The House Appropriations Committee today released the FY12 Energy and Water and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, which will be considered in the Energy and Water Subcommittee tomorrow.
The legislation provides the annual funding for the various agencies and programs under the Department of Energy, including the Office of Science, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, as well as the Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and various regional water and power authorities. The bill released today totals $30.6 billion – a cut of $5.9 billion below the President’s FY12 request and $1 billion below FY11 enacted levels – which brings the total cost of the bill to nearly the FY06 funding level.
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE): The bill provides $1.3 billion total, $491 million below the FY11 enacted level and $1.9 billion below the President’s request. Of note:
- Solar Energy: The bill provides $166 million total, $97 million below the FY11 enacted level and $291 million below the President’s request.
- Fuel Efficient Vehicle Technologies: The bill provides $254 million total, $46 million below the FY11 enacted level and -$334 million below the President’s request. These funds are used to improve fuel efficiency with better engines, better batteries and engines that burn clean, domestic fuel. The bill also reduces Vehicle Technology Deployment by more than $200 million, a program which expands electric transportation initiatives.
- Building Technologies: The bill provides $150 million total, $61 million below the FY11 enacted level and $321 million below the President’s request. These funds are used to research energy-efficient technologies in buildings which account for roughly 40% of all US energy use. The bill also proves no funds for the Race to the Green competitive grant program which incentives streamlined energy efficiency regulations, codes and performance standards through a competitive grant process.
- Biomass and Bio-Refinery Research and Development: The bill provides $150 million total, $33 million below the FY11 enacted level and $191 billion below the President’s request.
- Weatherization Assistance: The bill provides $33 million total, $141 million below the FY11 enacted level and $287 million below the President’s request.
View the FY12 Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee Summary Table here.