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Read. Follow. Verify.Senate Hearing on the 2017 Department of Energy Budget
Record date · January 1, 2015
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What This Bill Does
The Senate Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development met to review the President's proposed $32.5 billion budget for the Department of Energy for fiscal year 2017. The hearing focused on balancing research investments, nuclear energy projects, and the feasibility of the President's proposed and tax increases.
This hearing sets the stage for how the federal government will allocate $32.5 billion in energy funding, impacting national research initiatives, nuclear site cleanups, and the potential elimination of energy-related tax subsidies.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Department of Energy
The agency's funding levels and program priorities are determined by the appropriations process discussed.
Army Corps of Engineers
The proposed budget includes a $1.4 billion reduction in their funding.
Wind and Oil/Gas Industries
The committee chairman proposed eliminating tax credits and subsidies currently utilized by these industries.
Key Facts
- The President requested a $32.5 billion budget for the Department of Energy for fiscal year 2017, a $2.9 billion increase over the previous year.
- The President proposed $2.259 billion in new mandatory funding for clean energy initiatives.
- Proposed mandatory spending includes $1.3 billion for the 21st Century Clean Transportation Plan, $674 million for cleanup programs, $100 million for university grants, and $150 million for ARPA-E.
- The President's budget proposes paying for new mandatory spending through $3.4 trillion in new tax increases over 10 years.
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- The budget includes a $1.4 billion reduction in funding for the Army Corps of Engineers compared to previous levels.
- The budget includes a $674 million reduction in funding for the cleanup of former Cold War sites.
- Senator Alexander proposed eliminating the wind production tax credit to save $4 billion over 10 years to fund energy research.
- Senator Alexander proposed repealing oil and gas subsidies to save $24 billion over 10 years to fund research and development.
- The Senate previously adopted an amendment to double the Office of Science budget from $5 billion to $10 billion over 10 years.
- The subcommittee plans to hold a final hearing on the National Nuclear Security Administration's budget the following week.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total budget requested for the Department of Energy?
How does the President propose to pay for new clean energy spending?
What are the primary priorities identified by the committee chairman?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceFull breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Shift toward mandatory funding
The administration is attempting to move significant clean energy funding from discretionary to mandatory spending, which faces resistance from committee leadership.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment20Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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