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From: Tom Gray <tomgray@igc.org>

SCHAEFER-KLUG PASSES HOUSE BY WIDE MARGIN

The Schaefer-Klug amendment to restore funding for wind and other 
renewable energy research programs passed the U.S. House of 
Representatives this morning by a surprisingly wide margin of 279-135.  
We will have more comment on this soon.  Thanks very much to everyone 
who helped out in this effort.

Meanwhile, here is an update on the comparable Senate amendment.

                       LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
              **************************************
              *             from the               *
              *  AMERICAN WIND ENERGY ASSOCIATION  *
              **************************************
                          July 25, 1996


The following memorandum provides information concerning the 
status of efforts to restore renewable energy funding in the 
Senate.

To:       Sustainable Energy Budget Coalition

From:     Ken Connolly
          Office of Senator Jeffords

Re:       Renewables Amendment

Date:     July 24, 1996

Senator Lott has indicated that the Energy and Water
Appropriations measure will be considered on the Senate floor on
Thursday, August 1, 1996.  Prior to consideration of this
measure, the Senate must complete action on Agriculture, Foreign
Operations, VA/HUD/EPA, Interior, and Transportation
[Appropriations].  At the current rate, Energy and Water will not
be considered prior to the August recess, unless we work through
the August 2 adjournment date.  This is a possibility,
considering that the leadership is determined to pass all above-
mentioned appropriations measures before recess to avoid getting
caught in an extended CR [Continuing Resolution to fund programs
for which appropriations have not been passed].

Senators Jeffords and Roth forwarded the attached Dear Colleague
to all members on July 24.  The letter outlines their intentions
to offer an amendment to restore all DOE Solar/Wind/Renewable
programs to FY96 funding levels.  Negotiations are continuing
with appropriations staff with hopes that we will work this out
and avoid a floor vote.  However, at this time we are prepared to
take this amendment to a vote and are working as if every vote
counts.

We are requesting just over $30 million be transferred back into
the renewables account, the wind program be fully funded, and
that some programs eliminated in FY96 and FY97 appropriations
measures be funded.  An actual amendment has not been drafted at
this time to avoid offset backlash.  Identifying an offset one to
five weeks prior to consideration of the amendment gives
supporters of the raided account time to mount a significant
defense.

At this time, people that back the Jeffords/Roth amendment should
contact their Senate office here in D.C. and voice their support. 
As a Senate staffer, I look forward to talking with constituents
from back home who benefit from a federal program such as the
renewables account.  We're always arguing that these programs
create jobs in the booming renewable energy sector, so hearing
from these job holders/companies goes a long way.  I credit our
success in the Senate and broad bipartisan support for our
amendment last year to the hard work of many in the Coalition.

_______________________________________________________________

United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510


WIND/SOLAR RENEWABLES AMENDMENT
July 17, 1996

Dear Colleague:

When the Senate considers the FY97 Energy and Water
Appropriations bill, we will offer an amendment to maintain level
funding for renewable energy programs.  In the last two years,
funding for wind/solar/biomass and other renewable energy
research and development programs has been cut by more than 38%. 
In fact, federal funding for wind research has declined from $50
million in 1995 to $15 million in the most recent Senate version
of the legislation, while funding for international solar
programs has been eliminated.

Last year we offered an amendment to restore renewable energy
funding which was unanimously accepted by the Senate.  However,
during conference negotiations with the House, funding for these
important programs was again reduced.  This year we must avoid
further dismantling our nation's renewable energy programs.

Over the last decade we have effectively leveraged billions of
dollars of additional private, state, and local funding to
advance our nation's energy independence.  This assistance has
resulted in dramatic cost and performance improvements in wind
turbines, helped to maintain America's dominance in solar
technology development, and made it cheaper to produce ethanol
from agricultural, forest, and municipal waste.

Funding for renewable energy programs creates jobs in the booming
multi-billion-dollar global renewable energy market.  America
leads the world technologically in developing advanced renewable
instruments and products.  Some would have us surrender our lead
to foreign competitors, who clearly recognize the potential
market for clean and inexpensive renewable energy technologies. 
The European Community spends nearly four times more than the
U.s. on wind research and development, and Japan provides 300%
more support for solar development.  When our foreign competitors
are providing several times the support we do, we should not
accept any rollback in support for America's renewable energy
industries.

We hope you will support us in our efforts to protect these
important programs.

Sincerely,

Sen. James M. Jeffords (R-Vermont)
Sen. William V. Roth, Jr. (R-Delaware)