Less Sustainable Energy Funding

US resident George Bush recently shocked the world by cancelling US participation in the Kyoto Protocol. He also proposes to cut US federal funding for development of sustainable energy. The proposal is to cut the Department of Energy’s 2002 budgets for renewable energy and for energy efficiency by $ 277 mill., equal to 27%. Among other ill effects, these budget cuts will:

· Slow down the development of super-efficient building equipment and design;

· Reduce outreach efforts to educate consumers about energy efficiency;

· Reduce funding and incentive for partnerships aimed at developing cleaner, more efficient ways of making steel, aluminium, chemicals, glass, and other energy-intensive industrial products;

· Hamper efforts to cut energy waste in federal buildings; and

· Slow down the adoption of stronger building codes and new appliance efficiency standards.

The Department of Energy (DoE) recently documented that 20 of its most successful energy-efficiency and renewable-energy activities have saved consumers and businesses around $30 billion.

The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and other public-interest groups are urging the US Congress to go against the proposed cuts. ACEEE proposes in addition to increase energy efficiency standards for cars and various other products, and to give tax-incentives for highly energy-efficient vehicles, homes, and other products.

See: aceee.org.