DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: FY2016 Appropriations
Released: 2016-02-10T00:00:00

Organization and Strategy

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) invests in high-risk, potentially high-value research, development, and deployment (RD&D) in the fields of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. EERE also manages a portfolio of grant programs that support state and territorial governments. The office is led by the Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficie ncy and Renewable Energy, who manages several internal EERE offices and programs. EERE serves as the steward and primary client of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which is located in Golden, CO. NREL is the only national lab dedicated solely to RD&D on efficiency and renewables. In FY2015, the amount of funding that EERE passed through to NREL was nearly double the amount that the office provided to all other national labs combined.

EERE Sectors and Programs

DOE has organized EERE into four functional groups, or sector offices: sustainable transportation, renewable power, energy efficiency, and corporate management. Each sector—and its major component programs—are identified below:

Sustainable Transportation R&D is made up of three program offices. The Vehicle Technologies office focuses mainly on the development of electric vehicles and on technologies to improve the efficiency and fuel economy of combustion engines of cars and trucks. The Bioenergy office addresses biomass resources and technologies for liquid fuels that can displace petroleum use. The Hydrogen/Fuel Cells office targets the energy efficiency of transportation fuel cells that can use natural gas and/or hydrogen gas as a fuel. Renewable Power R&D is made up of four program offices. The Solar Energy office develops electric power systems for buildings and utility-scale installations. The Wind Energy office focuses on hardware for wind farms. The Geothermal Energy office explores technology to generate power from geological resources. Water Power technologies include new hydropower development strategies and hardware for wave, currents (river and ocean), and tidal energy resources. Energy Efficiency R&D is made up of three program offices. The Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO) anchors the Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative and provides technical assistance for industry. The Building Technologies office addresses building design (codes), component innovation, and equipment standards. The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) helps federal agencies with project financing, technical guidance, and planning assistance. Corporate Management is made up of three activities. Program Management is the overall administrative arm that manages all EERE programs. Strategic Programs (formerly Program Support) serves an integrative and crosscutting role for EERE. The Facilities and Infrastructure program mainly addresses the development and maintenance of the facilities that make up the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Strategic Plan

EERE's vision aims to promote "clean, affordable, and secure energy." Based on its vision, EERE states that its mission is "... to create and sustain American leadership in the transition to a global clean energy economy." To attain its vision and fulfill its mission, EERE has devised several strategic goals. Some of the goals are sector specific and some are crosscutting:

1. Accelerate development and adoption of sustainable transportation technologies. 2. Increase the generation of electric power from renewable sources. 3. Improve the energy efficiency of homes, buildings, and industries. 4. Stimulate the growth of a thriving domestic clean energy manufacturing industry. 5. Help integrate clean energy into a reliable, resilient, and efficient electricity grid. 6. Lead efforts to improve federal sustainability and use of clean energy solutions.

For each strategic goal, strategic objectives and success indicators were devised as metrics to assess the progress of activities. Further, Multi-Year Program Plans (MYPPs) are developed to provide more detailed strategies for each EERE technology office (e.g., Buildings, Vehicles, Solar Energy). EERE's strategic planning process follows a three-phase innovation model that addresses applied research, development and demonstration, and market barriers.

Administration Perspective and Goals

President Obama has declared energy efficiency and renewable energy to be high priorities, stressing their importance to jobs, economic growth, and U.S. manufacturing competitiveness. The 2013 E conomic Report of the President said that "President Obama has set a goal of once again doubling generation from wind, solar, and geothermal sources by 2020." Other key Administration goals that directly affect the EERE agenda include leading the world in clean energy technologies, doubling energy productivity by 2030 (relative to 2010), making non-residential buildings 20% more efficient by 2020, attaining 80% clean energy power generation by 2035 (includes nuclear and efficient gas), reducing oil imports relative to the 2008 level by one-half by 2020, and cutting greenhouse gases 17% below the 2005 level by 2020.

Sustainable Economic Growth

The 2015 E conomic Report of the President states that the President's strategy for sustainable economic growth addresses three strategic elements: economic growth and job creation, improving energy security, and curbing global climate change. Further, it observes that the President's Climate Action Plan "includes a broad range of actions, from providing research, demonstration, and deployment funding for new energy technologies to the direct regulation of carbon emissions under the Clean Air Act."

For "infant" industries, the report finds that, due to difficulties for a private company to capture all the economic benefits of innovation, there tends to be underinvestment in clean energy technologies, such as wind and solar. As a result, "the Administration supports research and early deployment projects aimed at bringing down the ultimate market price of immature renewable energy technologies."

Climate Protection

The 2015 Economic Report of the President concludes that "U.S. leadership is vital to the success of international negotiations to set meaningful [carbon] reduction goals.... Through low-carbon technologies developed and demonstrated in the United States ... this Nation can help the rest of the world reduce its dependence on high-carbon fuels."

