DeGette Presses Energy Secretary About NREL
February 7, 2008
Vice Chair Raises Serious Concerns about Bush Administration’s Commitment to Renewable Energy
WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the release of the Bush Administration's 2009 budget proposal for the Department of Energy, Energy and Commerce Committee Vice Chair Diana DeGette (D-CO) chaired today's Energy and Commerce Committee hearing examining the Department of Energy's Fiscal Year 2009 budget proposal with Samuel W. Bodman, the Secretary of Energy, testifying. With renewable energy at the forefront of the new economy, DeGette pressed the Secretary on budget cuts to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) located in Colorado.
Below are DeGette's opening remarks as prepared for delivery:
"Mr. Secretary, thank you so much for being here today, and for your service to the country.
"I'd like to spend my limited time today focusing on funding for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located in Colorado.
"As I'm sure everyone here realizes, NREL is the world's preeminent renewable energy and energy efficiency research facility. At a time with oil prices approaching $100 a barrel, toxic greenhouse gas emissions increasing, and a mounting trade deficit exacerbated by our reliance on unstable and even dangerous regimes for our energy, one would think that the federal government would make it a priority to bolster its primary green energy research lab.
"Sadly, the budget before us proposes to slash funding for NREL.
"Mr. Secretary, when you appeared before this committee a year ago, you assured me that what appeared to be an NREL funding cut was indeed not a cut, so I'll be interested in hearing what you have to say later today.
"Last year you gave me a very general response about other funds potentially being available at a later date. But what was clear then is clear now: this administration has decided that a major investment in this laboratory is just not worth it.
"Luckily, in one of its first acts, the new Congress injected about 100 million dollars into NREL February of 2007. And later that year we passed the FY08 budget that had further investments in NREL.
"We are doing our best to repair the damage caused by years of insufficient funding. But I must admit, Mr. Secretary, our job is made much more difficult when your budget proposes to slash funding by 22%.
"Rhetoric about clean energy is all well and good, but it's time we put up the money to back it up. Thank you, Mr. Chairman."
Below are DeGette's opening remarks as prepared for delivery:
"Mr. Secretary, thank you so much for being here today, and for your service to the country.
"I'd like to spend my limited time today focusing on funding for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located in Colorado.
"As I'm sure everyone here realizes, NREL is the world's preeminent renewable energy and energy efficiency research facility. At a time with oil prices approaching $100 a barrel, toxic greenhouse gas emissions increasing, and a mounting trade deficit exacerbated by our reliance on unstable and even dangerous regimes for our energy, one would think that the federal government would make it a priority to bolster its primary green energy research lab.
"Sadly, the budget before us proposes to slash funding for NREL.
"Mr. Secretary, when you appeared before this committee a year ago, you assured me that what appeared to be an NREL funding cut was indeed not a cut, so I'll be interested in hearing what you have to say later today.
"Last year you gave me a very general response about other funds potentially being available at a later date. But what was clear then is clear now: this administration has decided that a major investment in this laboratory is just not worth it.
"Luckily, in one of its first acts, the new Congress injected about 100 million dollars into NREL February of 2007. And later that year we passed the FY08 budget that had further investments in NREL.
"We are doing our best to repair the damage caused by years of insufficient funding. But I must admit, Mr. Secretary, our job is made much more difficult when your budget proposes to slash funding by 22%.
"Rhetoric about clean energy is all well and good, but it's time we put up the money to back it up. Thank you, Mr. Chairman."