USA: Geothermal Resources Council Joins Renewable Energy Groups to Urge Consistent Funding for Energy Innovation

Renewable Energy Groups Urge Congress to Support Clean Energy Innovation Funding in FY 2020 Budget (News Release)

In the letter, the organizations stated their “strong support” for the vital work being done by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Advanced Research Programs Agency – Energy (ARPA-E), and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Today, the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), the American Wind Energy Association, the Biomass Power Association, the Energy Storage Association, the Geothermal Resources Council, the National Hydropower Association and the Solar Energy Industries Association sent a joint letter to Congress urging consistent funding for energy innovation in the Department of Energy's FY 2020 Budget and opposing the Administration's proposed deep cuts.

In the letter, the organizations stated their "strong support" for the vital work being done by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Advanced Research Programs Agency - Energy (ARPA-E), and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

"The work done by EERE, ARPA-E, and NREL fills a critical gap in research and development at a time when the United States is desperately in need of grid modernization, and at risk of falling behind other countries, like China, that are racing to develop the next generation of energy technologies," the organizations wrote. "We respectfully urge you to continue, at a minimum, current funding levels for these important clean energy innovation programs, and to oppose the Administration's proposed cuts to the DOE's FY 2020 Budget."

Background: The Administration has proposed cutting more than $2.4 billion from programs supporting energy innovation and deployment, an 88 percent decrease from current funding levels. The proposed budget includes a $2.04 billion (86 percent) cut to EERE and the elimination of ARPA-E.

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