Citing authority granted by the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a final rule known as the Clean Power Plan (CPP). The CPP aims to reduce carbon emissions from the nation's fleet of electric power plants. The rule directs states to submit implementation plans by September 6, 2016, unless granted an extension to 2018. The state plans must comply with CPP targets set to begin in 2022. Renewable energy is one of EPA's recommended key strategies designed to enable states to comply with the rule's proposed carbon emission goals. Implementation of the CPP could increase the demand for EERE technologies. Such a boost to renewables and efficiency could likely take several forms, including development of renewables capacity and energy storage, transmission infrastructure and grid integration, and implementation of more energy-efficient equipment.

Program Funding History

Spending History in Context

From FY1948 through FY1977 the federal government provided an extensive amount of R&D support for fossil energy and nuclear power technologies. The energy crises of the 1970s spurred the federal government to expand its R&D programs to include renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. In real (constant dollar) terms, funding support for all four of the main energy technologies skyrocketed during the 1970s to a combined peak in FY1979. Funding then dropped steadily, reaching a bottom during the late 1990s. Since then, funding has increased gradually—except that the Recovery Act provided a one-year spike in FY2009. Figure 1 presents a chart showing the relative shares of funding for the four types of energy technologies over three time periods: 68 years, 38 years, and 10 years. EERE funding is portrayed by the top two portions of each bar in the chart: one for renewables R&D and one for energy efficiency R&D.

Recent Appropriations History

Since 2005, the annual Energy and Water Development (E&W) appropriations bill has funded all DOE programs, including those operated by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). That office conducts two general types of programs: research and development (R&D), often conducted in partnership with private sector firms, and distribution of grant funds to state, territorial, and tribal governments. EERE administers a wide range of R&D programs, each with its own set of goals and objectives.

Since FY2011, DOE has requested sizeable increases in spending each year—but Congress has generally provided funding for EERE programs at less than requested levels. Table 1 , below, shows the recent pattern of EERE requests and final appropriation levels.

For FY2015, DOE's request for EERE was $2.3 billion, which would have increased funding relative to the FY2014 level by about $416 million, or nearly 22%. The House approved $1.8 billion, and the Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development recommended $2.1 billion. The enacted FY2015 measure ( P.L. 113-235 , Division D) provided $1.9 billion for EERE.

FY2016 Highlights

This section presents the key EERE program funding increases requested and describes some highlights for each of those programs. EERE Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Mike Carr presented a summary of the EERE request at a February 25, 2015, briefing for congressional staff sponsored by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI).

Summary

DOE presented its FY2016 budget request on February 2, 2015. The request for EERE was about $2.7 billion, which would have been a nearly $809 million, or 42%, increase relative to the FY2015 level. The EERE increase was about one-third of the total requested DOE increase. To balance the requested increase for DOE, the Administration sought a revenue offset derived from a proposal to repeal about $4 billion in fossil fuel tax incentives.

Key Requested Increases

As part of that requested overall increase, DOE sought the largest increases for manufacturing and vehicles, sought significant increases for several other programs, and proposed to create a new local grants program.

Manufacturing. Most of the requested increase, $140 million, would have supported two new Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiatives (CEMIs)—part of the President's National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI). Vehicles. The $164 milllion requested increase would have mainly supported the EV Everywhere Grand Challenge—with funds spread over several subprograms.

Five other sizable increases are sought for EERE R&D programs:

Solar. The $104 million increase would have mainly supported the SunShot Initiative goal for utility solar plants to reach 6 cents/kilowatt hour (kwh) by 2020. Buildings. The largest share of the $92 million increase would have gone to emerging technologies—sensors, grid links, and air conditioning R&D. Geothermal. The $41 million increase would have supported a production cost goal of 10 cents/kwh by 2030, mainly by adapting sensing, drilling, and fracking technologies for "blind" resources and deep reservoirs. Wind. The largest share of the $39 million increase would have gone to new technology. Also, a sizable increase would have gone to mitigate wildlife impacts. Bioenergy. An increase of $21 million would have supported pilot biorefinery projects and efforts to raise algae productivity.

Three notable increases were sought for grant programs.

Weatherization. The $35 million requested increase would have raised the number of retrofits and supported new test models for multifamily buildings. State Energy. Most of the $20 million increase requested would have supported a competitive grant program for innovation and best practices. Local Energy. A new $20 million program of competitive grants would have promoted best practices.

Main Actions

The House Committee on Appropriations reported ( H.R. 2028 , H.Rept. 114-91 ) the Energy and Water Development (E&W) Appropriations Bill, 2016 with a recommendation of about $1.640 billion (includes a $17 million rescission) for EERE. House floor action increased the amount by $11 million to $1.652 billion. The House recommended level drew a veto threat from the Administration. Subsequently, the Senate Committee on Appropriations ( S.Rept. 114-54 ) recommended $1.933 billion (includes a $17 million rescission). Action on H.R. 2028 was suspended, as Congress adopted two omnibus continuing resolutions and pursued lengthy negotiations over final FY2016 appropriations. Ultimately, the E&W bill was incorporated as Division D of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, FY2016 ( H.R. 2029 ). The final enacted version of H.R. 2029 ( P.L. 114-113 , Division D) provided nearly $2.1 billion for EERE.

