US DOE sees its budget rising 4% to 8% over the next five years

Washington (Platts)--9Mar2006

The US Energy Department expects its budget to grow 4% to 8% over the
next five years, to $24.6 billion-$27 billion, according to a five-year fiscal
plan Platts obtained Thursday. 

     The plan, which maps out DOE spending and management strategies through
2011, calls for the department to increase funding for nuclear technologies by
$1.3 billion annually, if the department decides in fiscal 2008 to proceed
with the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership. 

     Traditionally, one-third of DOE's budget is spent on energy-related
programs. The balance pays for nuclear weapons programs and cleanups at the
department's weapons facilities.

     Under the lower "target" plan, funding for the proposed nuclear waste
repository in Nevada would be flat, at just over $500 million annually. Also
at that level, funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy would
decline to $1.13 billion in 2011 from a requested $1.18 billion in fiscal
2007, and hydrogen technology spending would increase to $323 million from a
requested $196 million. 

     By contrast, weatherization would be slashed to $76 million, from $243
million this year. That program has been the source of controversy since DOE
proposed to cut it to $164 million in fiscal 2007. 

     DOE also is targeting for elimination the industrial technologies
program. The program was cut by $11 million to $46 million in the fiscal 2007
budget request. 

     Science spending would rise to $5.2 billion in fiscal 2011, from $4.1
billion in the fiscal 2007 request. 

     Congress mandated the five-year budget plan as part of DOE's fiscal 2006
spending allocation.

                  ---Daniel Whitten, daniel_whitten@platts.com

     For more information, take a trial to Platts Inside Energy at
http://insideenergy.platts.com.

Please visit: www.platts.com

Their coverage of energy matters is extensive!!.