DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: FY2017 Appropriations and the FY2018 Budget Request

DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: FY2017 Appropriations and the FY2018 Budget Request

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May 25, 2017
DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy:
FY2017 Appropriations and the FY2018 Budget Request
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of
 Coordinating with the U.S. Navy on marine energy
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is
technology demonstrations;
responsible for renewable energy and end-use energy
efficiency technology development and implementation.
 Establishing a Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation
For example, EERE oversees vehicle technology, solar
Institute; and
energy, advanced manufacturing, and weatherization
programs. EERE also participates in intergovernmental
 Supporting research and development of energy
programs.
efficiency efforts for natural gas in residential
applications.
EERE collaborates with industry, academia, national
laboratories, and others to conduct and support research,
Executive Branch Actions
development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D)
For FY2018, the Trump Administration requested $636
activities. EERE also manages a portfolio of programs that
million for EERE—roughly a 70% reduction from the
support state and local governments, tribes, and school
FY2017 enacted level of $2.09 billion. The Administration
leaders. In addition, EERE oversees and supports the
proposes cuts for sustainable transportation, renewable
research and infrastructure of the National Renewable
energy, and energy efficiency compared to FY2017
Energy Laboratory (NREL)—the only national laboratory
appropriations. Further, the Administration proposes that
solely dedicated to researching and developing renewable
federal full-time equivalents (FTEs) would be reduced from
energy and energy efficiency technologies.
680 for FY2017 to 458 for FY2018—roughly a 33%
reduction.
For EERE, the Trump Administration requested that
funding levels for FY2018 be reduced by nearly 70% from
The Administration calls for EERE to shift away from later-
FY2017 enacted levels. Of the FY2018 request for EERE,
stage development and deployment activities, and focus on
nearly 20% is to be reserved for program direction.
“early-stage research and development.” In order to meet
this objective, the request proposes to reduce funding for
EERE Appropriations
several EERE initiatives. The request would terminate both
EERE receives funding from the annual Energy and Water
the Weatherization Assistance Program and the State
Development (E&W) appropriations bill. Under the
Energy Program. The Administration reports that these cuts
Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017, P.L. 115-31,
aim to reduce Federal intervention in State-level energy
EERE will receive $2.09 billion for FY2017, approximately
policy and implementation and focus funding on limited,
$20 million more than the enacted FY2016 level of $2.07
early-stage applied energy research and development
billion (the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016; P.L.
activities. Further, the request contains no funds for the five
114-113, Division D). Appropriations for EERE have
Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institutes, and
averaged $1.89 billion annually for the last seven years in
recommends that balances from prior-year appropriations
current dollars (see Table 1).
be used to wind-down and terminate the existing institutes.
The appropriations for EERE are split into four categories:
Legislative Issues
(1) sustainable transportation, (2) renewable energy, (3)
Funding of EERE for FY2018 is likely to be a key issue for
energy efficiency, and (4) corporate support (e.g., program
the 115th Congress. Concerns may include not only the level
administration). Averaging the appropriations for each
of EERE appropriations, but also which activities EERE
category from FY2011 to FY2017 indicates that
should support. Congress might question if the goals of
approximately 32% of the appropriations were spent on
EERE can be met with the proposed funding cuts in the
sustainable transportation, 32% on energy efficiency, 24%
Administration’s request. Some of the goals include
on renewable energy, and 12% on corporate support.
assisting with vehicle electrification, grid modernization for
solar energy, enhanced geothermal technologies, and the
Selected themes that are to be addressed with FY2017
operation of Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation
appropriations include:
Institutes. Potential impacts to workforce development and
training for the U.S. energy efficiency and clean energy
 Supporting training and workforce development
sectors may also be a concern.
programs to assist workers in the U.S. energy efficiency
and clean energy sectors;

 Investing in the development of algal biofuels;
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Table 1. EERE FY2013-FY2017 Enacted Appropriations and FY2018 Appropriations Request
(in millions of dollars)

FY2013
FY2014
FY2015
FY2016
FY2017
FY2018
Current
Enacted
Enacted
Enacted
Enacted
Request
EERE, Total
1,691.8
1,901.7
1,914.2
2,069.2
2,090.2
636.1
Sustainable Transportation
584.2
615.3
602.0
636.0
613.0
183.6
Vehicle Technologies
303.2
289.9
280.0
310.0
307.0
82.0
Bioenergy Technologiesa
185.2
232.4
225.0
225.0
205.0
56.6
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies
95.8
93.0
97.0
101.0
101.0
45.0
Renewable Energy
444.9
449.8
456.0
478.1
451.1
134.3
Solar Energy
269.1
257.2
233.0
241.6
207.6
69.7
Wind Energy
86.1
88.2
107.0
95.5
90.0
31.7
Water Power
54.7
58.6
61.0
70.0
84.0
20.4
Geothermal Technologies
35.0
45.8
55.0
71.0
69.5
12.5
Energy Efficiency
535.4
617.8
642.0
721.0
761.6
159.5
Advanced Manufacturingb
114.3
180.6
200.0
228.5
257.5
82.0
Building Technologies
204.6
178.0
172.0
200.5
199.1
67.5
Federal Energy Management Program
28.3
28.3
27.0
27.0
27.0
10.0
Weatherization and Intergovernmental
188.2
231.0
243.0
265.0
278.0
0
Programc
Weatherization Assistance Program
128.9
171.0
189.6
211.6
225.0
0
Training and Technical Assistance
2.8
3.0
3.0
3.0
3.0
0

NREL Site-Wide Facility Report
—
0.4
0.4
—
0
State Energy Program Grants
47.1
50.0
50.0
50.0
50.0
0
Corporate Supportd
209.0
231.6
237.0
238.0
264.5
217.8

Facilities and Infrastructure
46.0
56.0
62.0
92.0
92.0
Program Directione

125.8
Use of Prior-Year Balances
-81.6
-2.4
0.0
0.0
—
-59.1
Rescissions
0.0
-10.4
-22.8
-3.8
—

Source: DOE, FY2018 Budget Request vol. 3 (May 2017); P.L. 115-31 Division D Explanatory Statement; P.L. 114-113 Division D; S.Rept. 114-
236; H.Rept. 114-532; H.Rept. 114-91; H.Rept. 113-486; DOE, FY2015 Budget Request vol. 3 (March 2014) (to obtain the FY2013
appropriations that DOE identifies as FY2013 current, or the enacted amount plus or minus any adjustments made since the appropriations bill
became law); H.Rept. 112-462; and H.Rept. 112-118.
Notes: EERE = DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; NREL = National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
a. Biomass and Biorefinery Systems Research and Development, renamed Bioenergy Technologies in FY2014.
b. Industrial Technologies, renamed Advanced Manufacturing in FY2014.
c. The Weatherization and Intergovernmental Program included $9.4 million for tribal energy activities for FY2013.
d. Corporate support includes facilities and infrastructure, program direction, and strategic programs. The FY2018 budget request does
not use the term “Corporate Support.”
e. The Trump Administration defines program direction as funding that enables “EERE to maintain and support a world-class Federal
workforce to manage the wide range of projects and activities funded through the EERE programs.”

Kelsi Bracmort, Specialist in Natural Resources and
Energy Policy
Corrie E. Clark, Analyst in Energy Policy
IF10661

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DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: FY2017 Appropriations and the FY2018 Budget Request

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