Alliance to Save Energy: Despite Commitment to Hydrogen, Energy Efficiency to be Cut in President's FY'04 Budget Request

2/3/2003

From: Ronnie J. Kweller of the Alliance to Save Energy, 202-530-2203; e-mail: rkweller@ase.org

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 -- Following is a statement of Alliance to Save Energy President David M. Nemtzow regarding President Bush's FY 2004 budget:

"President Bush's FY 2004 budget request calls for significant cuts in energy efficiency at a time when we can least afford it. With U.S. oil imports steadily increasing and the global climate deteriorating, we need both immediate progress and long-term solutions.

"While research into fuel cell vehicles and low-income weatherization assistance is increased, the DOE energy efficiency budget would be cut by $35 million from last year's budget request, as a host of marketplace-friendly programs would be slashed. This budget shortchanges effective technologies and programs in favor of long-term research that may or not pay off in the coming decades. Programs to help cut the energy bills of industry, homeowners, consumers, and even the federal government itself would be hurt, despite the fact that energy efficiency is the quickest, cheapest, and cleanest way to improve our nation's energy security."

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The Alliance to Save Energy is a coalition of prominent business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, economy, and national security.