Next step in appropriations process continues with Granholm's two hearings today
ECA Staff | 4/28/2022
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Today, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm will appear before two House committees to discuss the Administration’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 budget request. These hearings mark a continuation of the next step in the appropriations process.
A chart of the current Administration request versus the previous fiscal year's enacted level may be found below.
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According to her prepared remarks, Secretary Granholm will argue the proposed increase, which would place DOE’s budget topline at $48.2 billion, will help “to build a stronger, more secure, and more inclusive America by creating jobs through investments in clean energy and infrastructure.”
The Administration’s budget request invests $7.6 billion for the Office of Environmental Management “to continue cleanup of sites resulting from six decades of nuclear weapons development and production and Government-sponsored nuclear energy research.”
“DOE’s environmental management mission is about so much more than just knocking down buildings and cleaning waste out of tanks,” Secretary Granholm’s remarks read. “It’s about keeping promises we have made to the American people by addressing the remnants of our nuclear programs. DOE has an obligation to ensure the air, the water, and the communities surrounding our programs are safe, and that the families in those communities can thrive.”
According to Secretary Granholm, the “FY 2023 Request will also help deepen EM’s talent pool in science, technology, engineering, and math to ensure that DOE’s environmental management strategy and workforce is at its best to ensure that clean energy technologies we need to overcome climate change — like advanced nuclear — are safe and secure, so we can deploy them on a global scale."
A site-by-site chart of the Administration's request for EM may be found below.
Secretary Granholm will also speak to the increased budget request for the National Nuclear Security Administration, highlighting the Russian invasion of Chernobyl and the need to “protect the American people and stay ahead of nuclear threats.”
She will also touch on the proposed increase for the Office of Science, which will provide for “increased investments in Administration priorities including basic research on climate change and clean energy,” as well as the proposed increase for the Office of Nuclear Energy, which “supports the diverse civilian nuclear energy programs of the U.S. Government and Federal efforts to research and develop nuclear energy technologies.”
Secretary Granholm will also highlight that “resources provided through the FY 2023 Budget will complement, not duplicate, the $62 billion Congress provided the Department in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, or BIL. This $62 billion is a down payment that will supercharge DOE’s work on clean energy demonstrations, advanced manufacturing, grid infrastructure, and low-income home weatherization.”
Additional information on the appropriations process and Federal budget requests may be found on the ECA Federal Budget Tracker webpage linked here.
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A business meeting will be held on Thursday, April 28, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. to consider the nomination of Dr. Kathryn Huff to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy (Nuclear Energy).
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DOE seeks nuclear energy partners to connect with communities
DOE-NE | 4/14/2022
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to develop partnerships between the Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) and various communities. With an emphasis on environmental justice, these partners will work with local energy
communities, educational entities, and other constituencies to accomplish the shared mission of utilizing nuclear energy to advance energy, environmental, and economic initiatives.
This FOA will provide up to 11 awards totaling $1.6 million over three years. The funding will focus on:
- Energy Communities – Develop resources and educational materials for the community and local government officials.
- Energy Justice Organizations and Communities – Partner with organizations and communities at the frontlines of the energy transition who are impacted by and/or interested in nuclear energy and its fuel cycle.
- Workforce Development and Educational Outreach – Develop materials for educators to help students understand the basics of nuclear science and encourage careers in STEM fields.
- International Nuclear Education Development – Fund fellowships for international students to study nuclear engineering at American universities, national labs, and with industry partners.
“To implement the nuclear technologies of the future we need to communicate the benefits to every community, integrate energy justice into everything we do, and build the next generation of nuclear leaders,” said Andrew Griffith, Acting Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy. “This funding opportunity will help us directly our partnership reach and work with local leaders, teachers, students, and others who want to learn about nuclear technologies and can
benefit from nuclear energy in their communities.”
Nuclear power currently provides 52% of the nation’s carbon-free electricity, and the Biden-Harris Administration has identified the current fleet of 93 reactors as a vital resource to achieve net-zero emissions economy-wide by 2050.
The Administration has requested approximately $480,000.00 in FY 2022 for this program. Awards are contingent upon the availability of funds appropriated by Congress.
Prospective partners may apply for funding at Grants.gov. To access these materials, select "Apply for Grants," and then select "Download Application Package." Applications must be received by July 20, 2022.
More information on the Office of Nuclear Energy and its programs can be found here.
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Read about DOE's High Level Waste Interpretation
Have questions about DOE’s recent high-level waste (HLW) interpretation? Download ECA’s Key Points and FAQs on the issue to better understand what ECA believes are the potential benefits of implementation.
Interested in learning more? Read the ECA report “Making Informed Decisions on DOE's Proposed High Level Waste Definition” at www.energyca.org/publications
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Stay Current on Activities in the DOE World
Read the latest edition of the ECA Bulletin, a regular newsletter providing a detailed brief of ECA activities, legislative news, and major events from across the DOE complex. Have suggestions for future editions? Email [email protected].
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Learn More about Cleanup Sites with ECA's DOE Site Profiles
ECA's new site profiles detail DOE's 13 active Environmental Management cleanup sites and national laboratories, highlighting their history, missions, and priorities. The profiles are a key source for media, stakeholders, and the public to learn more about DOE site activities, contractors, advisory boards, and their surrounding local governments.
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