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Updated May 10, 2023
DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
FY2024 Appropriations
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of
Overall, DOE’s stated goal for EERE funding is to invest in
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is
“programmatic priority areas that are central pillars in
responsible for enabling renewable energy and end-use
lowering the U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) profile.” Specific
energy efficiency technology development and
proposed funding increases were aimed at decarbonization
implementation. Other activities include issuing grants for
activities in the electricity sector, transportation, energy-
home energy efficiency and state planning, establishing
intensive industries, the carbon footprint of buildings, and
minimum energy conservation standards for appliances and
energy-related aspects of the agriculture sector especially
equipment, and providing technical support.
the energy-water nexus. Other priorities included energy
justice efforts under Justice40, an initiative of the Biden
EERE collaborates with industry, academia, national
Administration in accordance with Executive Order 14008
laboratories, and others to conduct and support research,
to prioritize 40% of funding of certain federal investments
development, demonstration, and deployment activities.
for disadvantaged communities.
EERE also manages programs that support state and local
governments, tribes, and schools. Further, EERE oversees
As in FY2023, the FY2024 request proposed realigning
and supports the research and infrastructure of the National
funding to reflect new offices, functionally transferring
Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and its research and
some programs from EERE to S3 including the Office of
development on technologies for renewable energy and
Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC); Office
energy efficiency.
of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP); and
Office of Federal Energy Management Programs (FEMP).
EERE Appropriations
This meant the EERE request did not include funding for
EERE receives funding through the annual Energy and
certain programs such as Weatherization—within the
Water Development and Related Agencies (E&W)
Weatherization and Intergovernmental Program control
appropriations bill. Under the Consolidated Appropriations
point—which the FY2024 budget request included in the
Act, 2023, P.L. 117-328, EERE received $3.46 billion for
$705 million request for SCEP. Under the Consolidated
FY2023, approximately $260 million more than the enacted
Appropriations Act, 2023, P.L. 117-328, the proposed
FY2022 level of $3.20 billion (the Consolidated
offices were separated from the Energy Efficiency control
Appropriations Act, 2022; P.L. 117-103).
point, but not from EERE.
In addition, EERE received funding through the
Legislative Actions
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA; P.L. 117-58).
Congress may also be interested in the role of
IIJA provided a total of $16.26 billion in additional
Undersecretary for Infrastructure (i.e., S3) with
emergency appropriations for EERE, of which $1.945
responsibility for managing the three programs noted above
billion is directed to FY2024 (see Table 1). EERE also
that were appropriated within EERE in FY2023: MESC,
received $17.96 billion in additional funding through
SCEP, and FEMP. DOE is proposing to fund those
various provisions of P.L. 117-169 (often referred to as the
programs within S3 as it had requested in FY2023.
Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA), enacted on August 16,
Congressional interest in EERE funding could include the
2022. The IRA funding is available from FY2022 to remain
large increase in certain program areas. Overall, EERE
available through FY2026, FY2027, FY2029, or FY2031
received large appropriations in the IIJA and IRA in
depending on the provision.
addition to its annual appropriation.
Executive Branch Actions
A number of issues arose during the March 23, 2023,
For FY2024, the Biden Administration requested $3.83
hearing of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on
billion for the EERE organization—10.6% higher than the
Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies. The
FY2023 enacted level of $3.46 billion when including
President’s FY2024 budget proposed a 40% increase in
programs managed by the Undersecretary for Infrastructure
EERE compared to smaller increases for other parts of
(designated as “S3” in the DOE organization), a position
DOE. A Subcommittee Member asked what the impact
DOE created starting FY2023 and encompassing various
would be on programs if DOE were to revert to the FY2022
programs previously administered with EERE. Of the
level, which would be a 16% decrease for the EERE
FY2024 request for EERE, 4.7% was to be reserved for
organization when not counting MESC, SCEP, and FEMP.
program direction. Including current EERE programs
Finally, a DOE-proposed rule on efficiency of natural gas
proposed to be managed by S3 rather than within the EERE
cooking products (e.g., gas stoves) has raised concern
organization, a total of $4.84 billion was requested, a 40%
among some House Appropriations Committee Members.
increase from the FY2023 enacted amount.
https://crsreports.congress.gov