Republicans Want To Ax Renewable Energy and Environment

Congressional Republicans on Wednesday released a budget plan that would impose deep cuts on energy efficiency and renewable energy, scientific research and environmental protection.

Energy efficiency and renewable energy programs would lose $899 million. In addition, Republicans want to cut $1.4 billion from a program that guarantees construction loans for new energy projects, such as nuclear reactors, electric transmission lines and solar arrays.

Also on the list of proposed energy cuts are $1.1 billion in the Office of Science, which funds advanced clean energy research; and $186 million for the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which is leading development of technical standards for smart grid installations and cyber protection, and $169 million for nuclear energy.

They want to cut Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funds to the tune of $1.6 billion (32%) – the largest cut in their budget – to impede its ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. 

EPA chief Lisa Jackson notes that about half of the EPA’s budget is used to enforce our nation’s environmental laws.

In total, Republicans want to eliminate over 60 programs for the environment, energy, health care and law enforcement. The Obama administration’s proposal for a high-speed rail development is among those on the chopping block.

They want a 20% funding reduction for the Department of Energy Office of Science, which funds basic research. This at a time when President Obama has called for a renewed push in science and clean energy technology to keep the country competitive globally.

There wide-ranging cuts don’t touch the miltary budget, however – the largest share of the US budget.  They also don’t touch Oil Industry subsides – which Democrats say would save $20 billion over 10 years.

Newly elected Tea Party Republicans are pushing for even deeper cuts of an additional $26 billion.

States Get Pushback Too

Meanwhile, Republican legislators in Montana, Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri are working on weakening or dismantling those states’ Renewable Energy Standards (RES) – crucial in the absence of a federal standard to develop a globally competitive renewable energy industry and to cut greenhouse gas emissions. 

Montana House Bill 224, for example, would end that state’s RES, which currently requires utilities to get 15% of their energy from renewables by 2015.

Ironically, energy from the Judith Gap Wind Project – a 135 MW wind farm in Montana – costs less than that from fossil fuel plants. 

In Colorado, a Senate committee voted down three bills along party lines that tried to repeal the RES.

Poll: Constituents Not on Board with EPA Cuts

Two-thirds of House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton’s (R-MI) constituents oppose his bill to dismantle the EPA’s ability to reduce carbon and other pollutants, a new poll reveals.

The Public Policy Polling survey, conducted for the Natural Resources Defense Council, turned up similar findings in the home districts of eight other key committee members: Reps. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA); Cory Gardner (R-CO); Adam Kinzinger (R-IL); Charlie Bass (R-NH); Leonard Lance, (R-NJ); Mike Doyle, (D-PA); Charles A. Gonzalez (D-TX); and Gene Green (D-TX).

67% of Upton’s constituents–including 60% of Republicans–agree with the statement: "Congress should let the EPA do its job," as opposed to the minority who believe that "Congress should decide" what actions are taken to curb carbon pollution.

On Wednesday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Power held a hearing on Upton’s bill and the chairman has indicated that he plans to move the legislation forward as quickly as possible. (Read additional NY Times coverage.)

Other key survey findings from Chairman Upton’s Michigan 6th Congressional District include the following:

• 61% say that "EPA needs to do more to hold polluters accountable and protect the air and water."
• 57% favor "the EPA setting new standards with stricter limits on air pollution."