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Energy and Water Appropriations
Congress annually considers eleven or more appropriations measures, which provide funding for numerous activities, for example, national defense, education, homeland security, and crime. These measures also fund general government operations such as the administration of federal agencies. Congress has developed certain rules and practices for the consideration of appropriations measures, referred to as the congressional appropriations process. Appropriations measures are under the jurisdiction of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. These committees control only about 40% of total federal spending provided for a fiscal year. The House and Senate legislative committees control the rest. There are three types of appropriations measures. Regular appropriations bills provide most of the funding that is provided in all appropriations measures for a fiscal year, and must be enacted by October 1 of each year. If regular bills are not enacted by the deadline, Congress adopts continuing resolutions to continue funding until regular bills are enacted. Supplemental bills are considered later and provide additional appropriations. DOE initiated the Clean Coal Technology program in 1985. It is a government and industry co-funded effort to provide technical and operational data of innovative coal technologies demonstrated at commercial scale. This program has evolved into the Clean Coal Power Initiative, the Department’s current coal technology demonstration program. The Department also administers a clean coal research program which researches and develops high risk, bench scale coal technologies. The goal of the program is to develop advanced coal technologies that will allow our country to continue to use our lowest cost, and abundant, domestic natural resource, coal. The technologies developed in the program have dramatically reduced pollutant emissions from coal-fueled electricity generation plants, and are technologies are being developed to help reduce carbon emissions to achieve near-zero atmospheric emissions power production. The coal programs administered by the Department of Energy are funded through the Energy & Water Appropriations bills that are enacted by Congress. CURCSM advocates for the coal programs on an annual basis before Congress and the Administration. Please see below for information on the FY 2009, FY 2010, and FY 2011 Energy & Water Appropriations bills. Information from "The Congressional Appropriations Process: An Introduction" updated September 8, 2006 by Sandy Streeter, Analyst in American National Government, Government and Finance Division, and from the Department of Energy. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FY 2011 Energy & Water Appropriations:
Conference Agreement on the FY 2010 Energy & Water Development Appropriations bill
10/28/2009 On October 28, 2009, the FY 2010 Energy & Water Appropriations Bill (H.R. 3183) was enacted into public law making funding available for federally administered programs and agencies (Public Law 111-85). H.R. 3183 provides $404 million for the coal R&D programs of interest to CURC, an equivalent amount to the President’s request. Funding for several programs, including the Clean Coal Power Initiative (CCPI) and FutureGen, did not receive FY 2010 appropriation funding because substantial funding was provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Funding was allocated for the following programs: o $154 million for the Carbon Sequestration Program
o $52 million for the Innovations for Existing Plants program (focused on CO2 retrofits to existing plants)
o $63 million for IGCC
o $32 million for advanced turbines
o $50 million for fuel cells
o $28 million for advanced research
o $25 million for coal fuels and liquids
o Additionally, $36.85 million was directed (earmarked) to specifically identified projects
Click here to view a chart that compares the President’s Request with the House and Senate recommendations and the enacted 2010 levels.
The attached memorandum (accessible to CURC Members only)and budget chart summarizes the conference committee agreed-upon funding levels for the coal R&D programs of interest to CURC.
CURC Letters in Support of FY 2010 Energy & Water Appropriations
9/02/2009 Below are two letters sent on behalf of the Coal Utilization Research Council regarding the FY 2010 Energy & Water Appropriations measure.
The letters outline funding recommendations for the DOE coal research, development and demonstration programs and were submitted on September 2, 2009 to the relevant Chairmen and Ranking Members of both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees and Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittees.
Supporting Documents: FY 2010 House Appropriations Letter FY 2010 Senate Appropriations Letter July 2009
The Senate recommendation for the FY 2010 coal R&D programs of interest to CURC included $428.2 million, which was roughly $24 million above the President’s request and the conference agreement. The Senate recommended substantial increases in funding for IGCC/Gasification, Existing Plants, and Coal fuels and liquids, yet reduced funding for Carbon sequestration R&D below the President’s request (because the Senate did not fund the DOE proposed “CCS Innovation Hub”).
Supporting Documents: FY 2010 Budget Chart with House Action
House Appropriations Committee Action on FY 2010 Energy & Water Development Appropriations Bill July 2009
The House recommendation for the FY 2010 coal R&D programs of interest to CURC included $394.4 million, which was approximately $9.5 million below the President’s request and the conference agreement. Coal fuels and liquids would have received a significant boost under the House recommendations, while carbon sequestration R&D funding would have been significantly lower than the President’s request.
