DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE): Appropriations Status
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DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and
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Updated October 6, 2017
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R44980
DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE): Appropriations Status
Summary
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
(EERE) administers renewable energy and end-use energy efficiency technology programs in
research, development, and implementation. EERE works with industry, academia, national
laboratories, and others to support research and development (R&D). EERE also works with state
and local governments to assist in technology implementation and deployment. EERE supports
nearly a dozen offices and programs including vehicle technologies, solar energy, advanced
manufacturing, and weatherization and intergovernmental programs, among others.
Funding for EERE is provided in the annual Energy and Water Development (E&W)
Appropriations bill. At issue for the 115th Congress is the level of EERE appropriations and which
activities EERE should support, including whether to continue support for specific initiatives and
programs. On May 23, 2017, the Trump Administration submitted the budget proposal for
FY2018. The FY2018 budget request for DOE is $28.2 billion of which about 2% is for EERE.
The budget request for EERE is $636.1 million, a decrease of $1.5 billion, or nearly 70%, from
the FY2017 enacted level of approximately $2.1 billion. The proposed reduction, if enacted,
would affect all offices within EERE.
For FY2018, the bulk of the EERE request is allocated to three areas: 25% for energy efficiency
programs, 21% for renewable energy programs, and about 29% for sustainable transportation
programs. The request estimates that two-thirds of the current portfolio of 2,500 multi-year
projects (e.g., early-stage R&D projects) would remain active in FY2018. DOE anticipates that
eliminating one-third of these projects would result in a reduction of approximately 30% in
EERE-funded full-time equivalent staff. The President’s request would include two specific
program eliminations: the Weatherization Assistance Program and the State Energy Program,
which received FY2017 appropriations of $225.0 million and $50.0 million, respectively. The
President’s request for EERE emphasizes early-stage R&D, limited validation testing and
simulation to inform R&D, and analysis to support regulatory activities. The DOE budget
justification states that funding for EERE would focus on “early-stage R&D, where the Federal
role is critically important, and reflects an increased reliance on the private sector to fund laterstage research, development, and commercialization of energy technologies.”
There are several bills before Congress that recommend FY2018 appropriations for EERE. The
bills contain EERE funding levels that are below the FY2017 enacted level, but higher than the
President’s budget request. The House passed H.R. 3219, the Defense, Military Construction,
Veterans Affairs, Legislative Branch, and Energy and Water Development National Security
Appropriations Act, 2018, on July 27, 2017. Division D of H.R. 3219—which contains the E&W
appropriations—provides funding of $1.1 billion for EERE, $1.0 billion below the FY2017
enacted level and $449 million above the request. Floor amendments to H.R. 3219 reduced
funding for EERE in H.R. 3219 by $18.4 million from H.R. 3266, the House Appropriations
Committee version of the FY2018 E&W appropriations bill. H.R. 3266 would provide funding of
$1.1 billion to EERE—$986 million below the FY2017 enacted level and $468 million above the
request (H.Rept. 115-230). The Senate Committee on Appropriations reported S. 1609, the
Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2018, on July 20,
2017. S. 1609 would appropriate $1.9 billion to EERE—$153 million below the FY2017 enacted
level and $1.3 billion above the request (S.Rept. 115-132).
The President signed P.L. 115-56, the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 and Supplemental
Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2017 on September 8, 2017, providing
FY2018 funding at the FY2017 appropriations level through December 8, 2017.
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DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE): Appropriations Status
Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1
EERE Background .......................................................................................................................... 1
FY2015-FY2017 Appropriations..................................................................................................... 2
FY2018 Trump Administration Request ......................................................................................... 2
Sustainable Transportation ........................................................................................................ 3
Renewable Energy..................................................................................................................... 5
Energy Efficiency ...................................................................................................................... 7
Legislative Issues in the FY2018 Appropriations Process .............................................................. 8
Proposed Shift to Early-Stage Research and Development ...................................................... 9
Priorities for Sustainable Transportation ................................................................................. 10
Priorities for Renewable Energy ............................................................................................. 10
Priorities for Energy Efficiency .............................................................................................. 10
Support for Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs ................................................. 11
Tables
Table 1. EERE FY2015-FY2017 Enacted Appropriations and FY2018 Appropriations
Status .......................................................................................................................................... 12
Contacts
Author Contact Information .......................................................................................................... 13
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DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE): Appropriations Status
Introduction
Funding for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), including the Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy (EERE), is provided in the annual Energy and Water Development (E&W)
Appropriations bill.1 EERE supports renewable energy and end-use energy efficiency technology
research, development, and implementation. The funding level Congress decides to provide for
FY2018 could impact goals set by EERE and priorities identified in the Administration’s FY2018
budget request.
