Mr. Chairman, as we consider the Energy and Water bill today here in Washington, California and the West are in the throes of an energy crisis. Now is the time to strengthen and increase the federal commitment to new, clean energy sources. Instead, the Bush Administration proposed deep cuts in federal renewable energy programs, slashing core renewable energy research and development programs by 50%.
The Appropriations Committee chose to fund renewable energy programs at $377 million, $100 more than the President's proposal. However, $377 million gives us only $1 million more than we have in the current year for these important programs. We should increase our commitment to renewable energy resources and technologies, including wind, solar, and biomass. For this reason, I will vote for the Hinchey amendment to increase funding for renewable energy by $50 million, which would provide funding for programs to deploy promising new technologies more rapidly.