[NukeNet] 100+ organizations urge new Congress to shift energy funds

[Michael Mariotte]

Dear Friend:

 

In just five days-including Christmas Day!-more than 100 organizations
signed the letter urging the new Congress to shift energy funding from
nuclear power and fossil fuels to renewable energy and efficiency
programs.

 

This is really a historic coalition, composed of most of the major
renewable energy trade associations, safe energy groups, businesses and
more. We intend to build on this first effort throughout 2007. With your
help, we can make this needed shift in energy priorities a reality.

 

Many thanks for your sign-ons, comments and help. The press release is
below-please share with your local media. The full text of the letter,
along with signers, is at
http://www.nirs.org/nukerelapse/congactions/energyshiftreleaseletter1227
06.pdf

 

Happy New Year!

 

Michael Mariotte

Executive Director

Nuclear Information and Resource Service

 

 

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY NETWORK

8606 Greenwood Avenue, #2; Takoma Park, MD 20912 301-588-4741;
sustainable-energy-network at hotmail.com

 

 

News Release

 

102 BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS URGE CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS TO SHIFT R&D
FUNDS IN FY'07 BUDGET FROM NUCLEAR AND FOSSIL FUELS TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY
AND RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAMS

 

For Release: Wednesday, December 27, 2006

 

Contact: Ken Bossong 301-588-4741

 

WASHINGTON DC -- In a letter delivered today to congressional leaders,
102 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; and

 

* 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)

 

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