Energy Efficiency, Regulation, Sourcing Renewables  -  February 14, 2018

Trump 2019 budget slashes EPA, DOE funding

The newly-released 2019 budget proposal from the Trump Administration calls for spending cuts of 24% from the EPA and more than 65% from the DOE’s renewable energy office while boosting spending on fossil fuels and nuclear programs.

According to a report from Utility Dive, the proposal calls for $6.14 billion for the EPA, down nearly $2 billion. The DOE would see a slight increase from $30.1 billion in fiscal 2017 to $30.6 billion. However, the budget for its renewable energy office would decline from approximately $2 billion to $696 million. The Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) and Loans program would be eliminated.

"The Trump administration's budget plan for the year ahead echoes its proposal for the year that passed — deep cuts to environmental initiatives and renewable energy research paired with increases to nuclear weapons and fossil fuel funding," noted Utility Dive.

The EPA will likely start by eliminating lower-priority programs or those that can be taken on by other agencies or states, including Climate Change Research and Partnership Programs. EPA employment is projected to decline from 15,416 to 12,250.

At the DOE, energy programs are expected to see cuts of $1.9 billion, with the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) especially hard hit with a cut of $1.3 billion, or 65%.

Utility Dive noted that “it is unlikely lawmakers will pass a budget with such deep cuts to energy and environmental initiatives,” adding that lawmakers of both parties successfully opposed last year’s similar budget request.

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