SCHAEFER-KLUG RENEWABLES AMENDMENT VOTE TODAY

[Lisa Marina Brooks <lbrooks@Citizen.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
  
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