"A bipartisan group of Senators has released legislation showing strong support for federal funding of energy efficiency research and development at the Department of Energy. The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act is authored by Senator Alexander (R-Tenn.), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, and co-sponsored by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), leaders of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The bill would reauthorize energy programs in the America COMPETES Act, providing $5.3 billion for basic science in FY16, increasing to $6.2 billion by FY20 and funding ARPA-E at $291 million in FY16, increasing to $341 over the next five years.

 

"The Alliance applauds Sen. Alexander and the bipartisan co-sponsors for recognizing these vital programs need adequate funding in the coming years. The bill will be considered by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee at a hearing on June 4, signaling possible inclusion in comprehensive energy legislation. Energy efficiency R&D is vitally important to developing and deploying these abundant cost-effective energy efficiency technologies. The type of R&D supported by ARPA-E is critical for developing breakthrough technologies that will propel U.S. closer to a leading position in the world as a developer of energy-efficient technologies.

 

"The release of the bill is timely as Members of the House met this afternoon to vote on a very different version of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act, H.R. 1806, which would have a devastating impact on federal funding of research and development of energy efficiency technologies, and represents a huge setback for energy efficiency in America. The bill, which is slated to receive a vote this evening, received a veto threat from the White House yesterday ahead of the House vote. The Alliance to Save Energy circulated a letter last month urging Members of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee oppose the bill in markup."