DOE Sets Spending Plan for $1.474 Billion in New EERE Funds

March 21, 2007

DOE released its spending plan on March 16th for funds appropriated by last month's continuing resolution, which included $1.474 billion for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). Compared to the appropriations for fiscal year (FY) 2006, DOE's spending plan will more than double the funding for EERE's programs in hydrogen technology, solar energy, and biomass and biorefinery systems research and development. The plan also increases funding for research in wind energy and energy efficiency technologies for vehicles, buildings, and industries. DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory fares well under the plan, garnering $83 million to build a new integrated biorefinery research facility and a research support facility, along with more than $24 million for operation and maintenance of its existing facilities. Other programs that will see funding increases under the new plan are the Federal Energy Management Program, the State Energy Program, and the International Renewable Energy Program.

In mid-February, Congress passed and President Bush signed a bill that will provide continued funding for the federal government for the remainder of fiscal year (FY) 2007, which concludes at the end of September. Such "continuing resolutions" are enacted in lieu of the traditional budgetary process. The bill set a one-month deadline for DOE to report back to Congress with its spending plan. According to DOE, the spending plan will also allow the DOE Office of Science to award funding for three bioenergy research centers. See the DOE press release, pages 5 and 6 of the DOE spending plan (PDF 62 KB), and for background, an article on the continuing resolution from the February 21st edition of the EERE Network News. Download Adobe Reader.