Context and Motivation for the ConferenceThese estimates are important means of assessing both the potential future benefits from public R&D, and the performance and results of past research efforts. Under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), federal agencies are required to report annually on their plans and performance. In his “management agenda,” President George W. Bush emphasized that the federal government needs to measure the effectiveness of its R&D investments and he chose "energy resources" as the first area to apply new R&D selection criteria, including their contributions to public benefits.1 The National Energy Policy identifies a number of such potential benefits, including energy security and environmental improvements.2 Improved methods of estimating the value of energy R&D can increase the effectiveness of future investments in it. A recent National Research Council (NRC) study developed a framework for evaluating the benefits of DOE’s past energy efficiency and fossil energy R&D programs.3 The study's implementation of this framework included conventional methods used in programmatic and economic analysis, as well as cutting-edge methods in need of further assessment and development. Overview of the Conference AgendaThe conference consisted of plenary sessions and workshops. The plenary sessions presented approaches currently used by DOE and other departments, identified legislative and other performance-measurement requirements, and discussed the use of a "straw person" methodological framework for identifying benefits of R&D programs. The four workshops addressed the following key topics:
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