922 



HISTORY OI THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 



in conservation and more efficient use of energy. To watch Thornton 

 operate is to appreciate how his ideas are generated, focused and refined 

 as, like fine wine, the) improve with age. Through careful questioning 

 ol expert witnesses, by hounding various suggestions against the 

 counter-suggestions of others, and by assimilating and coordinating 

 a vast amount of advice, Thornton gave the Energy Extension Service 

 clearer form as time went on. It started with Thornton's faith in the 

 success of the agricultural extension agents, and their closeness to the 

 people with whom they dealt. More and more people were drawn in- 

 to the "think tank,'' yet Thornton kept a firm hand on the central 

 theme lest it get lost in having too many cooks stir the broth. 



When the full committee assembled to mark up the ERDA authori- 

 zation bill in 1975, Thornton persuaded the committee to include a 

 section proposing the "Energy Extension Service". Even though no 

 funds were provided, ERDA was instructed in the House committee 

 report in 1975 to explore the possibilities of establishing the Service 

 "to provide expertise, consultation, dissemination of information, and 

 receive advice on the nature of energy use and problems." The report 

 added: 



Such a service could answer questions and give advice to individuals, businesses 

 and state and local government officials on energy conservation measures and alter- 

 native energy systems, for example, the use of home insulation, solar heating and 

 cooling equipment, or the cooperative use of solid waste by farmers and users to pro- 

 duce energy. 



During the summer of 1975, Symington and Thornton conducted 

 joint hearings on agricultural research and development. In October, 

 they held joint oversight field hearings at Texas A. & M. University, 

 the University of Missouri and Pine Bluff, Ark. They probed the 

 manner in which Agricultural Extension Service personnel oper- 

 ated, in order to apply the lessons learned in the energy field. In 

 October, Thornton was joined by Teague, McCormack and others in 

 the introduction of legislation embodying the structure of the pro- 

 posed plan. Thornton also interested a number of Senators, who then 

 introduced comparable legislation. 



When Dr. Seamans appeared before the full committee to present 

 an overview of the ERDA budget on January 22, 1976, Thornton asked 

 him whether there was any provision in the budget for the Energy 

 Extension Service, and Dr. Seamans responded: 



We have no funds in this budget for extension services of that sort. 



Since it did not appear that ERDA would undertake this func- 

 tion—as was so often the case when an idea did not originate "down- 

 town" the McCormack subcommittee arranged to have special hear- 

 ings on Thornton's bill at the end of March and early April of 1976. 



