boundaries of the federal government’s role.”

Big Goverment Spends Taxpayer Dollars to Study Energy Behavior The Foundry