The U.S. House Energy and Water Development Subcommittee passed an appropriations bill with $2.52 billion for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) programs, an increase of $1.26 billion over the White House’s budget request and $796.1 million over the fiscal year 2008 enacted level.
In addition the fiscal year 2009 bill provides $305 million for Vehicle Technology research, an increase of $84 million over the budget request and $92 million over the current year, to pursue technology breakthroughs to reduce petroleum use by automobiles. The bill also provides $250 million for Biomass and Biorefinery Systems Research and Development, an increase of $25 million over the budget request and $52 million over the current year, to research advanced technologies that will enable future biorefineries to convert cellulosic biomass to fuels, chemicals, heat and power.
Beyond that, the bill provides $500 million not in the budget request for new federal assistance programs authorized in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. That funding includes $25 million for Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Grants to retail and wholesale motor fuel dealers for installation and storage of renewable fuel blends, $295 million for Energy Efficiency Block Grants, and sufficient funding to support $1 billion in direct loan obligational authority for the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive Program, which provides direct loans for automakers and suppliers converting their facilities to manufacture new vehicles that are more fuel efficient and less dependant on fossil fuels.
The recommended bill also includes $241 million in new funding and directs the use of prior year balances for carbon capture demonstration initiatives for fossil fuels.
The Committee’s recommendation for nuclear energy research and development provides $200 million for GEN IV nuclear reactor technology, an increase of $130 million over the President’s request, but provides no funding for the Administration’s Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP).
The bill supports the Administration’s request to extend the loan guarantee authority for Innovative Technology projects through fiscal year 2011, and the recommendation includes $18.5 billion in loan guarantee authority for energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, an increase of $8.5 billion in authority over previous limitations.
Total funding for energy and water development in fiscal year 2009 is $33,265,000,000. This funding amount
represents an increase of $2,078,300,000 above the President’s budget request and $2,377,000,000 above the amount appropriated in fiscal year 2008.
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