Congress Urged to Shift Funds to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

The letter specifically proposes changes in the Fiscal Year 2007 (FY'07) budget for the U.S. Department of Energy, which the 110th Congress is expected to consider shortly after convening on January 4, 2007. The groups recommended that the FY'06 programs for Nuclear Power R&D be cut by $206 million and those programs falling under Fossil Fuel R&D be cut by $183 million.

The groups' proffered recommendations include: fund all core DOE renewable energy and energy efficiency programs at no less than the FY'06 appropriated levels unless otherwise indicated below; restore the DOE geothermal research program to at least its historic level of $27.5 million; restore the DOE advanced and incremental hydropower research program to at least its historic level of $5.0 million; restore and maintain policy, research, development and demonstration funding for the DOE Distributed Energy program at the FY'06 level of $60 million; fund the DOE State Energy Program at the at the U.S. Senate FY'07 level of $49.5 million; fund the DOE Buildings Technologies program at the U.S. Senate FY'07 level of $95.3 million; and fund the DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program at the House and Senate FY'07 level of $148 million.

The groups noted that "a shift in federal funding from mature and/or polluting technologies to cleaner, safer, and sustainable energy sources offers the best option for curbing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing oil imports, and addressing the nation's other pressing energy and deficit-reduction needs within the constraints of a very tight federal budget."

Inquiries may be made to Ken Bossong of the Sustainable Energy Network at 301-588-4741, or via e-mail at sustainable-energy-network@hotmail.com.