Bush Budget Cuts Back on Energy Efficiency Programs

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Bush Budget Cuts Back on Energy Efficiency Programs

 

February 09, 2006 — By H. Josef Hebert, Associated Press

WASHINGTON — As gasoline and winter heating costs soar, the short-term answer

from President George W. Bush's administration has been conservation, even

unveiling a cartoon mascot dubbed " Energy Hog " to bring home the case for

lowering thermostats.

 

But consumer and energy efficiency advocates are complaining that the

president's budget, sent to Congress this week, goes the other direction,

cutting energy conservation programs -- including two the administration has

touted repeatedly.

 

It's " a remarkable about-face " by the administration " after spending several

months extolling the potential for energy efficiency, " said Kateri Callahan,

president of the Alliance to Save Energy, a private advocacy group that has

worked with the Energy Department on promoting conservation.

 

Particularly perplexing to energy conservation advocates are the

administration's proposal to cut back on the government's " Energy Star " program

that promotes energy-efficient products -- from appliances to entire houses --

and to slash funding for a program that helps poor people weatherize their

homes.

 

The two programs have been cited repeatedly by the White House and the Energy

Department as among the most cost effective ways to save energy. Yet the

administration wants to cut funding for the Energy Star program, most of which

is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency, by 9 percent from this

year's US$55.9 million (euro46.7 million), and roll back the weatherization

program by nearly a third from US$243 million (euro203 million) to US$164.2

million (euro137.1 million).

 

Overall, core funding for energy programs at the Energy Department would decline

by more than US$100 million (euro83.5 million), or about 18 percent from

spending this year, according to an analysis by the American Council on

Energy-Efficient Economy.

 

" The budget slashes the energy efficiency programs that are the first step

toward the president's goal of curing America's oil addiction, " said ACEEE

policy director Bill Prindle, alluding to Bush's declaration that the country

must overcome its addiction to oil.

 

DOE spokesman Craig Stevens said the cuts reflect " the tough choices " when

crafting a budget. " We are focusing on renewable technologies and ... diversity

of supply, " he said.

 

Stevens said the department remains committed to the weatherization program

that, even with the budget cuts will help 64,000 homeowners make energy

efficiency improvements next year. But that's 32,000 fewer households than will

be helped this year, he acknowledged.

 

Other cuts in energy efficiency efforts range from programs to help states

develop conservation-minded building codes and help small manufacturers save

energy.

 

Many of these programs are relatively small in terms of cost, but have huge

potential payoffs in energy savings, said Callahan of the Alliance to Save

Energy.

 

She cited US$4.5 million (euro3.76 million) the government is spending this year

to train and assist in the development of more energy efficient building codes

for new homes and commercial buildings.

 

" They zeroed it out, " said Callahan of the president's budget for the fiscal

year beginning in October. " Buildings use 39 percent of the total energy used in

the country. There are 1.5 million new homes built. ... It's important that we

have these codes in place and enforced and understood. "

 

Source: Associated Press

 

 

" I challenge anyone to live on my salary " [$158,000 a year].

Tom Delay