Domenici Pleased by Commitment to Nuclear Power, Alternative Energy, Science & Firefighting
Troubled by cuts to labs, weapons and forest restoration
February 5, 2007
01:44 PM
Washington, D.C. -- Senator Pete Domenici today praised the strong commitment the Bush Administration shows to nuclear power and alternative energy in the President’s FY 2008 Budget Request. Domenici was also pleased with President Bush’s continued commitment to energy independence as shown by the renewed the proposal to develop the vast U.S. oil and gas reserves in the Arctic.
The FY08 budget also delivers on President Bush’s commitment to double the funding for basic science over the next decade and sharply increases spending for fire suppression efforts, he said.
“This is a strong budget. In a tough budget year, President Bush continues to stand firm for clean energy and energy independence. I commend that. He has made a strong commitment to nuclear energy, a move that holds tremendous promise for climate change concerns,” Senator Domenici said.
“I am pleased that FY08 budget increases funding for many of the programs in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. I will continue working with the Administration to provide the resources necessary to fully implement the ambitious programs in the energy bill.
“I don’t like everything in this budget. I am disappointed by cuts to forest restoration, NNSA’s weapons program and all of our NNSA labs. I’m sure there will be some lively discussion during budget hearings on the Hill over the next several weeks. But, overall, I am pleased with this budget.”
The funding request for the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership is up 63 percent from last year’s request. NP2010 is up 111 percent. Congress did not fund all of last year’s requests. If the nuclear requests were completely funded this year, the actual investment in nuclear power would be even greater, Domenici noted.
The Administration’s budget also implements the risk insurance program created in the energy bill and expands the current commitment to clean energy loan guarantees, he said.
“Each of these programs is important to the construction of the 32 new nuclear power plants that have been proposed. If all of those plants are built, they will displace 270 million metric tons of CO2 each year. When those plants have been operating for five years, they will have displaced the amount of C02 produced by the 230 million cars on the road in America today. I don’t think this Administration gets enough credit for the work it is doing to mitigate the impact of climate change with its nuclear power initiatives,” Domenici said.
The FY08 budget sharply increases spending for other clean energies as well. The funding request for clean coal programs is up 29 percent, the request for solar power is up 11 percent and the request for biomass is up 57 percent.
This year, the Administration request for the Office of Science is $600 million above what was funded in H.J.Res 20, the joint FY07 Continuing Resolution. This budget empowers America to maintain its competitive edge in math and science, the senator said. Bush has promised to double funding for this office over the next decade.
President Bush renewed his call for the environmentally-gentle development of U.S. oil and gas resources in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge. Domenici affirmed his ongoing support for the development of ANWR.
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