The Sustainable Energy Coalition is calling for a Fiscal Year 2005 budget resolution "that will make possible robust funding levels for the renewable energy and energy efficiency programs in the budgets of the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S Department of Agriculture, and other federal agencies."

WASHINGTON DC -- In a letter delivered to the members of the U.S. Senate's Budget Committee, the Sustainable Energy Coalition is calling for a Fiscal Year 2005 budget resolution "that will make possible robust funding levels for the renewable energy and energy efficiency programs in the budgets of the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S Department of Agriculture, and other federal agencies." The Senate Budget Committee is scheduled to meet today to develop allocations and guidelines that will influence the priorities and size of the FY05 budget.

The fourteen business, environmental, and energy policy groups that signed the letter acknowledged the "tight budgetary constraints that face ... members of Congress" but nonetheless suggested "that funding levels for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs should be substantially increased - at least doubled or more over the next five to ten years."

The letter noted that "support for federal sustainable energy programs represents a sound investment that could, over time, actually contribute to the nation's economic recovery by creating new domestic businesses and jobs, reducing energy imports and prices, enhancing national, energy, and homeland security, improving the reliability of the nation's electric transmission grid, and curbing the costs of energy-related environmental impacts."

The full text of the letter and the list of signing organizations is provided below.

A similar letter will be sent shortly to the House Budget Committee.

The Sustainable Energy Coalition is a coalition of nearly 80 national and state business, consumer, environmental, and energy policy organizations which collectively represent several thousand companies, community organizations, and municipal utilities. Founded in 1992, the coalition works to promote increased use of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies.

SUPPORT RENEWABLE ENERGY, ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN BUDGET RESOLUTION

March 3, 2004

Members Senate Budget Committee Washington DC 20510

ATTN: Budget Committee Staff Member

Dear Senator:

As you develop the parameters that will govern the size and shape of the Fiscal Year 2005 federal budget, we urge that you provide allocations that will make possible robust funding levels for the renewable energy and energy efficiency programs in the budgets of the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S Department of Agriculture, and other federal agencies.

In making this request, we are well aware of the tight budgetary constraints that face you and the other members of Congress.

Yet, we believe that support for federal sustainable energy programs represents a sound investment that could, over time, actually contribute to the nation's economic recovery by creating new domestic businesses and jobs, reducing energy imports and prices, enhancing national, energy, and homeland security, improving the reliability of the nation's electric transmission grid, and curbing the costs of energy-related environmental impacts.

In fact, several recent analyses, such as the report of the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), suggest that funding levels for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs should be substantially increased - at least doubled or more over the next five to ten years. Similarly, the various versions of the energy bill that has been under consideration by Congress during the past year authorize a roughly 50% increase in energy efficiency and renewable energy funding over the next five years.

Accordingly, we urge that the FY'05 budget reflect an overall increase in the allocations that affect the cross-section of energy efficiency programs and for the respective solar, wind, geothermal, biomass/biofuels, hydropower, and renewable hydrogen programs within the Executive Branch agencies.

We look forward to working with you on this important endeavor.

Sincerely,

Alliance to Save Energy
American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
American Public Power Association
American Wind Energy Association
Bob Lawrence & Associates
Cascade Associates
Environmental & Energy Study Institute
Geothermal Energy Association
National Environmental Trust
National Hydropower Association
New Uses Council
Solar Energy Industries Association
The Stella Group, Ltd.
Union of Concerned Scientists