🚀 go-pugleaf

From: Tom Gray <tomgray@igc.apc.org>

                       LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
              **************************************
              *             from the               *
              *  AMERICAN WIND ENERGY ASSOCIATION  *
              **************************************
                          July 24, 1996


HOUSE TO VOTE TODAY ON SCHAEFER-KLUG
AMENDMENT TO RESTORE RENEWABLE ENERGY FUNDING

The House of Representatives is likely to vote late Wednesday on 
an amendment sponsored by Representatives Schaefer, Klug, 
Thurman, Minge, and Salmon to restore funds for the Department 
of Energy's renewable energy programs.

Attached is a one-page information sheet about the amendment.  
Please do whatever you can to support it.

The Senate is expected to take up the Energy and Water 
Appropriations bill early next week.  Senators Jeffords and Roth 
have circulated a letter to all Senators asking them to support 
an amendment to restore renewable energy funding to FY96 
(current year) levels.

___________________________________________________________________

SUPPORT THE SCHAEFER-KLUG-THURMAN-MINGE-SALMON AMENDMENT TO 
RESTORE FUNDING FOR DOE'S RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAMS IN HOUSE 
ENERGY AND WATER APPROPRIATIONS BILL (H.R. 3816)

BACKGROUND

As reported by the House Appropriations Committee, the Energy & 
Water Appropriations bill would cut funding for the U.S. 
Department of Energy's (DOE) renewable energy (solar, wind, 
geothermal, biomass, hydroelectric) programs by 16% from $275 
million in the current year (FY96) to $231 million in the coming 
year (FY97).  Last year, while overall non-defense discretionary 
funding was reduced by 9%, the renewable energy research program 
was cut 29% from the FY95 level of $388 million; the additional 
cut proposed for FY97 would result in a two-year reduction of 
over 40%.

AMENDMENT SPECIFICS

The amendment would restore $42 million to DOE's renewable 
energy programs.  Funds for this amendment would be provided by 
a 1.59% across-the-board cut in DOE's Energy Supply Research and 
Development programs, including the solar and renewable energy 
accounts.  This would reduce the solar and renewable energy 
accounts by $3 million to $227.3 million, but simultaneously 
free up $42.1 million that would be earmarked for solar and 
renewables, thereby bringing funds for those programs up to 
$269.3 million.

ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING THE SCHAEFER-KLUG AMENDMENT

Alliance to Save Energy
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
American Public Power Association
American Solar Energy Society
American Wind Energy Association
Biomass Energy Advocates
Business Council for Sustainable Energy
Citizen Action
Environmental Action Foundation
Environmental and Energy Study Institute
Environmental Defense Fund
Friends of the Earth
Fuel Cells 2000
Geothermal Resources Association
Izaak Walton League
League of Conservation Voters
National Association of State Energy Officials
National BioEnergy Industries Association
National Biofuels Association
National Hydropower Association
National Resources Defense Council
Nuclear Information and Resource Service
Public Citizen
Renewable Fuels Association
Safe Energy Communication Council
Solar Energy Industries Association
Sustainable New Wealth Industries
Union of Concerned Scientists
U.S. Public Interest Research Group
20/20 Vision National Project