Capitol Hill Funding Slotted for Renewable Energy

This represents an increase of $2 million from the program's original authorization of $23 million, the release states, and an increase over the FY06 funding level. The House has funded this program at $23 million, so differences will be worked out in conference.

Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee also funded the Value-Added Producer Grant Program (Sec. 6401) at $48 million -- $20 million discretionary and $28 million mandatory.

The increasingly important Federal Procurement Program of Biobased Products (Sec. 9002) is also fully funded at $1 million, plus an additional $1.5 million for research and labeling.

The Biodiesel Education program (Sec. 9004) is also fully funded at $1 million. The Biomass Research and Development Act is funded at $14 million, this is an increase of $2 million from FY06 funding level and the President's budget request for FY07, but does not come close to the programs new authorization of $214 million of mandatory and discretionary funding from the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-58). The House has all of the above-mentioned programs at the same funding levels.

The Senate bill was scheduled to go to full committee for consideration on June 22 and then to the Senate floor. The House and Senate will then conference their two bills later this year.