Supporting Documents: FY 2010 Budget Chart with House Action
Re: The FY 2010 Fossil Energy Research And Development Budget
Submitted: June 15, 2009
This above statement was submitted to the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Energy & Water Development on behalf of the membership of the Coal Utilization Research Council (CURC). In short, CURC believes that a focused and adequately funded RD&D program is a crucial element of a multi-part program to accelerate commercial deployment of CCS technology. Other elements include substantial federal support for a significant amount of commercial-scale CCS applications and legislative solutions to non-technological barriers, such as long-term liability issues.
5/7/2009
The President submitted his FY 2010 budget justification to Congress on May 7, 2009. The detailed budget justification indicates the President strongly supports coal as an important part of our energy portfolio. The following provides a brief summary of the budget request for the coal programs of interest to CURC, as well as an update on the DOE Loan Guarantee program.
Clean Coal Power Initiative and FutureGen
Because the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) provided $3.4 billion for carbon capture and storage (CCS) activities, including large-scale demonstration of injection and storage of CO2 in geologic formations through the Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships and large-scale demonstration of carbon capture technologies through the Clean Coal Power Initiative and Industrial CCS activity, the Administration is not providing any funding for those demonstration programs in FY 2010.
- FutureGen
The justification indicates that the funds currently available, through previous appropriations measures, will enable the FutureGen program to continue activities related to NEPA, pending a program review.
- Clean Coal Power Initiative
There is approximately $1.5 billion in funding made available through the ARRA, the FY 2009 Continuing Resolution, and previous appropriations bills, for the 3rd solicitation of the Clean Coal Power Initiative which is focused on CCS. The ARRA directed DOE to expand and extend the Round 3 solicitation using $800 million in Recovery Act funding.
Coal Research and Development Programs
The 2010 Budget maintains the FY 2009 funding level for coal R&D. Funding for individual programs increased in some areas and decreased in others, and the Advanced Research program was cut. Please see the CURC summary below for further information about the coal R&D programs.
DOE Loan Guarantee Program
The DOE Loan Guarantee Program Office (LGPO) will consider and coordinate Departmental action on all loan guarantee applications submitted to the Department of Energy in compliance with Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct05). Section 406 of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (ARRA) amended the LGPO’s authorizing legislation, by establishing Section 1705 which is a temporary program for the rapid deployment of renewable energy and electric power transmission projects. No additional loan guarantee authority or funding for clean coal projects was included in the ARRA or requested by the Department in its FY 2011 Budget Request.
The Department requested $43.0 million in funding in FY 2010 for administrative expenses to operate the office and support personnel and associated costs, including administering the Section 1705 Temporary Loan Guarantee Program. The request is expected to be offset by collections authorized under the EPAct05.
Supporting CURC Documents: Summary of Presidnt's FY 2010 Budget Request
Re: The FY 2010 Fossil Energy Research And Development Budget
Submitted: April 3, 2009
The above statement was submitted to the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Energy & Water Development on behalf of the membership of the Coal Utilization Research Council (CURC). Because specific funding levels for the fossil energy program had yet to be released, CURC was not able to make specific comments about the level of funding requested for any given fossil energy program.
2/26/2009
Highlights of the President's FY 2010 Budget Request were released earlier this week. The President's detailed FY 2010 Budget Request will not be released to the Congress until April, however, these highlights did include specifications to 'develop low-carbon emission technologies'. This budget request will allow the Energy Department to scale up its demonstration projects for geologic storage for carbon dioxide with combined funding from H.R.1, 'The American Reinvestment and Recover Act', and FY 2010 Energy & Water Development Appropriations.
1/14/09
In the next two weeks, Congress will be considering the American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009. This package contains $2.4 billion (5-6 demonstration projects) for carbon capture and sequestration (CSS) demonstration projects. Please see the attached summary for further information.
FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill
3/11/09
On March 11, 2009 H.R. 1005, the FY 2009 Fiscal Omnibus package, was enacted into public law making funding available for federally administered programs and agencies (Public Law 111-8). The coal R&D programs of interest to CURC were included in Division C of the bill (FY 2009 Energy and Water Development Appropriations). The FY 2009 total coal program budget is $692.4 million, up by almost $200 million over FY 2008 omnibus enacted levels.
Of this amount:
o $288.2 million is for the Clean Coal Power Initiative (CCPI), and
o $404.2 million is for the core R&D program
o The bill provides no new funds for FutureGen but leaves $73 million of unobligated balances in the FutureGen account for the Administration to determine how to expend
Within the core R&D budget, funding was allocated for the following programs:
o $150 million for the Carbon Sequestration Program
o $50 million for the Innovations for Existing Plants Program (focused on CO2 retrofits to existing plants);
o $65.2 million for IGCC
o $28 million for Advanced Turbines
o $58 million for Fuel Cells
o $28 million for Advanced Research
o $25 million for Coal Fuels and Liquids
Click here to view a chart that compares the President’s Budget Request with the House and Senate recommendations, and the final enacted bill.
