January 31, 2007

Today, Congress took the first significant step in reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil by increasing the investment to the Department of Energy, in particular its Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) programs by $300 million as part of the Continuing Resolution, which ensures the federal government remains open and continues to provide services to the American people. Freshman Congressman, Ed Perlmutter, (D-CO) was instrumental in highlighting the need for this investment and securing the funding.

The Department of Energy’s EERE Program is involved in investing in and helping develop alternative and renewable energy sources including ethanol, wind, solar, nuclear and photovoltaic energy.

“I am proud that I was able to come in and begin immediately to work with Reps. Mark Udall (D-CO) and Diana DeGette (D-CO), as well as the house leadership, on critical funding for this program,” said Perlmutter. “The crown jewel of renewable energy, the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), is about a half mile from my house in the 7th Congressional District, and the funding to this program is essential to the work NREL is doing.”

Last year at the State of the Union, the President acknowledged that America is addicted to oil. Yet, one week later in his annual budget he shortchanged the development of the alternative fuels and technologies needed to make America energy independent, and as a result NREL faced significant lay-offs.

This Continuing Resolution funds the government at FY 2006 levels (adjusted for increased pay costs). However, it does include additional funding for high priority needs that have bipartisan support, including the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy program.

“The bipartisan support shows that Congress is now willing to walk the walk on energy this year and commit to investing in renewable energy technologies,” said Perlmutter. “This investment is critical to ending our addiction to oil, and it is critical for our national security, creating new jobs and saving our environment”