President Trump submitted his FY2018 budget request to Congress on May 23, 2017. The budget
requests $28.2 billion for DOE, a decrease of nearly $3 billion, or 9.5%, from the FY2017
enacted level.2 Nearly half of the reduction ($1.5 billion) in the DOE budget request would come
from EERE programs. The request specifies two EERE program eliminations: the Weatherization
Assistance Program and the State Energy Program. The funding level Congress provides could
affect continued support for these programs and other efforts within EERE including sustainable
transportation, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.
This report discusses the FY2018 EERE budget request and the proposed EERE funding levels
and priorities in the related E&W appropriations bills. It does not discuss the opportunities,
challenges, economic value, or commercial status of the various renewable energy technologies
and energy efficiency initiatives selected by EERE, nor does it delve into the goals of the
individual EERE programs or congressional oversight of certain EERE issues.3
EERE Background
EERE leads the DOE’s effort to support research, accelerate development, and facilitate
deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. EERE is led by the Assistant
Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and it is organized into four offices:
Office of Transportation, Office of Renewable Power, Office of Energy Efficiency, and Office of
Operations.4 EERE contends that it invests in what it considers to be the highest-impact activities.
The office collaborates with industry, academia, national laboratories, and others to develop
technology-specific road maps and then focuses funding on early stage research and development
(R&D), technology validation and risk-reduction activities, and the reduction of barriers to the
adoption of market-ready new technologies. EERE also manages a portfolio of research and
development programs that support state and local governments, tribes, and schools. In addition,
EERE oversees the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)—the only national
1 For a discussion of the appropriations status of the broader bill, see CRS Report R44895, Energy and Water
Development: FY2018 Appropriations, by (name redacted) and (name redacted)
.
2 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), FY2018 Congressional Budget Request, vol. 3 (May 2017).
3 For more information on clean energy, energy efficiency, and EERE programs, see CRS Report R44004, DOE’s
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: FY2016 Appropriations, by (name redacted)
; CRS Report R40913,
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Incentives: A Summary of Federal Programs, by (name redacted)
; CRS
Report RS22858, Renewable Energy R&D Funding History: A Comparison with Funding for Nuclear Energy, Fossil
Energy, and Energy Efficiency R&D, by (name redacted); and CRS Report R42147, DOE Weatherization Program: A
Review of Funding, Performance, and Cost-Effectiveness Studies, by (name redacted)
.
4 DOE was established under the Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-91). Section 203 of the act
identifies eight assistant secretary positions and their functions. EERE Organization Chart, February 12, 2016.
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DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE): Appropriations Status
laboratory solely dedicated to researching and developing renewable energy and energy
efficiency technologies.5
FY2015-FY2017 Appropriations
EERE funding is provided from the annual E&W appropriations bill.6 During the last several
years of the Obama Administration, the budget request sought to increase funding to support
EERE programs and objectives. Congress provided funding at levels lower than the request.
Appropriations for EERE have averaged $2.0 billion annually for the last three years in current
dollars (see Table 1). DOE categorizes EERE funding into four major categories: sustainable
transportation, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and corporate support (e.g., program
administration). From FY2015 to FY2017, approximately 30% of EERE appropriations
supported sustainable transportation, 35% went to energy efficiency, 23% went to renewable
energy, and 12% went to corporate support.
FY2018 Trump Administration Request
President Trump submitted his FY2018 budget request to Congress on May 23, 2017. The budget
requests $28.2 billion for DOE, a decrease of nearly $3 billion, or 9.5%, from the FY2017
enacted level. Nearly half of the reduction ($1.45 billion) in the DOE budget request comes from
EERE programs. The EERE request of $636 million is a nearly 70% decrease from FY2017.
According to the budget request, funding for EERE would focus on “early-stage R&D, where the
Federal role is critically important, and reflects an increased reliance on the private sector to fund
later-stage research, development, and commercialization of energy technologies.” For FY2018,
the bulk of the EERE request would be split among three areas: about 29% for sustainable
transportation programs, 25% for energy efficiency programs, and 21% for renewable energy
programs. Under the request, funding for both the Office of Sustainable Transportation and Office
of Renewable Power would decrease by 70% from FY2017 enacted levels. The Office of Energy
Efficiency would see funding decrease by 79% from FY2017 enacted levels, and funding for
corporate support would decrease by 18%. The budget request specifies two EERE program
eliminations: the Weatherization Assistance Program and the State Energy Program, which
received FY2017 appropriations of $225 million and $50.0 million, respectively.7 The request
would reduce EERE funded full-time equivalents (FTE) by approximately 30%.