Congressional Action

After the Administration issued its FY2016 budget request, Congress held a number of DOE oversight and appropriations hearings. As noted above, further actions were taken in the House and Senate on DOE funding recommendations in the E&W bill, H.R. 2028 . Late in the first session, after lengthy negotiations, the E&W bill was incorporated into H.R. 2029 .

The various steps of the congressional process for the FY2016 E&W appropriations are outlined in Table 2 .

Funding Increases

This section presents the key EERE program funding increases enacted and describes some highlights for each of those programs. Several programs received a significant funding increase for FY2016. Table 3 and Table 4 show those increases in dollar amounts and percentages, relative to FY2015.

Increases Ranked by Sector

Regarding the changes proposed for FY2016, Table 3 shows the enacted increases for each of the three functional sectors. The largest dollar and percentage increase was in the energy efficiency sector. The following section provides a further breakdown for the programs under the sectors.

Increases Ranked by Program

Table 4 shows that the largest EERE increases are for manufacturing and vehicles.

Decrease for Wind Energy

Wind Energy is the only program slated to be cut, by nearly $12 million.

Cross-Cutting Initiatives

The FY2016 request also sought to continue crosscutting programs that coordinate across the Department and seek to tap DOE's full capability to effectively and efficiently address national energy, environmental, and national security challenges. The request identified four new broad initiatives that cut across multiple EERE programs—and across programs under other energy (Fossil and Nuclear) offices and the Office of Science:

Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (sCO 2 ). The aim is to use sCO 2 as the working fluid in power production cycles. Demonstration of feasibility could yield cleaner, more efficient, and less costly power production for fossil, nuclear, concentrating solar, geothermal, and industrial waste heat recovery technologies. Subsurface Engineering (SubTER). This activity aims to improve technologies for accessing underground fossil and geothermal resources, while exploring ways to store CO 2 , fluids, and waste products. Energy-Water Nexus. This collaboration is focused on technology and analysis to improve the resilience of coupled energy-water systems. Cybersecurity. This crosscut aims to protect DOE facilities from cyber threats, bolster the federal government's ability to address cyber threats, and improve cybersecurity for the industrial subsectors of electric power, oil, and natural gas.

Also, the request continues a focus on five other key EERE cross-cutting initiatives, established in previous years:

(1) Grid Modernization Initiative. Under this initiative, launched in 2012, EERE's vehicles, solar, and buildings programs would work in coordination with DOE's Grid Tech Team to address electric grid integration barriers and opportunities associated with variable, distributed renewable energy generators, electric vehicle charging, and building efficiency and controls. Thus, EERE would coordinate with DOE's Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE).

(2) EV Everywhere Grand Challenge. This DOE-wide initiative aims to make technology breakthroughs that would enable the United States, by 2022, to become the first country in the world to invent and produce plug-in electric vehicles that are as affordable and convenient as gasoline-powered vehicles.

(3) SunShot Grand Challenge. This DOE-wide initiative seeks to achieve directly cost-competitive solar power by 2020.

(4) Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative. Launched in 2014, this EERE initiative aims to dramatically improve U.S. competitiveness in the manufacture of clean energy products (such as solar modules, LED lights, batteries, and wind blades) and to increase energy productivity as a means to strengthen U.S. competitiveness across multiple manufacturing industries.

(5) Wide Bandgap (WBG) Semiconductors for Clean Energy Initiative. Wide bandgap semiconductor technology—a branch of solid state power electronics—was initially developed for military and solid-state lighting uses. DOE contends it is a key next-generation platform for semiconductor devices with the potential for developing high-power-conversion electronics that are much more compact, more energy efficient, and able to operate at much higher temperatures and voltages than existing commercial technology. DOE says that this "revolutionary" technology could be a platform for the next generation of electric vehicle drivetrains, solar inverters, high-efficiency motors, solid-state transformers for the grid, and many other critical, clean energy applications. WBG semiconductors are one focus of DOE's Next Generation Power Electronics Manufacturing Innovation Institute.

EERE Funding Table

EERE has 13 program offices and three administrative offices. Each program office has a set of goals and funding needs. DOE's FY2016 request groups the 13 program offices under four separate functional themes:

1. Sustainable Transportation, which includes the Vehicles, Bioenergy, and Hydrogen/Fuel Cell programs. 2. Renewable Electricity Generation, which includes Solar, Geothermal, Wind, and Water programs. 3. Energy Efficiency, which includes Manufacturing, Buildings, the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP), and the grant programs. 4. Corporate Management, which includes the three administrative programs: Facilities, Program Direction, and Strategic Programs.

Table 5 , below, gives the EERE breakdown of recent fiscal year appropriations—and the enacted FY2016 appropriation—by program office.

