Disregarding the Obama administration’s requested funding cut to the Department of Energy‘s fossil energy research and development, House appropriators Tuesday released a subcommittee draft budget bill increasing that funding by $13 million above the fiscal 2016 level. “The bill reflects the national importance of these projects, and rejects the Administration’s proposal to reduce new funding for these accounts,” the draft summary explains.
The administration requested $600 million in funding for fossil energy R&D in the next budget, cutting the programs by $32 million from the current level. Under Tuesday’s subcommittee draft, these programs are funded at $645 million. “The bill prioritizes and increases funding for energy programs that encourage U.S. economic competitiveness and that help advance the nation’s goal of an ‘all-of-the-above’ solution to energy independence,” the summary says. Among other things, such as oil and natural gas research, the budget for fossil energy R&D funds the department’s exploration of carbon capture utilization and storage technology.
The increase is not unexpected. In fact, this has been a regular occurrence in the appropriations process for fossil energy R&D in the Republican-controlled Congress. “Today you present us with an energy budget that slashes funding for coal research in favor of renewable energy. Congress has repeatedly restored funding for coal research and development, and in doing so has sent a very clear message about our priorities for our national energy policy,” House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) said to Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz during a March 1 subcommittee hearing.
Funding for renewable energy R&D was slashed significantly in the subcommittee draft, $248 million less than enacted for fiscal 2016 and more than $1 billion below the White House request. These programs “have already received significant investments in recent years,” according to the summary.
During last year’s appropriations process, the administration requested approximately $560 million for fossil energy R&D program, nearly matching the prior year’s funding level. Appropriators ultimately funded the program at $632 million.
Fiscal 2017 begins on Oct. 1.