Some of the goals, highlights, and major changes presented in the EERE FY2018 request, as
reported by DOE, are discussed below.
5 There are other national laboratories that conduct energy efficiency and renewable energy R&D, such as Argonne
National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory.
6 The E&W appropriations bill has funded all DOE offices and programs since 2005. Prior to 2005, DOE received its
appropriations from both the E&W appropriations bill and the Interior and Related Agencies appropriation bill.
7 The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) reduces energy costs for low-income households by increasing the
energy efficiency of their homes. WAP provides formula grant funding to 50 states, the District of Columbia, Native
American Tribes, and the five U.S. territories to support jobs and home weatherization services each year. The State
Energy Program (SEP) promotes the efficient use of energy and reduces the rate of growth of energy demand through
the development and implementation of specific state energy programs. SEP provides funding and technical assistance
to 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories.
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Sustainable Transportation
The Administration’s request for the Office of Sustainable Transportation is $184 million for
FY2018, $429 million (70.0%) less than the FY2017 enacted level of $613 million. Sustainable
transportation includes vehicle technologies, bioenergy technologies, and hydrogen and fuel cell
technologies.
Vehicle Technologies
Research priorities for FY2018 in vehicle technologies include the following:
Explore new battery chemistry and cell technologies to reduce the cost of electric
vehicle batteries by more than 50% (the ultimate goal is $80/kWh with a nearterm goal of $125/kWh by 2022), to increase range to 300 miles, and to decrease
charge time to 15 minutes or less.8 [$36.3 million]
Improve understanding of combustion processes to support industry development
of next generation engines and fuels to improve passenger vehicle fuel economy
by 50% from a 2009 baseline.9 [$22.0 million]
Create modeling, simulations, and high-performance computing-enabled data
analytics to contribute to the energy efficiency of automobiles, trucks, and other
vehicles building upon the prior-year Transportation as a System initiative.10
[$12.2 million]
Continue to support advanced materials research to enable lightweight, multimaterial structures that could reduce light-duty vehicle weight by 25% as
compared to a 2012 baseline.11 [$7.5 million]
According to the request, activities identified as later-stage development or a lower priority would
be terminated. These include but are not limited to electric drive technologies R&D, advanced
electrode processing research for lithium ion batteries, SuperTruck II, advanced vehicle testing
and evaluation (AVTE), work to optimize vehicle powertrains, engine enabling technologies,
particulate emissions control/after-treatment, lubricant R&D, reactivity controlled compression
ignition, advanced high-strength steel, safety statistics, vehicle technologies deployment
(including Clean Cities coalitions and Alternative Community Partner projects), and advanced
vehicle competitions.
Bioenergy Technologies
Research priorities for bioenergy technologies in the FY2018 request include the following:
8 According to DOE, battery and electrification technologies have the potential to play an important role in
transportation vehicles. For more information, see DOE, FY2018 Congressional Budget Request, vol. 3 (May 2017),
pp. 23-28.
9 According to DOE, the energy-efficient mobility systems subprogram seeks to enable industry innovation to improve
efficiency and reduce fuel use from future mobility technologies and applications. For more information, see DOE,
FY2018 Congressional Budget Request, vol. 3 (May 2017), pp. 29-32.
10 The advanced energy and fuel technologies subprogram uses predictive modelling, experimental combustion, and
emissions control technologies to inform industry in developing the next generation of engines and fuels. For more
information, see DOE, FY2018 Congressional Budget Request, vol. 3 (May 2017), pp. 33-37.
11 The materials technology subprogram supports lightweighting and powertrain efficiency improvements. For more
information, see DOE, FY2018 Congressional Budget Request, vol. 3 (May 2017), pp. 38-40.
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Develop a fundamental understanding of feedstock preprocessing and the
deconstruction of polymers within biomass to improve downstream conversion
efficiency and throughput.12 [$6 million]
Develop new advanced algal strains, approaches to culture management, and
methods of crop protection.13 [$5 million]
Support R&D in synthetic biology through the Agile BioFoundry and in new
catalysts through the Chemical Catalysis for Bioenergy (ChemCatBio)
consortium.14 [$34.6 million]
Collaborate with the Vehicle Technologies Program on the co-optimization of
fuels and engines to develop bio-based fuels/additives to enable 15-20% fuel
economy gain beyond projected results of existing R&D efforts.15 [$6 million]
Analyze pathways and strategies to achieve $2 per gallon gasoline-equivalent
(gge) and conduct sustainability research.16 [$5 million]
The proposed reduction in funding would include the termination of later-stage bioenergy R&D
activities including, but not limited to, pilot-scale and demonstration-scale projects.