Goals and Funding for Program Offices

Sustainable Transportation

Hydrogen/Fuel Cell Program37

This program aims to reduce petroleum use, greenhouse gas emissions, and criteria air pollutants, while contributing to a more diverse and efficient energy infrastructure. The program supports applied research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, as well as efforts to overcome economic and institutional barriers to commercial deployment. The fuel cell program targets a cost below $40 per kilowatt (kw) and a durability of 5,000 hours (equivalent to 150,000 miles) by 2020. For hydrogen produced from renewable resources, the target is to bring the cost (dispensed and untaxed) below $4.00 per gasoline gallon-equivalent (gge) by 2020.

For FY2016, DOE requested $103 million—a small increase over the FY2015 appropriation. Increases for hydrogen fuel R&D and fuel cell R&D would be offset partially by a reduction for technology validation. The House committee report proposed a $3 million cut from the FY2015 level and recommended cost-shared efforts with states to expand vehicle applications and to address challenges to hydrogen infrastructure. The House-passed Energy and Water Development (E&W) Appropriations bill (H.R. 2028) adopted the committee-recommended level. The Senate committee report recommended level funding with that for FY2015 and a minimum of $35.2 million for R&D. Division D of P.L. 114-113 provided $101 million, an increase of $4 million over the FY2015 level.

Bioenergy Program38

This program aims to foster a domestic bioenergy industry that produces renewable biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower. The goals are to curb oil dependence, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and stimulate economic and job development—especially in farms and forests. While biofuels and industrial bioproducts (plastics, solvents, and alcohols) may soon be price-competitive, swings in oil prices pose an ongoing challenge to achieving cost-competitiveness. The program aims to overcome a feedstock collection barrier by focusing on converting raw biomass to solid pellets or to "green crude" bio-oil that would be easy to transport at large scale.

Recent goals expand the program scope to include the development of biofuels that would contribute to production targets of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). These "drop-in" liquid fuels would be largely compatible with existing infrastructure that delivers, blends, and dispenses fuels. Examples include biomass-based hydrocarbon fuels (renewable gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel), hydrocarbons from algae, and biobutanol. The program aims to help the non-food drop-in biofuels reach a wholesale finished-fuel cost under $3 per gge by 2017 and $3/gge for algae-based fuels by 2020.

For FY2016, DOE requested $246 million for Bioenergy (formerly Biomass and Biorefinery) programs, a $21 million increase (in current dollars) over the FY2015 appropriation. Of that total increase, an $8 million (10%) increase would have gone to the Demonstration & Market Transformation subprogram to support three biorefinery pilot projects—or one new demonstration project—to broaden pathways for converting biomass to hydrocarbon fuels. Also, a $7 million increase would have gone to the Feedstocks subprogram, to increase the yield of algal biomass conversion to biofuel intermediate oil. Under the Demonstration subprogram, EERE would also continue to manage commercial biofuel manufacturing facilities—established jointly with the Departments of the Navy and Agriculture—to produce fuels that meet military-specifications.

The House committee report proposed a cut of $60 million below the FY2015 level and recommended no funding for the drop-in biofuels project with the Departments of the Navy and Agriculture. Also, the committee directed DOE to perform an assessment of the potential for existing facilities to produce bio-based products and chemicals. The House-passed E&W bill ( H.R. 2028 ) adopted the committee recommended level. The Senate report recommended level funding with FY2015 and included $45 million for the drop-in biofuels project and $30 million for algae biofuels. Also, DOE is directed to include biopower projects as eligible for technology development funding. The enacted law provided $225 million, the same level as the FY2015 appropriation.

Vehicle Technologies40

This program is driven by the 10-year EV-Everywhere Challenge (launched in 2012), which aims to achieve parity for plug-in electric vehicle (EV) affordability and convenience by 2022. The EV Challenge focuses on advanced battery technology, power electronics, and advanced charging technology. A key supporting technology goal is to cut battery production cost from $300/kwh of battery capacity in 2014 to $125/kwh by 2022. Further, the EV program seeks to reduce vehicle materials weight by 30% from 2002 to 2022 and to cut electric drivetrain cost from $16/kw in 2013 to $8/kw by 2022. Other program goals include (1) a cut of 1.8 million barrels per day (16%) in national oil use by 2020, and (2) a hike in fuel economy to 62 miles per gallon (mpg) for cars by 2025. Also, the Vehicle Technologies program participates in the Grid Modernization Crosscut through its Grid Integration Initiative.

To help achieve those goals and support the EV Everywhere initiative, DOE requested $444 million, an increase of $164 million—the second-largest program increase for FY2016. There are four main parts to the $164 million increase. First, funding for batteries and electric drives would increase by $41 million, focused on advanced batteries, power electronics, and charging stations. Second, funding for materials technology would increase by $35 million, emphasizing carbon fiber and other composites, lightweight materials compatible with manufacturing infrastructure, and high temperature materials for valves and turbochargers. Third, funding for outreach and deployment would rise by $28 million to initiate Alternative Fuel Vehicle Community Partner projects. Fourth, funding for fuels and lubricants would rise by $17 million, mainly for Plug-in EV (PEV) vehicle-grid integration, wireless charging, codes and standards, modelling and simulation, and the Supertruck II (idling, HVAC) project.

