The link below is to a presentation by Dr. Raymond Orbach of the U.S. Department of Energy, discussing a new initiative from the DoE Office of Science to establish multiple Energy Frontier Research Centers in FY 2009. The final slide is particularly noteworthy, in that it provides information on the likely research areas to be funded. The funding announcement is to be released later in 2008.
• Conversion of Plants to Biofuels
• Solar Energy Utilization
• Solid State Lighting
• Electrical Energy Storage
• Superconductivity
• Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems
• Combustion of 21st Century Transportation Fuels
• Hydrogen Production, Storage, and Use
• Catalysis for Energy
• Materials Under Extreme Environments
• Geosciences for Nuclear Waste and CO2 Storage
http://www.er.doe.gov/News_Information/speeches/NASULGC-rev6.pdf