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Updated March 21, 2024
DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
FY2024 Appropriations
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of
EERE, 5.9% was to be reserved for program direction (i.e.,
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is
salaries and benefits, travel, support services, and other
responsible for enabling renewable energy and end-use
related expenses). Including current EERE programs now
energy efficiency technology development and
managed by S3 rather than within the EERE organization, a
implementation. Other activities include issuing grants for
total of $4.79 billion was requested, which would have been
home energy efficiency and state planning, establishing
a 39% increase from the FY2023 and FY2024 enacted
minimum energy conservation standards for appliances and
amounts.
equipment, and providing technical support.
Overall, DOE’s stated goal for EERE funding is to invest in
EERE collaborates with industry, academia, national
“programmatic priority areas that are central pillars in
laboratories, and others to conduct and support research,
lowering the U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) profile.” Specific
development, demonstration, and deployment activities.
proposed funding increases were aimed at decarbonization
EERE also manages programs that support state and local
activities in the electricity sector, transportation, energy-
governments, tribes, and schools. Further, EERE oversees
intensive industries, the carbon footprint of buildings, and
and supports the research and infrastructure of the National
energy-related aspects of the agriculture sector, especially
Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and its research and
the energy-water nexus. Other priorities included energy
development on technologies for renewable energy and
justice efforts under Justice40, an initiative of the Biden
energy efficiency.
Administration in accordance with Executive Order 14008
to prioritize 40% of funding of certain federal investments
EERE Appropriations
for disadvantaged communities.
EERE generally receives funding through the annual
Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies
Legislative Actions
(EWD) appropriations bill. EWD funding was enacted as
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, continues
Division D of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024
funding the MESC, SCEP and FEMP within the EERE
(P.L. 118-42). Division D included $3.46 billion for EERE,
appropriations account. The enacted law increases the
the same as in FY2023 in the Consolidated Appropriations
percentage of IIJA funding for EERE that can be reserved
Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-103).
for program direction from up to 3% to up to 5% of
amounts made available.
In addition, EERE receives funding through the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA; P.L. 117-58).
The House-passed EWD bill (H.R. 4394) would have
IIJA provided a total of $16.26 billion in additional
disallowed funds to be used for purposes related to
emergency appropriations for EERE, of which $1.945
increasing an energy efficiency standard on distribution
billion is directed to FY2024 (see Table 1). EERE also
transformers or related to energy conservation standards for
received $17.96 billion in additional funding through
natural gas cooking products (e.g., gas stoves). The bill
various provisions of P.L. 117-169 (often referred to as the
would also have rescinded the following from the IRA: $1
Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, or IRA). The IRA funding
billion in funding for two programs in support of work by
is available from FY2022 through either FY2026, FY2027,
state energy offices aimed at building energy code
FY2029, or FY2031, depending on the provision.
adoption, $4.5 billion in funding for the High-Efficiency
Electric Home Rebate Program, and $200 million in
Executive Branch Actions
funding to train state energy offices contractors who work
For FY2024, the Biden Administration requested $3.83
in support of the Home Energy Performance-Based, Whole
billion for the EERE organization—10.6% higher than the
House Rebates. The House-passed bill also would have
FY2023 enacted level of $3.46 billion. In FY2023, DOE
decreased the bill’s total for EERE by $1 billion. None of
created a position, the Under Secretary for Infrastructure
these provisions were enacted in P.L. 118-42.
(designated as “S3” in the DOE organization), to manage
several programs, including programs previously
The joint explanatory statement that accompanied P.L. 118-
administered with EERE—including the Office of
42 created a control point, Industrial Emissions and
Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC); Office
Technology Coordination, $3.5 million, separate from
of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP); and
EERE, for coordination of low-emission industrial
Office of Federal Energy Management Programs (FEMP).
programs and energy technology programs. The EWD bill
DOE’s FY2023 request shifted these programs out of the
approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee (S.
EERE appropriations account, reflecting their management
2443) would have made an appropriation for Industrial
by S3. Of the $3.83 billion in the FY2024 request for
Emissions and Technology Coordination.
https://crsreports.congress.gov