The House committee report proposed a cut of $25 million below the FY2015 level. The committee encouraged DOE to address barriers to adoption of lightweight vehicle designs and to work with industry on emissions controls for natural gas vehicles. The House-passed E&W bill adopted the committee recommended level. The Senate report recommended an increase of $12 million over the FY2015 level and included $20 million for the SuperTruck II program. P.L. 114-113 provided $310 million, an increase of $30 million.

Renewable Power

Solar Energy42

For this program, DOE requested $337 million, an increase of $104 million over the FY2015 appropriation. The funding would support the SunShot Initiative goal to achieve a cost of solar power of 6 cents/kwh to make utility-scale solar power cost-competitive without incentives by 2020. This effort includes solar photovoltaic R&D; activities that enable a 50% reduction in non-hardware "soft costs"; and development and demonstration of innovative solar energy manufacturing technologies to increase U.S. competitiveness—in support of EERE's Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative.

The FY2016 funding increase would be spread mainly over four subprograms: a $33 million increase under Systems Integration, for grid integration and dispatchability; a $27 million increase under Photovoltaic R&D, mainly to improve reliability and cell efficiency; a $27 million increase under Balance of Systems, to address barriers and to identify new markets; and a $16 million increase under Manufacturing Innovations, to cover both processes and tool development.

The House committee report proposed a cut of $129 million below the FY2015 level. Further, the committee recommended no funding for the SUNPATH III program. Also, the committee report directed that the program reduce the amount of silicon needed to produce a solar cell. The House-passed bill adopted the committee recommended level. The Senate report recommended an $8.6 million increase over the FY2015 level. P.L. 114-113 provided $242 million, an increase of $9 million.

Wind Energy43

There are three key goals for the Wind Program. First, for land-based windfarms, there is a goal for the energy cost of land-based utility-scale turbines to reach levelized cost of energy (LCOE) parity with other power plants. Second, for offshore settings, the goal is to cut energy costs from 21 cents per kilowatt-hour (kwh) in 2010 to 17 cents/kwh (without incentives) by 2020. Third, by achieving those cost reduction goals, there is a further overall goal to meet up to 20% of projected electricity demand by 2030. DOE suggests that it may extend this goal to 35% by 2050.

DOE requested $146 million, a $39 million increase over the FY2015 appropriation. The main share of that increase, $24 million, would have gone to the Technology RD&T and Resource Analysis subprogram. It would support new initiatives for rotor design, drivetrain, and the atmosphere-to-electrons (A2e) smart technology demonstration partnerships. Also, a $17 million increase would be used to mitigate market barriers involving transmission access, radar, permitting, and environmental issues. The largest share of that increase would aim to reduce the impacts of windfarms on eagles and other wildlife.

The House committee report proposed a cut of nearly $17 million below the FY2015 level. Also, the committee supported an emphasis on development of offshore technologies that address issues such as high winds, icing, and deep water. The House-passed bill adopted the committee recommended level. The Senate report recommended a cut of $61 million from the FY2015 level—the largest cut it recommended for FY2016. All of the funding would have gone to offshore wind development. P.L. 114-113 provided $96 million, a decrease of nearly $12 million.

Geothermal Technologies47

This program aims to lower the risk of resource exploration and cut power production costs to 6 cents/kwh for geothermal power equipment by 2030. The Hydrothermal subprogram has a goal of developing 30 gigawatts (gw) of new resources. It is mainly focused on sensing and drilling technologies designed to target and develop "blind" resource areas. Those resources are mainly in the western United States.

For the enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) subprogram, a 2006 study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) suggested that, at a depth of about six miles, there should be a usable and much larger resource nationwide. The long-term goal is to develop 100 gw of this resource. EGS is focused on adapting specialized resource development technology—which has parallels to oil and gas fracking technology—but it may face even greater technical barriers.

DOE requested $96 million, an increase of $41 million over the FY2015 appropriation. The Hydrothermal subprogram would get $24 million of that increase to complete phase 1 of the play fairway analysis (PFA), launch PFA phase 2 for certain target areas, and support the Subsurface Engineering crosscutting (SubTER) program. The EGS subprogram would get $13 million of the increase to apply to the first field lab drilling and to further supercritical CO 2 (sCO 2 ) tests. There is some debate over the fracking aspect of EGS. Concerns include earthquakes, leakages, and spills. DOE's responses to those concerns include the formulation of a seismicity protocol and the development of best management practices.

The House committee report proposed a cut of $9 million below the FY2015 level. The House-passed bill adopted the committee recommended level. The Senate report recommended an increase of $16 million relative to the FY2015 level. P.L. 114-113 provided $71 million, an increase of $16 million.

