DESTROYING THE FUTURE
THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL CUTS
RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCH FUNDING IN HALF
U.S. renewable energy research funding is already down about 80% in constant dollars since 1980.
On July 9, 2013 the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to cut it another 50%.
H.R.2609 -- Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2014 (Bill Text)
House Appropriations Press Release on Bill
The bill itself totals $30.4 billion, which is $2.9 billion below the fiscal year 2013 levels. (Committee on Appropriations, 7-10-13) The House Appropriations Bill Press Release gives further details about the Research Cuts: "To focus funding on those energy resources upon which the country currently relies, renewable energy programs are funded at $983 million – a cut by $911 million ( a 48% cut) below the fiscal year 2013 enacted level), and the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) program is reduced by $215 million (-81%)."
This is the exact opposite of what our country needs as is shown in our report "The Need For A Manhattan Project on Renewable Energy" (World Future Fund)
THE SENATE PROPOSES A MORE REASONABLE BILL
S.1245 -- Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2014 (Text of Bill)
Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Press Release (PDF)
The Senate Appropriations Committee has proposed their own Energy and Water Development Fiscal Year Appropriations Bill. It is now waiting to be passed by the Senate.
SEE A COMPARISON BETWEEN SENATE AND HOUSE BILL BELOW
A Comparison Between the Senate and House Energy and Water Appropriations Bills (Bipartisan Policy Center, 7-12-13)
RELATED LINKS
House Bill Cuts Renewable Energy Budget (Yahoo News, 7-10-13)
GOP bill would cut renewable energy spending in half (The Hill, 6-17-13)
China Leading Global Race to Make Clean Energy (New York Times, 1-30-10)