Alan Simpson: “The gentlewoman from Florida says we should invest. We are investing. This amendment would increase funding for energy…”

“The gentlewoman from Florida says we should invest. We are investing. This amendment would increase funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy by $266 million, restoring it to last year's level, by using the fossil energy account as an offset. This year, funding for EERE is $1.66 billion, $266 million below last year, and $1.1 billion below the budget request. The recommendation strategically focuses funding on three main priorities: helping American manufacturers compete in the global marketplace, supporting weatherization assistance programs, and supporting basic research into renewable energy sources. These are all areas with broad bipartisan support. The House recommendation for this year was the result of a focused effort to ensure taxpayer funds are spent on the most advanced research projects within these priorities. Increasing funding for EERE by diverting funds from research into fossil energy strikes the wrong balance when considering the Nation's electricity needs. Fossil fuel, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, provide the vast majority of the energy used by the Nation's homes and businesses and will continue to provide our energy needs for the foreseeable future. For example, fossil fuels produce nearly 11 times more electricity than renewable energy fuel sources. I am not against renewable energy. I think they are an important part of the mix. They are cute, but they don't provide the majority of energy that is needed in this country.…”