PENNYWISE AND NEW ENERGY FOOLISH

Tea Party Gets US House To Throw Clean Energy Overboard
Jim Presswood, February 19, 2011 (Natural Resources Defense Council Staff Blog)

"The U.S. House passed a spending bill (H.R. 1)…that rolls back environmental protections and guts investments in clean energy…[T]he Tea Party Republicans are behind this effort that would increase pollution, harming human health and the environment…[and] stifle innovation in clean energy technologies…H.R. 1 slashes key Department of Energy (DOE) programs that promote clean energy by about $1.7 billion – approximately a 23 percent decrease from current levels…[though] 83 percent of Americans favor…[incentives for] ‘solar and other alternative energy sources’…

"…[In H.R. 1, the] Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Program (EERE) [is] cut by $775 million – a 35 percent decrease. EERE is pursuing groundbreaking research in clean energy technologies…[The] DOE Office of Science [is] cut by $886 million – an 18 percent decrease. The Office of Science plays an essential role in driving U.S. innovation providing nearly 40 percent of funding for basic research in physical sciences…"

With the U.S. falling farther and farther behind in the international race to lead the New Energy economy, it appears the nation is getting what it is paying for. (click to enlarge)

"…[The 30-year-old] State Energy Program (SEP) zeroed out…[E]ach dollar of SEP funds generates $7.22 in cost savings and leverages $10.71 of state and private funds…[The] DOE Loan Guarantee Program [is] cut by $25 billion for all technologies except for [nuclear]…[and] rescinds all funds provided to the program by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009…[potentially delaying or ending] every renewable loan application currently under review, including five projects where the conditional loans have already been issued…

"…[The] National Science Foundation (NSF) [is] cut by $359.5 million…[meaning] 500 fewer NSF research awards…5,500 fewer researchers, students, and technical support personnel…[and curtailment of] NSF support for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education programs…{And the] National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)…[is cut] $159.5 million, or 19 percent…"

Without spending on innovation, the energy policy wheel cannot turn. (click to enlarge)

"As bad as the bill is for clean energy, it could have been even worse. Some of the more egregious amendments [are] not included in the bill…These attacks on clean energy go against what strong majorities of our citizens want – more clean energy that strengthens our economy and national security, creates much-needed jobs, and improves our health and environment. There were, however, a couple of votes that give us some hope that bipartisan resistance to this onslaught will emerge…

"The Senate, rightly, seems to intend to ignore the House bill and return to sensible budgeting. And maybe once Congress finally funds the government – now that we’re five months into the fiscal year – they can turn to shaping energy policy. There are some signs that there could be bipartisan progress in the Senate. One recent example is Senator Lisa Murkowski’s (R-AK, Ranking Member, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee) co-sponsorship of an energy efficiency standards bill supported by environmental groups and industry. Clean energy, after all, is not a partisan issue – it’s just the right thing to do…"