Feb 6, 2007 7:02 pm US/Mountain
Nat'l Renewable Energy Lab Frustrated With Funding
by Paul Day
GOLDEN, Colo. (CBS4) ―
The National Renewable Energy Lab, based in Golden, thought it would reap the benefits of a pledge by the president to boost research for alternative fuels, but now it's in the battle for federal funding.
Its immediate financial future may be bright, but for next year and beyond where NREL's budget becomes controversial.
NREL is already a national leader in helping to develop wind & solar power, and now it's using non-edible plants to make fuel for transportation, a process called cellulosic ethanol.
President Bush highlighted the potential of cellulosic ethanol in his most recent State of the Union address.
That's why NREL is hopeful its current request for increased funding may be approved.
"The fact NREL is getting whip sawed in its funding year to year to year is not helpful at all what we need is a consistent funding stream," said Rep. Mark Udall.
Dozens of NREL workers were laid off a year ago because of budget cuts, but just before a presidential visit to the Golden facility, funding was restored. Many of the workers who'd been laid off were allowed to return.
Now, under a continuing resolution passed by the House, it appears NREL could get an additional $50 million for its top two priorities.
The first is $20 million to fund new research for celulosic ethanol, the other is $30 million for new equipment for advanced solar technology.
If the short-term funding prospects seem bright, it's the long range priority that concerns two Colorado congressmen.
"If we really want to be energy independent we've got to make the investments now," Udall said.
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"The numbers just don't seem to make sense," said Rep. Ed Perlmutter.
The primary source for NREL's budget comes from the administration's Department of Energy. In 2006, $160 million was requested and authorized.
The 2007 request was for $171 million, but because it was never approved, NREL had to make do with the 2006 funding level. That could increase to $210 million if the continuing resolution is fully approved. However, in the recently released budget for 2008, the Department of Energy is only asking for $165 million for NREL, a reduction from what was requested last year.
"The current budget which we just received doesn't seem to reflect what the president talked about in his state of the union address," said Perlmutter.
"If we don't fund NREL at same level as we fund fossil fuel research and nuclear research than we're not going to have the results we want which is a country that's energy independent," Udall said.
The 2007 continuing resolution which increases NREL's budget by $50 million still must be approved by the Senate and signed by the president.
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