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies
Priorities for FY2018 hydrogen and fuel cell technologies research include the following:
Support fuel cell R&D in catalysts, membranes, performance, and durability.
Conduct proof-of-concept testing and technical analysis coupled with highperformance modeling to enable development of platinum group metal-free
(PGM-free) catalysts and electrodes. 17 [$15 million]
Focus on applied materials research and early-stage component and process
development for hydrogen production, delivery, and storage.18 [$29 million]
Identify key areas for prioritization by assessing R&D gaps, planning, budgeting,
and identifying synergies with other energy sectors such as natural gas and
nuclear.19 [$1 million]
The FY2018 request for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies would discontinue or reduce laterstage and lower-priority research in several areas including but not limited to low-PGM catalysts,
balance of plant, low-cost 700 bar composite tanks, storage balance of plant components, cryocompressed on-board hydrogen storage R&D, measurement of program impacts and return on
investment, infrastructure financing analysis, and codes and standards support.
12 DOE, FY2018 Congressional Budget Request, vol. 3 (May 2017), pp. 54-56.
13 Ibid. pp. 57-58.
14 The Conversion Technologies subprogram aids in converting biomass feedstocks into transportation fuels and related
bioproducts. For more information, see DOE, FY2018 Congressional Budget Request, vol. 3 (May 2017), pp. 59-63.
15 Ibid., pp. 64-65.
16 Ibid., pp. 66-67.
17 Ibid., pp. 75-78.
18 Ibid., pp. 79-82.
19 Ibid., pp. 85-86.
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Renewable Energy
The Administration’s request for the Office of Renewable Energy is $134.3 million for FY2018,
$317 million (70.2%) less than the FY2017 enacted level of $451 million. Renewable energy
includes solar energy, wind energy, water power, and geothermal technologies.
Solar Energy
Research priorities in the FY2018 request for solar energy include the following:
Address the challenges of higher levels of grid integration and focus on tools and
technologies to measure, analyze, predict, protect, and manage the impacts of
solar generation on the grid.20 [$18 million]
Support research to better understand high temperature component design for
higher efficiencies. Investigate advanced diffusion-bonded heat exchangers and
new concepts for collecting and harvesting light.21 [$8 million]
Support 2030 SunShot target through research on emerging photovoltaic
technologies and physics and materials science to improve microelectronics
reliability, performance, and durability.22 [$43.7 million]
The FY2018 request for solar energy would discontinue funding for the Balance of Systems Soft
Cost Reduction subprogram and Innovations in Manufacturing Competitiveness subprogram.23
Wind Energy
Priorities for FY2018 wind energy research include the following:
Continue to support the Atmosphere to Electrons (A2e) initiative to develop
modeling and simulation capabilities that enable performance optimization of
wind plants.24 Address R&D challenges to the design and manufacture of lowspecific power rotors.25 [$26.7 million]
20 DOE, FY2018 Congressional Budget Request, vol. 3 (May 2017), pp. 106-108.
21 Ibid., pp. 101-102.
22 The DOE SunShot Initiative aims to make solar energy a low-cost electricity source. SunShot 2030 goals include
$0.05 per kilowatt hour (kWh) for residential photovoltaics (PV), $0.04 per kWh for commercial PV, and $0.03 per
kWh for utility-scale PV. DOE, FY2018 Congressional Budget Request, vol. 3 (May 2017), p. 97. According to DOE,
in 2017, residential PV is $0.16 per kWh, commercial PV is $0.11 per kWh, and utility-scale PV is $0.06 per kWh; see
https://energy.gov/eere/sunshot/sunshot-initiative-goals.
23 The Soft Costs Reduction subprogram addresses challenges associated with the non-hardware costs of solar
including financing, permitting, installation and labor, and inspections, which according to DOE are responsible for
more than half of the total cost of residential and commercial solar systems. For more information on the program, see
https://energy.gov/eere/sunshot/soft-costs.
24 A2e is a multi-year initiative to improve wind plant performance and achieve cost reductions in wind energy
production.
25 Low-specific power rotors are typically larger in size to capture a greater area of the available wind. The increase in
rotor size has system-wide design implications and technical challenges. For more information, see DOE, FY2018
Congressional Budget Request, vol. 3 (May 2017), pp. 121-126.
