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February 9, 2006

Budget Cuts Force Layoffs at DOE's NREL

Golden, Colorado [RenewableEnergyAccess.com]

Just a week after President George W. Bush proclaimed his support for renewable energy technologies, the nation's premier renewable energy laboratory has been forced to announce layoffs because the Bush Administration's proposed budget doesn't adequately fund the laboratory's current staff.

"I appreciate how you have all responded to the challenges placed before us. NREL should now focus on the new opportunities and challenges that lie ahead."

-- Dan Arvizu, NREL Director, in a message to staff

Citing a $28 million budget shortfall, the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) reduced its staff by 32 people this week. Research programs affected by the layoffs include biomass, hydrogen and basic research.

In a related story published last week ("President's Energy Initiative Falls Short"), RenewableEnergyAccess.com reported widespread sentiment among industry watchers that the President's energy plan announced in the State of the Union speech said one thing but did another, lauding renewables while cutting the very budget items that support it, as in the slashing of funds for the DOE to support its National Energy Renewable Laboratory.

Another factor that exacerbated the budget situation for NREL is the vast amount of Congressionally directed projects, or earmarks, which reduced the budget available to the Department of Energy for funding renewable energy and energy efficiency research at the Laboratory, leaving $28 million less in operating funds for NREL for fiscal year 2006.

The Laboratory made substantial cuts in other areas, including travel, outside contracts and other operating expenses, before reducing staff. Of the 32, eight were research staff and 24 worked in support positions. Regular staff (27) affected by the layoffs will remain on payroll through Feb. 10 and will receive severance pay and job search help.

NREL Director Dan Arvizu, in a message to staff, said, "I appreciate how you have all responded to the challenges placed before us. NREL should now focus on the new opportunities and challenges that lie ahead."
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Reader Comments (10)
 
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February 9, 2006
Well I'm sure they can all find jobs in the nuc and coal industry. Our leaders disgust me!
Comment 1 of 10
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February 9, 2006
Why am I not surprised.
Comment 2 of 10
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February 10, 2006
Well with Scooter, testifying that Dick instructed him to leak the classified information and Abramoff saying that he met with George dozens of times and was even invited to the ranch. Even though George say's that he never met him if an impeachment cry isn't heard in the very near future!!! Then I can't imagine there's much hope left anyway
Comment 3 of 10
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February 10, 2006
The American government -- particularly the current edition -- counts on people having the attention span of a beer commercial. I'm surprised they haven't tapped NREL's phones or searched for WMD's there, either.

Guess there isn't enough contributions coming in from wind farms and farmer ethanol consortiums yet, to get the GOP's attention.
Comment 4 of 10
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February 10, 2006
It is amazing the number of people that simply believe whatever they hear the president say and don't bother to check the facts.
Comment 5 of 10
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February 11, 2006
Although the articles don't give specific details, NREL layoffs were reported a month or two ago siting increased congressional earmarks. Congress reduces available DOE budget by shifting funds to home projects and constituencies (some say pork), reducing available budget for DOE priorities. Give Bush some credit...he was the first governor with a successful RPS in Texas in 1999 (which many states have subsequently followed), ethanol production has boomed in his tenure, biodiesel is on the cusp of taking off, and he is promoting energy (including renewable) far more than recent administrations (e.g. 2005 EPAct, 2006 State of the Union, etc.).
Comment 6 of 10
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February 11, 2006
...as implied in the cartoon version of the president's speech:
http://www.current.tv/pods/supernews/PD01263
Comment 7 of 10
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February 11, 2006
History repeats and repeats. I don't know the circumstances behind this incident, but there is a long history of active suppression, as documented in these books:
Who Owns the Sun? (1996)
The Sun Betrayed (1979)
I recommend these highly. They are out of print, available from Alibris.com and other sources.
Comment 8 of 10
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February 11, 2006
I think the President is very removed from the actual decision making process on what gets cut. It wouldn't surprize me to learn that the laboratory staff were subcontractors of one sort or another. Very easy to simply fire when the budget gets tight. The problem is that the government worker's union will seldom allow a staff cut, even when the position is redundant or just not needed any more due to the advent of computerization. The system is broken, Bush just happens to be the man in charge when we miss the fat and cut off the meat instead. Bush is actually very right about energy independence, but very wrong on the path. Methanol is the way to go!
www.2020institute.org
Comment 9 of 10
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February 11, 2006

Comment 10 of 10
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