The Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) was a United States government agency established in 1974. Its primary mission was to oversee and promote research and development in energy technologies, focusing on alternative energy sources and improving energy efficiency. ERDA aimed to address the energy crisis of the 1970s by fostering innovation in energy production and consumption. In 1977, the ERDA was merged with the Federal Energy Administration and the Energy Research and Development Administration to form the Department of Energy (DOE). This consolidation aimed to streamline energy policy and research efforts, ensuring a coordinated approach to the nation's energy challenges.