Energy and Water Budget Bill passes in the House.
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Press Release Summary:
Energy and Water appropriations bill (HR.3183), which includes DOE's FY10 budget, was passed by floor of the full House by vote of 320-97. Bill included an amendment that added an additional $45 million for hydrogen vehicle technologies to the $40 million the House E&W Appropriations Subcommittee had already added above DOE's $68 million FY10 budget request for hydrogen and fuel cells in DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Original Press Release:
NHA Policy Update: E&W Budget Bill Passes in the House (320-97)
We are still in the middle of the Appropriations process but have some great news to share with you. The Energy and Water appropriations bill (HR.3183), which includes DOE's FY10 budget, was passed by floor of the full House by a vote of 320-97! This bill included an amendment, agreed to earlier in the week, that added an additional $45 million for 'hydrogen vehicle technologies' to the $40 million the House E&W Appropriations Subcommittee had already added above DOE's $68 million FY10 budget request for hydrogen and fuel cells in DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
In addition to the EERE funding, the House report language also added $25.5 million above the Administration's request "for fuels" in DOE's Office of Fossil Energy (FE) for a total of $40.5 million in FY10, saying "the production of high purity hydrogen from coal holds potential as a supply source for hydrogen-based technologies in the future." However, it is not clear at this time what portion of this $40.5m will be directed to hydrogen from coal projects.
To compare the process in the House with that in the Senate, so far, the total bill passed by the House last Friday contains a total of $153 million for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies for DOE's EERE program in FY10 (plus the $40.5 m in FE funding). And the Appropriations Committee in the Senate has approved $190 million for EERE (plus $25m in FE funding). Consideration of the E&W appropriations bill on the Senate floor has not yet been scheduled.
The addition of $85 million, plus funding for FE, into the House's appropriations bill is a considerable accomplishment, and we thank all Representatives who took the time to speak on behalf of the benefits of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies by adding the extra $45 million on the floor of the House last Wednesday, including Reps. Larson, Israel, and Massa.
This most recent addition narrowed the difference between the $153 million for EERE in the House bill with the $190 million total being considered in the Senate for EERE, which we expect will bolster efforts towards budget restoration if/when the Senate and House Bills are negotiated in a conference committee. We will continue to keep you updated with any new developments.
