July 12, 2002—The House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee approved in late June an 8% increase in U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s energy efficiency funding for Fiscal Year 2003.
According to Subcommittee figures, the Administration had requested an $11 million cut in the 2003 budget for energy efficiency, but the Subcommittee restored that and added another $72 million above the 2002 spending level of $913 million.
Research by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE)
in addition to that of the National Academy of Sciences and DOE’s internal review, has shown that DOE’s energy efficiency programs return $4 to $75 in economic benefits for each federal dollar spent. That doesn’t include the benefits energy efficiency creates by reducing air pollution or improving energy security.
Among the highlights of the Subcommittee’s bill:
- $16 million in new funds for research, design, and deployment (RD&D) for distributed generation technologies such as combined heat and power
- an additional $20 million for the low-income weatherization program
- $11 million in additional funding for industrial RD&D programs
While the overall increase is encouraging, some important areas remain significantly under-funded, says the ACCEE, such as appliance standards and building R&D.
The Subcommittee recommendation must also pass the full Appropriations Committee and the full House. When the Senate completes its appropriations work, the two bills will be reconciled in conference. A final 2003 budget will most likely be completed by the end of September.
—Based on a report from ACEEE.
