Grainnet

Washington, DC -- In a letter delivered Dec. 27 to congressional leaders, 103 business, consumer, environmental, energy policy, and other groups urged that federal energy research and development funds be shifted from fossil fuel and nuclear power programs to those supporting renewable energy and energy efficiency.

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.

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."

The groups' proffered recommendations include the following:

-- 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;

-- Fund the DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program at the House and Senate FY'07 level of $148 million.

To "offset the very modest increases in the sustainable energy accounts we are proposing as well as to reduce the size of the federal budget deficit," the groups recommended that the following programs be targeted for cuts:

Nuclear Power R&D:

-- Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (FY'06 budget was $60 million)

-- Nuclear Power 2010 (FY'06 budget was $66 million)

-- Generation IV (FY'06 budget was $55 million)

-- Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative (FY'06 budget was $25 million)

Fossil Fuel R&D:

-- Clean Coal Initiative (FY'06 budget was $50 million)

-- FutureGen program (FY'06 budget was $18 million)

-- Oil Technology Research and Development Program (FY'06 budget was $65 million)

-- Ultra-deepwater Drilling Research and Development Fund (FY'06 budget was $50 million)

For more information, contact Kenneth Bossong at 301-588-4741.

See Related Websites/Articles:

• Sustainable Energy Network
• Full Letter

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