Water Power58

Water power technologies employ conventional hydropower resources—and marine and hydrokinetic (wave, tidal, current, and ocean thermal) resources—to generate electricity. The Hydropower program supports technology development, market acceleration, and grid integration across three resource classes: (1) existing water infrastructure—non-powered dams, (2) undeveloped streams, and (3) pumped-storage hydropower (PSH). Hydropower technology is well established, but the fledgling industry for marine and hydrokinetic (MHK) power facilities is still looking to develop a clear technology theme and viable commercial strategy. Because more than 50% of the nation's population lives within 50 miles of a coastline, MHK technologies have significant potential to provide renewable electricity to consumers in coastal load centers, especially where electricity costs are high. Table 6 shows the technical production potential and program focus for selected water power technologies. Technical potential is different from economically developable potential, with the latter likely being a much smaller amount. For gauging the magnitude of the technical potentials, the bottom line of the table shows the total U.S. electric power generation during 2013.

DOE requested $67 million, an increase of $6 million over the FY2015 appropriation. The entire increase would have gone to the Hydropower subprogram. For non-powered dams, the focus is on modular powertrains and site engineering designs. For undeveloped streams, the focus is on innovation in structural materials and construction methods that reduce costs and environmental disturbance. For FY2016, the Water Power Program supports one DOE crosscut—the Energy-Water Nexus. The crosscut aims to facilitate the transition to more resilient energy and coupled energy-water systems.

The House committee report proposed a cut of about $22 million from the FY2015 level. Also, the committee directed DOE to allocate current (FY2015) funding to MHK based on resource assessments and stakeholder input. The House-passed bill adopted the committee recommended level. The Senate report recommended an increase of $4 million over the FY2015 level. P.L. 114-113 provided $70 million, an increase of $9 million.

Energy Efficiency

Building Technologies60

This program develops energy efficiency technologies to curb building-related energy costs, with a goal of reducing energy use by 50% from 2010 to 2030. The program strategy is designed with three linked paths: improve building components (envelope/windows, HVAC, lighting, and sensors/controls), strengthen market pull (through cooperation with private industry), and raise energy efficiency levels for new equipment (via standards) and new buildings (via model codes).

DOE requested $264 million for FY2016, an increase of $92 million over the FY2015 appropriation. That overall increase—combined with $6 million in reductions—would be divided into increases for three program areas. First, funding for emerging technologies would increase by $57 million, focused on R&D on sensors, controls, and grid integration, and on new air conditioning and refrigeration technologies. Second, a $25 million increase for residential buildings would support retrofits and building codes for new residential construction. Third, a $16 million increase would aim to accelerate equipment efficiency standards and model building codes.

The House committee report proposed a cut of nearly $22 million from the FY2015 level. Also, the committee directed DOE to initiate a study of the potential benefits of ''smart home'' electronics. Further, the committee encouraged DOE to (1) continue to consider energy savings from increased energy efficiency of consumer electronics, and (2) support collaborative RD&D with industry on the energy savings potential of adaptive connected equipment and responsive building technologies. The House-passed bill adopted the committee recommended level. The Senate report recommended a boost of $6 million over the FY2015 level. P.L. 114-113 provided $201 million, an increase of $29 million.

Advanced Manufacturing62

Domestic manufacturers face increasing challenges in the global marketplace. The Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO) was designed to focus on national interests—especially concerns about jobs, critical materials, and international competitiveness. AMO anchors DOE's Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative, which began in 2013. The general goal for AMO programs is to reduce the energy use of manufactured goods across targeted product life-cycles by 50% over 10 years. More specific objectives include (1) attain 50% energy savings through advanced materials and industrial processes, (2) help leading companies cut energy intensity by 25% over 10 years, and (3) facilitate installation of 40 gw of combined heat and power (CHP) equipment by 2020.

To meet these goals and objectives, DOE requested $404 million, a net increase of $204 million over the FY2015 appropriation—the largest EERE program increase requested for FY2016. Most of the requested increase—about $149 million—would be directed to the subprogram on Advanced Manufacturing R&D Facilities. Also, a $49 million increase would be provided for Advanced Manufacturing R&D Projects.

The proposed $149 million increase for Advanced R&D Facilities would have gone mainly to create two new Clean Energy Manufacturing Institutes (CEMIs) at a cost of about $70 million each. The other $9 million would be spread out as support for existing institutes. The two new institutes would address any of several topics, including advanced materials (e.g., nanomaterials), two-dimensional roll-to-roll process, high efficiency modular chemical process, bio-manufacturing, and smart manufacturing, among others. The four existing institutes include Next Generation Power Electronics (2013), Advanced Composites (2014), Smart Manufacturing (2014), and one yet to be announced during FY2015.

The CEMIs form part of a larger proposed interagency network aimed at bringing together universities, industry, and the government to jointly invest in solving industry-relevant problems. The institutes focus on technologies applicable to multiple industries and markets. This activity aims to improve U.S. manufacturing competitiveness, in support of DOE's Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative and the President's initiative for a multi-agency National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI). A key goal is for each institute to become financially sustainable within five to seven years after it is established.