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Continue research to improve wind energy grid integration and develop and
evaluate technology solutions to inform processes to address deployment issues
such as radar interference.26 [$3.8 million]
Refocus modeling and analysis on evaluation of early-stage, transformative
science and technology opportunities.27 [$1.2 million]
The FY2018 request for wind energy would discontinue funding for later-stage R&D including
the technology validation and market transformation subprogram and wind plant performance
benchmarking.
Water Power
Research priorities for water power in FY2018 include the following:
Support early-stage research in modular hydropower systems, hydropower grid
reliability services, and novel hydropower turbines.28 [$11.7 million]
Develop tools to model and evaluate control strategies for marine hydrokinetic
(MHK) and test full sensor-based control algorithms in a wave tank setting.
Develop instrumentation for environmental monitoring instruments for harsh
marine environments.29 [$8.8 million]
The FY2018 request for water power would discontinue funding for later-stage development and
testing of MHK systems and components and research on the environmental impacts of MHK
technologies.
Geothermal Technologies
Priorities in the FY2018 request for geothermal technologies include the following:
Support research in the enhanced geothermal system (EGS) in the fundamental
relationships between seismicity, stress state, and permeability, and the validation
and verification of thermal hydro mechanical chemical models. These concepts
would be directly applied at the Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal
Energy (FORGE) EGS field laboratory.30 [$5.4 million]
Conclude final year of three-year hydrothermal effort at three national
laboratories targeting research on microhole drilling applications, self-healing
cements, and subsurface imaging. Support R&D in waterless stimulation to
reduce impact of geothermal development in water-limited areas.31 [$6 million]
Continue to support data collection and dissemination including input into the
Geothermal Electricity Technology Evaluation Model (GETEM), deployment of
a node on the National Geothermal Data System (NGDS) for researchers, and
26 DOE, FY2018 Congressional Budget Request, vol. 3 (May 2017), pp. 129-131.
27 Ibid., pp.132-133.
28 Ibid., pp. 147-150.
29 Ibid., pp. 151-154.
30 The purpose of FORGE is to conduct research and testing of drilling and technology to identify a replicable
commercial pathway for EGS. DOE, FY2018 Congressional Budget Request, vol. 3 (May 2017), pp. 163-165.
31 Ibid., pp. 166-167.
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deployment of integrated hydrothermal datasets into the NGDS to reduce time
and cost of determining geothermal potential.32 [$1 million]
The FY2018 request for geothermal technologies would discontinue funding for later-stage R&D
in the EGS topics of advanced stimulation, zonal isolation, and fracture propping tools; the
hydrothermal topics of wellbore integrity, subsurface stress and induced seismicity, and new
subsurface signals; and all low-temperature and co-produced resource topics.
Energy Efficiency
The Administration’s request for the Office of Energy Efficiency is $159.5 million for FY2018,
$602 million (79%) less than the FY2017 enacted level of $762 million). Energy Efficiency
includes advanced manufacturing, the federal energy management program, building
technologies, and the weatherization and intergovernmental programs.
Advanced Manufacturing
Priorities for FY2018 for advanced manufacturing include the following:
Support advanced manufacturing R&D for energy applications in high-impact
foundational technology areas. Prioritize high-performance computing for
manufacturing.33 [$41 million]
Support the manufacturing demonstration facility (MDF) and the Carbon Fiber
Test Facility (CFTF). Additional support would focus on early stage applied
research to address challenges in key technical areas for semiconductors and
manufacturing cybersecurity.34 [$27.5 million]
Continue to engage with the private sector to ensure that technical knowledge
and results from R&D are effectively transferred to the private sector for further
development or commercialization.35 [$13.5 million]
The request does not include funds for the Critical Materials Hub, Clean Water Hub, the five
Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institutes in the National Network for Manufacturing
Innovation (NNMI) program, or the Industrial Assessment Centers (IACs). The request notes that
these hubs and institutes previously supported later-stage demonstration and deployment
activities.36 Prior year balances would be used to wind down and terminate existing institutes.
Federal Energy Management Program
The federal energy management program would focus on the following:
Continue to support federal agencies in meeting statutory energy and water
management related goals and requirements and focus on reducing government
operating costs.37 [$10 million]
32 Ibid., pp. 170-171.
33 Ibid., pp. 180-181.
34 Ibid., pp. 182-183.
35 Ibid., pp. 184-185.
36 Ibid., p. 182.
37 Ibid., pp. 190-193.
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The request would not support the Federal Energy Efficiency Fund/AFFECT subprogram, which
previously provided grants to federal agencies to meet energy management requirements.