Supporting Documents: FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations summary
Industry Letter in Support of FY 2009 Appropriations
11/30/08
Below are two letters signed by the Coal Utilization Research Council, the Edison Electric Institute, the National Mining Association, and the United Mineworkers of America, regarding the FY 2009 Energy & Water Appropriations measure.
The letters outline funding recommendations for the DOE coal research, development and demonstration programs that are not addressed by the FY 2009 Continuing Resolution and were submitted on November 30, 2008 to the relevant Chairmen and Ranking Members of both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees and Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittees.
Supporting Documents: FY 2009 Senate Appropriations Letter
9/30/08
President Bush signed into law the "Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2009." This Continuing Resolution (CR) makes funding available in FY 2009 for the coal RD&D programs at the FY 2008 enacted level through March 6, 2009, or at 43% of the FY 2008 enacted levels. Under the CR, funding allocated to specific DOE programs must be funded at the lower of the House or Senate FY 2009 recommendation. In addition, the CR does not allow any new projects to be initiated with the funding being made available. However, ongoing projects will continue to be funded and cannot be terminated. With the FY 2009 CR, the CCPI program would have approximately $300 million available for a 3rd solicitation.
7/8/2008
The Senate recommendation for the FY 2009 coal R&D programs of interest to CURC included $412.1 million, which was roughly $19.5 million above the President’s request and $8 million above the omnibus measure that was passed. The Senate recommended substantial increases in funding over the President’s request for Existing Plants and Coal Fuels & Liquids, yet reduced funding for IGCC/Gasification below the President’s request. In particular:
o $412 million for the core R&D programs
o $232.3 million for the CCPI, and
o No new funds were provided for FutureGen. However, the previously appropriated funds (totaling approximately for $134 million) have been reserved for future use by the project.
6/18/2008
The House recommendation for the FY 2009 coal R&D programs of interest to CURC included $440.6 million, which was approximately $57.9 million above the President’s request and $36.4 million above the omnibus measure that was passed. The House recommended a $71 million increase in the Carbon Sequestration program funding above the President’s request, with modest decreases in funding for the Advanced Turbines and IGCC/Gasification programs. In particular:
o $440.0 million for the core R&D programs
o $241.0 million for the CCPI and FutureGen (the funding was not separated by program)
Supporting Document: FY2009 Budget Chart
3/20/08
Attached is CURC's testimony submitted to the House Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittee making specific programmatic and funding recommendations for the FY 2009 coal program budget.
3/11/2008
Attached is a summary of the Tuesday, March 11, 2008 House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing on the FY 2009 Fossil Energy Budget.
2/4/2008
The President released his FY 2009 Budget Request to the Congress today. This memorandum will review the coal program budget issues of importance to CURC. Background
The FY 2009 total coal program budget request is $647.5 million, up by approximately $146 million over FY 2008 enacted levels. Of this amount, $156 million is being requested for the Secretary’s proposed alternative FutureGen program; $85 million is requested for the Clean Coal Power Initiative (CCPI), and $406.5 million is being requested for the core R&D program (up approximately $32 million from FY 2008). For more information, please click here for a detailed summary.
DOE Loan Guarantee Program
The President is proposing to extend the Congressional authorization period through which it can provide commitments guarantee loans under Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The FY 2008 omnibus Energy and Water Appropriations Act authorized the Department to issue loan guarantees until September 30, 2009. The President’s budget extends that authorization through fiscal years 2010 and 2011 and specifies amounts and uses of loan guarantee authority for those periods consistent with Congressional guidance accompanying the FY 2008 appropriations act. Of the total provided, $20.0 billion will be available through fiscal year 2010 to support projects such as uranium enrichment, coal based power, advanced coal gasification, renewables and electricity delivery. The remaining $18.5 billion will be available through fiscal year 2011 to support nuclear power facilities. The $38.5 billion provided in FY 2008 through 2011 will be in addition to the $4.0 billion in authority provided in FY 2007 under P.L. 110-05 Section 20320(a) for a total loan volume limitation of $42.5 billion.
Supporting Documents: FY 2009 Budget Chart
RFI on DOE's Plan to Restructure FutureGen Coal Budget Fact Sheet FutureGen Fact Sheet |
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COAL UTILIZATION RESEARCH COUNCILSM Chairmen Nicholas K. Akins John Stowell Vice-Chairman Kevin Crutchfield Treasurer Marshall Mazer Executive Director Ben Yamagata 1050 Thomas Jefferson St., NW (202) 298-1850 |
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