ACEEE concerned about funding cuts to Energy Department
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) officials are expressing reservations regarding the Trump Administration’s 2020 budget request, which proposes Department of Energy (DOE) funding reductions.
The proposal includes an 86 percent cut in new funding for the DOE’s office that handles popular and cost-saving energy efficiency programs while also seeking to fund the popular ENERGY STAR program entirely from user fees.
“This proposal, if enacted, would cause Americans’ energy costs to rise, while killing jobs around the country,” Steve Nadel, ACEEE executive director, said. “Energy efficiency directly supports 2.3 million U.S. jobs and indirectly, many more. In addition to putting these jobs at risk, these cuts run counter to the administration’s own goals of promoting economic growth and reducing wasteful spending.”
Nadal said the organization hopes Congress will stand up for business owners, workers and consumers by blocking the proposed 2020 budget cuts.
The Administration is proposing $343 million in new funding for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, which officials said represents an 86 percent cut from the prior year’s actual funding of $2.4 billion.
The ACEEE maintains the Environmental Protection Agency would eliminate the SmartWay program, Combined Heat and Power Partnership and other voluntary programs, as well as seek to make ENERGY STAR self-funding and cut funding for its vehicle emissions program.
