by Rebecca Walker — May 11, 2009—The Alliance to Save Energy today applauded President Barack Obama’s FY10 budget proposal, which will provide a steady increase in most energy-efficiency programs and reinforces the President’s goal of a new, clean energy economy.
“President Obama’s budget request makes a strong statement that energy efficiency is and will continue to be a large priority for his administration,” said Alliance President Kateri Callahan.
“Our current economic situation makes it imperative that we put a high priority on creating a new, robust energy policy. The funding requested for the FY10 budget, combined with funding provided in the economic recovery bill, will significantly move us towards that goal.”
The president’s FY10 budget calls for an increase across many different energy efficiency programs, including a $10 million increase for the industrial sector and a $98 million increase in the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building Technologies Program, which includes $10 million for building energy codes.
“This dramatic increase is critically important and urgently needed,” Callahan stated, “because buildings currently account for 40 percent of U.S. energy use and 39 percent of carbon emissions.”
Other budget items include $10 million for the Federal Energy Management Program, a $25 million increase for the State Energy Program, and increases for DOE’s ENERGY STAR program, commercial buildings, residential buildings, research and development, and equipment standards.
The Alliance was disappointed, however, that the president did not recommend a substantial increase in the ENERGY STAR program at the Environmental Protection Agency.
For more information, see the Alliance’s Web site.