CEMIs are a relatively new EERE crosscut activity that is anchored by AMO, and each CEMI incorporates activities under many of EERE's other programs. The main goal is to improve U.S. competitiveness in the manufacturing of clean energy products, such as solar photovoltaic modules, LEDs, batteries, and wind turbine blades. The CEMI institutes would provide small- and medium-sized enterprises affordable access to cutting-edge physical and virtual manufacturing capabilities (e.g., 3-D printing equipment) and facilitate technology use in the U.S. manufacturing sector to bolster its global competitiveness. DOE plans to invest about $70 million into each CEMI institute, to be used over a five- to seven-year period.

The final agreement on the FY2015 energy and water development appropriations bill ( P.L. 113-235 , Division D) included some House and Senate policy directives for new funding to establish additional CEMIs. The House report directed that the request include "a specific research topic" associated with each newly proposed CEMI. The draft Senate report specified that, for the third and each subsequent CEMI there shall be a competitive process, committee notification, development of performance measures, and demonstration of progress toward funding self-sufficiency with prior CEMIs. P.L. 113-235 adopted those House and Senate directives, and required an EERE report that provides performance measures to assess the effectiveness of existing CEMIs.

Another R&D facility, the Critical Materials Hub (led by Ames National Laboratory), was created in FY2012 to focus on technologies that enable manufacturers to make better use of critical materials (e.g., rare earth elements) and to eliminate the need for materials that are vulnerable to supply disruptions. Many rare earth elements are essential to technologies of the clean energy industry. Examples include wind turbines, solar photovoltaic panels, electric vehicles, and energy-efficient lighting. DOE requested $25 million—level funding—to extend the Hub's operation for a fifth—and final—year.

Also, DOE requested $10 million of further support for the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This would be the final year of funding for the MDF.

The proposed $49 million increase for Advanced R&D Projects would provide a total of $133 million in FY2016 for this subprogram. Of that total, $113 million would have gone to new projects that cost $15 million-$20 million each, covering up to six "foundational" areas selected from the following areas:

Chemical process intensification and smart manufacturing—two likely areas of focus. Grid and resource integration—including advanced combined heat and power, waste heat recovery, advanced insulation materials, and integration of energy infrastructure (grid and natural gas). Next generation electric machines—including ultraconductive materials. Sustainable manufacturing—including water-energy nexus.

Also, the request seeks $20 million for the Advanced Manufacturing Incubator, which is focused on "fundamental" applied R&D projects for small- and medium-sized manufacturing companies.

The House committee report proposed an increase of $5 million above the FY2015 level. The committee recommendation included support for one new CEMI institute in FY2016 and directed that all future budget justifications include a specific research topic associated with each request for a new CEMI Institute. Also, the committee directed DOE to analyze, and report on, the impact federal investment may have in strengthening the availability and usage of lithium, including low-sodium lithium metal. Further, the committee encouraged DOE to (1) continue technical assistance for combined heat and power (CHP) demonstrations for microgrids and grid integration, as well as R&D on next-generation CHP technologies, and (2) consider the need for competitively funded advanced textile manufacturing process research. The House-passed bill adopted the committee recommended level.

The Senate report recommended an increase of $14 million over the FY2015 level. Echoing the House report, the Senate committee recommendation included support for one new CEMI institute in FY2016 and directed that all future budget justifications include a specific research topic associated with each request for a new CEMI Institute. For the fourth—and any future—CEMI, the Senate report further required that DOE conduct an open solicitation and competitive, merit-based review process. Also, both reports recommended $25 million for the Critical Materials Hub. P.L. 114-113 provided $229 million, an increase of $29 million.

Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)69

FEMP provides expertise, training, and other services to help federal agencies achieve congressionally mandated goals for energy efficiency and renewable energy use. Its mission is also driven by presidential executive orders that set energy and environmental goals for federal agencies. FEMP supports key initiatives to better assist federal agencies in meeting aggressive energy, water, greenhouse gas (GHG) and other sustainability goals. It also promotes interagency sharing of solutions—such as best practices, tools, and process improvements.

FEMP helps federal agencies lead by example, by providing assistance to federal agencies through project financing, technical guidance and assistance, planning and evaluation, and federal fleet support. By using performance contracts such as energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs) and utility energy service contracts (UESCs), the federal government is able to engage a third party (private sector energy service company) to invest in needed energy projects and pay for the investment through the energy, water, and operations and maintenance (O&M) savings achieved over the life of the contract.

DOE requested $43 million, about $16 million more than the FY2015 appropriation. Most of the increase, about $12 million, would support the Federal Energy Efficiency Fund (FEEF), also known as the Assisting Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies (AFFECT) program. This subprogram helps agencies invest in priority projects for efficiency and renewables with the greatest impact. Efforts under FEEF/AFFECT would be expanded from about six projects in FY2015 to nearly 30 projects in FY2016. AFFECT awards provide direct funding to support the best available agency projects and to leverage cost sharing at federal agencies for capital improvement projects and for other initiatives to increase energy efficiency, conserve water, and increase renewable energy investments at agency facilities. AFFECT provides a mechanism for FEMP to help ensure the best projects are funded and stay on schedule.