Building Technologies
The request for building technologies would focus on the following priorities in FY2018:
Support building energy R&D priorities such as cyber-physical systems for
buildings-to-grid R&D and solid state cooling and non-vapor compression
solutions for HVAC and refrigeration. Refocus on early-stage R&D for solid state
lighting, building envelope, and building energy modeling. Continue to support
fulfillment of U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center.38 [$29.5 million]
Refocus commercial and residential buildings integration on early-stage R&D
with emphasis on connected, efficient, and secure building systems and advanced
construction and retrofit design principles.39 [$12 million]
Limit energy conservation standard compliance activities to the minimum to
maintain compliance with statute.40 [$26 million]
The request would not support late-stage R&D. This includes but is not limited to eliminations of
funding for technology application R&D for solid-state lighting; cooperative research and
development agreements (CRADAs) for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration;
demonstration and deployment of transactive controls at the campus- and neighborhood-level;
early adoption efforts for high impact technologies; commercial buildings funding opportunity
announcements; and research evaluating linkages between energy efficiency and building
financial performance metrics. Energy Star efforts that would be eliminated include Home
Performance with Energy Star, test procedure development, and performance verification.
Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs
The Administration’s budget for FY2018 requests no funding for the Weatherization and
Intergovernmental Programs that partner with state and local organizations to facilitate
investments in states’ energy priorities.
Legislative Issues in the FY2018 Appropriations
Process
The House Appropriations Committee reported its version of the FY2018 Energy and Water
Development Appropriations bill with a manager’s amendment by voice vote on July 12, 2017.
The bill would provide funding for EERE of $1.1 billion—$1.0 billion below FY2017 and $449
million above the Administration request (H.R. 3266).41 H.R. 3266 was incorporated as Division
D of H.R. 3219, the Defense, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Legislative Branch, and
38 Ibid., pp. 203-210.
39 Ibid., pp. 211-217.
40 Ibid., pp. 218-219.
41 According to p. 178 of H.Rept. 115-230, the grand total for the bill is $37.641 billion accounting for $460 million in
rescissions; the grand total is $809 million below FY2017 and $3.453 billion above the Administration’s request. The
grand total on p. 4 of H.Rept. 115-230 is $37.562 billion, which includes an additional $79.376 million in scorekeeping
adjustments not reflected on p. 178.
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Energy and Water Development National Security Appropriations Act, 2018 (also referred to as
the Make America Secure Appropriations Act, 2018). The House passed H.R. 3219 on July 27,
2017. H.R. 3219 was received in the Senate on July 31, 2017.
The Senate Committee on Appropriations reported its version of the FY2018 Energy and Water
Appropriations bill, S. 1609, on July 20, 2017. S. 1609 would provide $1.9 billion for EERE—
$153 million below the FY2017 level and $1.3 billion above the Administration request (S.Rept.
115-132).42
The President signed P.L. 115-56, Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 and Supplemental
Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2017 on September 8, 2017, providing
appropriations at the FY2017 level through December 8, 2017.
There are several EERE issues before the 115th Congress. Concerns may include not only the
level of EERE appropriations for FY2018, but also which activities EERE should support.
Congress might consider whether the goals of EERE can be met with the proposed funding cuts
in the Administration’s request, or whether to limit the scope of federal R&D activities. The
issues described in this section—listed approximately in the order they appear in the Energy and
Water Development appropriations bills—were selected based on the total funding involved, the
percentage increases or decreases proposed by the Administration, and their possible impact on
broader public policy considerations. For H.R. 3219, the funding levels for specific offices and
programs are those specified in H.Rept. 115-230, the report accompanying H.R. 3266, which
reported $1.104 billion in total funding for EERE. The House-passed version of H.R. 3219 would
provide $1.086 billion for EERE, $18.4 million less than the committee-reported bill. It is unclear
how this reduction would be implemented. For S. 1609, the funding levels for specific offices and
programs are those that are in S.Rept. 115-132, the report accompanying the committee-passed
version of the bill. The reported funding levels are consistent with the total funding for EERE that
would be provided in the Senate committee bill.
Proposed Shift to Early-Stage Research and Development
According to the budget request, funding for EERE would focus on “early-stage R&D,” and
would result in a decrease of nearly 70% for EERE programs. The two appropriation bills before
Congress—H.R. 3219 and S. 1609—address the Administration’s request for EERE to focus on
“early-stage R&D” in different ways. According to H.Rept. 115-230, the report accompanying
H.R. 3266, the House appropriations bill reflects “a gradual shift towards early stage research and
development activities,” and includes “a limited scope of deployment activities.”43 The
appropriation recommendation in S. 1609 affirms “the importance of the development and
deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, which are critical to
expanding U.S. energy security and global leadership.”44 Both statements are supported with
proposed appropriations that would fund most EERE programs at levels above the
Administration’s request.
