The DOE Energy Materials Coordinating Committee (EMaCC) serves primarily to enhance coordination among the Department's materials programs and to further effective use of materials expertise within the Department. These functions are accomplished through the exchange of budgetary and planning information among program managers and through technical meetings/workshops on selected topics involving both DOE and major contractors. In addition, EMaCC assists in obtaining materials-related inputs for both intra- and interagency compilations. This report summarizes EMaCC activities for FY 1999 and describes the materials research programs of various offices and divisions within the Department.

Escalating energy demand may be the most important issue facing the United States and the world today. There is little disagreement that research and development (R&D) is needed to develop new energy technologies for the future; however, there is less agreement over the specific research agenda to be pursued and how that agenda is funded. This book addresses the social importance of new energy technologies, illustrates policy-relevant applications of evaluation techniques and proposes new perspectives for a US energy investment strategy. Through detailed examples related to solar, geothermal, and vehicle technologies, the authors outline the need for robust evaluation methods to document social returns to taxpayers' R&D investments. They argue that such evaluations are necessary for the public sector to make rational decisions about the allocation of its scares resources. The evaluation methods considered involve developing alternative technology and market pathways from which the benefits of government research can be measured. Researchers and graduate students, policy makers involved in energy technology, and energy R&D program managers will all find much of value in this important and timely book.

The Department of Energy Materials Coordinating Committee (EMACC) completed its first year of activity in FY 1978. A major project during the year was to conduct a survey of topical areas and prepare the report, Survey and Analysis of Selected Topics within the Department of Energy's Materials Research and Development Programs. Seven topics selected were those that had a high level of Divisional interest and supplement those reported in FY 1977 in DOE/ET-0006. The topics and the EMACC panel leaders in charge of compiling information were: 1. Joining of Materials, E.E. Hoffman and E. Dalder; 2. Elastomers R. Nelson; 3. Catalysts and Catalytic Effects R. Epple; 4. Radiation Effects K. Zwilsky; 5. Superconductivity W. Clinton; 6. Cement and Concrete L. Kukacka BNL/R. Reeber; and 7. Alternate Materials R.R. Reeber The report summarizes over 250 projects in these areas and completes the initial review started by James Swisher FY 1977 EMACC Chairman.