42 According to p. 148 of S.Rept. 115-132, the grand total for the bill is $39.27 billion accounting for $545.4 million in
rescissions; the grand total is $817 million above FY2017 and $5.078 billion above the Administration request.
43 U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Energy and Water Development Appropriations, report to
accompany H.R. 3266, 115th Cong., 1st sess., July 17, 2017, H.Rept. 115-230, p. 80.
44 U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill, 2018,
report to accompany S. 1609, 115th Cong., 1st sess., July 20, 2017, S.Rept. 115-132, p. 61.
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DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE): Appropriations Status
Priorities for Sustainable Transportation
Both H.R. 3219 and S. 1609 would provide appropriations for FY2018 above the
Administration’s request of $184 million for sustainable transportation. H.R. 3219 would
appropriate $268 million for sustainable transportation in FY2018, while S. 1609 would
appropriate $553 million. Both appropriations reports also express continued support for the
following programs within vehicle technologies that the Administration’s request would
terminate: SuperTruck II, the Clean Cities program, and efforts to reduce energy consumption of
the commercial off-road vehicle sector.45 H.R. 3219 would support these and other projects within
vehicle technologies at $125 million, while S. 1609 would provide approximately $278 million.
Priorities for Renewable Energy
H.R. 3219 and S. 1609 both recommend appropriations for FY2018 above the Administration’s
request of $134 million for renewable energy. H.R. 3219 would appropriate nearly $190 million,
while S. 1609 would appropriate nearly $390 million. Both bills would provide support for laterstage R&D and deployment projects in contrast to the Administration’s request.
For solar energy, both the House bill and Senate committee bill support research in thin-film
photovoltaics. H.R. 3219 would also encourage access to solar energy for low-income
communities. S. 1609 would support solar workforce development training for veterans and
continued research for systems integration, balance of system cost reduction, and innovations in
manufacturing competitiveness. For wind energy, the House bill supports efforts to lower market
barriers for distributed wind including small wind for rural homes, farms, and schools. The
Senate committee bill would support demonstration projects for distributed wind and offshore
wind and would support testing facilities such as the National Wind Technology Center. For the
water program, H.R. 3219 would continue to support the HydroNEXT initiative46 and research,
development, and deployment of marine energy components and systems for marine hydrokinetic
technology. S. 1609 would support funding for commercial viability of pumped storage
hydropower and research into mitigation of marine ecosystem impacts and continued construction
of an open-water wave energy test facility. For geothermal, there were no specific comments in
H.Rept. 115-230; S. 1609 would continue to support low-temperature co-produced resources and
FORGE in FY2018.
Priorities for Energy Efficiency
Both bills would provide appropriations for FY2018 above the Administration’s request of $160
million for energy efficiency. H.R. 3219 would appropriate nearly $481 million, while S. 1609
would appropriate nearly $737 million.
For advanced manufacturing, H.R. 3219 would provide funds for improvements in steel industry
and transient kinetic analysis, and would also support advanced textile research. The House bill
would follow the Administration’s request to eliminate funding for the Critical Materials Energy
Innovation Hub, the Energy Water Desalination Hub, and the Clean Energy Manufacturing
Innovation Institutes; however, the bill would support phasing out operations that ensure that the
most promising early stage R&D efforts of the hubs and institutes are continued through
45 SuperTruck II seeks to improve the efficiency of heavy-duty class 8 long- and regional-haul vehicles. The Clean
Cities Coalition builds partnerships and funds projects to reduce the nation’s reliance on petroleum in transportation.
46 The HydroNEXT initiative invests in the development of innovative technologies that lower cost, improve
performance, and promote environmental stewardship of hydropower development.
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DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE): Appropriations Status
competitive awards in similar areas. In contrast, S. 1609 would provide funding for the
Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, the Critical Materials Energy Innovation Hub, the Energy
Water Desalination Hub, and Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institutes. It would also
support the Combined Heat and Power Technical Assistance Partnerships (CHP TAPs) and related
activities, and Industrial Assessment Centers, among other efforts.
For building technologies, H.R. 3219 would continue to support the goals of the Transformation
in Cities initiative and the research, development, and market transformation of direct use of
natural gas in residential applications. S. 1609 would support ongoing efforts to work with state
and local agencies to incorporate the latest technical knowledge and best practices into
construction requirements and to engage with industry teams to facilitate widespread deployment.
For commercial buildings, the report on S. 1609 encourages support for more cost-effective
integration techniques and technologies to facilitate deep retrofits. S. 1609 also would support
emerging technologies efforts, including transactive controls R&D, regional demonstration of
utility-led efforts advancing smart grid systems in communities, advanced solid-state lighting
technology, and R&D for energy efficiency efforts for natural gas applications. S. 1609 would
also provide funding for equipment and building standards.
Support for Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs
The Administration’s budget for FY2018 would terminate the Weatherization and
Intergovernmental Programs. The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) provides funding
through formula grants to states, tribes, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories to provide
weatherization services that reduce energy costs for low-income households by increasing the
energy efficiency of their homes. The State Energy Program (SEP) provides funding and
technical assistance to states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories to promote the
efficient use of energy and reduce the rate of growth of energy demand through the development
and implementation of specific state energy programs. Both H.R. 3219 and S. 1609 do not follow
the Administration’s request to terminate these programs and would continue to support WAP and
SEP. The House bill would continue those programs at FY2017 funding levels—$225 million for
WAP and $50 million for SEP. The Senate committee bill would fund those programs at $212
million for WAP and $50 million for SEP.
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DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE): Appropriations Status
Table 1. EERE FY2015-FY2017 Enacted Appropriations and FY2018 Appropriations
Status
(in millions of current dollars)
FY2018
FY2015
FY2016
FY2017
Enacted
Enacted
Enacted
Trump
Admin
Request
EERE, Total
1,914.2
2,069.2
2,090.2
636.1
1,085.5
[1,103.9]b
1,937.0
Sustainable Transportation
602.0
636.0
613.0
183.6
[268.0]
553.0
Vehicle Technologies
280.0
310.0
307.0
82.0
[125.0]
278.0
Bioenergy Technologies
225.0
225.0
205.0
56.6
[90.0]
190.0
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies
97.0
101.0
101.0
45.0
[53.0]
85.0
Renewable Energy
456.0
478.1
451.1
134.3
[189.8]
389.5
Solar Energy
233.0
241.6
207.6
69.7
[90.0]
167.5
Wind Energy
107.0
95.5
90.0
31.7
[31.8]
72.5
Water Power
61.0
70.0
84.0
20.4
[53.0]
82.0
Geothermal Technologies
55.0
71.0
69.5
12.5
[15.0]
67.5
Energy Efficiency
642.0
721.0
761.6
159.5
[481.4]
737.0
Advanced Manufacturing
200.0
228.5
257.5
82.0
[102.0]
252.0
Building Technologies
172.0
200.5
199.1
67.5
[91.4]
195.0
Federal Energy Management Program
27.0
27.0
27.0
10.0
[10.0]
25.0
Weatherization and Intergovernmental
Program
243.0
265.0
278.0
0.0
[278.0]
265.0
Weatherization Assistance Program
189.6
211.6
225.0
0.0
[225.0]
212.0
Training and Technical Assistance
3.0
3.0
3.0
0.0
[3.0]
3.0
NREL Site-Wide Facility Report
0.4
0.4
—
0.0
[—]
—
State Energy Program Grants
50.0
50
50.0
0.0
[50.0]
50.0
Corporate Supporta
237.0
238.0
264.5
217.8
[223.9]
257.5
Facilities and Infrastructure
56.0
62.0
92.0
92.0
[92.0]
92.0
Use of Prior-Year Balances
0.0
0.0
—
-59.1
[-59.1]
—
Rescissions
-22.8
-3.8
—
—
[—]
—
House
Passed
Senate App
Comm
Passed
Sources: H.R. 3219, H.Rept. 115-230; S.Rept. 115-132; U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), FY2018 Congressional
Budget Request, vol. 3 (May 2017); P.L. 115-31 Division D; P.L. 114-113 Division D; S.Rept. 114-236; H.Rept. 114532; H.Rept. 114-91; and H.Rept. 113-486.
Notes: EERE = DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; NREL = National Renewable Energy
Laboratory.
a. Corporate support includes facilities and infrastructure, program direction, and strategic programs.
b. Total funding for EERE in H.R. 3219 would be $1,085.5 million. Bracketed numbers refer to the proposed
funding level for FY2018 as reported in H.Rept. 115-230, the report accompanying H.R. 3266, which would
provide $1,103.9 million to EERE. It is unclear how the $18.4 million reduction would be implemented.
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DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE): Appropriations Status
Author Contact Information
(name redacted)
Analyst in Energy Policy
[redacted]@crs.loc.gov
, 7-....
Congressional Research Service
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