The House committee report proposed a cut of more than $8 million from the FY2015 level. The House-passed bill adopted the committee recommended level. The Senate report recommended funding equal to the FY2015 level. P.L. 114-113 provided $27 million, the same level as the FY2015 appropriation.

Grant Programs

Weatherization Grants73

The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) aims to increase the energy efficiency of dwellings owned and/or occupied by low-income persons, reduce their total energy costs, and improve their health and safety. Through residential building retrofits, WAP reduces the size of low-income household energy bills. Energy bills of those households require a larger share of total income than the energy bills for higher income households. Since 1976, WAP has performed 6 million retrofits, of which 1 million were supported by the Recovery Act of 2009 ( P.L. 111-5 ). DOE has noted that many states have expended leftover Recovery Act funds and now need new funds to avoid cutting core programs and services.

DOE requested a $35 million increase over the FY2015 appropriation for a total of $224 million. About $19 million of that increase (for a total of $209 million) would raise the number of retrofits in the FY2016 cycle by about 3,000 households (10%). Also, $15 million of the increase would be used to test financial models designed to help expand application of the program to "underserved" multifamily buildings. This action would be accomplished through competitively selected projects to demonstrate the viability of a variety of financing programs for replicability across the country.

The House committee report proposed funding equal to the FY2015 level, and specified no funding of awards for financing models. Also, the committee directed DOE to report on the use of solar and other renewables systems in the Weatherization Assistance Program, and to analyze any requirements of law or regulation that pose a relative cost barrier to the installation of solar energy systems. Further, the committee specified that DOE should not issue any regulations in FY2016 which use the May 2013 estimates for the social cost of carbon until a new working group is convened. The House-passed bill adopted the committee recommended level. The Senate report recommended a boost of $7.4 million over the FY2015 level. P.L. 114-113 provided $215 million, an increase of $22 million.

State Energy Grants77

The State Energy Program (SEP) assists states in establishing and implementing clean energy (e.g., energy efficiency and renewable energy) plans, policies, and programs to reduce energy costs, enhance economic competitiveness, improve emergency planning, and improve the environment. SEP provides states with capacity building resources, technical assistance, and best practice sharing networks to facilitate the adoption of plans, policies, and programs that are appropriate for various state and regional circumstances.

DOE requested an increase of $20 million over the FY2015 appropriation. The proposed increase would mainly support a new, $15 million program of competitive grants that promotes regional, sectoral, and national public-private partnerships for innovative scale-up and spread of best practices for efficiency and renewables.

Both the House committee report and Senate report proposed funding equal to the FY2015 level. The House-passed bill adopted the committee recommended level. P.L. 114-113 provided $50 million, the same level as the FY2015 appropriation.

Local Energy Grants78

A new program, with funding of $20 million, would be established with a structure parallel to that of the SEP grant program. This new program would aim to enhance local government capacity for energy planning, analysis, and program implementation. Competitive grants would support best practices, technical assistance, and leadership-by-example. DOE expects to support 35 to 40 highly leveraged and replicable projects that would include outdoor lighting, public buildings, and water/wastewater facilities.

Both the House committee report (and House-passed bill) and the Senate report recommended no funding for this DOE-proposed new program. P.L. 114-113 provided no funds for this program.

Administration

Program Direction79

This administrative program funds federal employee salaries, personnel recruitment, and workforce training. It also manages contractor support and operational costs. EERE addresses program cost controls through its Active Project Management (APM) system. DOE requested $165 million, which includes a $5 million increase over the FY2015 level to cover the greater program activity level that would be associated with the overall requested funding increase of $800 million for EERE.

The House committee report proposed a cut of $10 million below the FY2015 level. The House-passed bill adopted the committee recommended level. The Senate report recommended funding equal to the FY2015 level. P.L. 114-113 provided $155 million, a decrease of $5 million.

Strategic Programs80

The Office of Strategic Programs (formerly Program Support) serves an integrative and crosscutting mission for EERE. The office has four subprograms: Technology-to-Market, International, Strategic Priorities and Impact Analysis, and Communications and Outreach. The Technology-to-Market subprogram organizes partnerships and projects with industry, universities, DOE's national labs, and others to foster recruitment, investment, innovation, technology transfer, and manufacturing competitiveness. The International subprogram promotes the development of international export markets for U.S. clean energy equipment and promotes U.S.-based standards, test procedures, and certifications. The subprogram for Strategic Priorities and Impact Analysis supports impact assessments and strategic planning for EERE's portfolio. It also leads EERE implementation of the President's Open Data Policy. The Communications and Outreach subprogram handles EERE relations with media and the general public.

For this program, DOE requested an increase of about $7 million relative to the FY2015 appropriation. About $4.8 million of that increase would have gone to the Technology-to-Market subprogram, of which $2.5 million is due to a transfer of the Solar Decathlon activity from EERE's Office of Building Technologies, and $2.3 million would support a new clean energy philanthropy alliance and a clean energy jobs initiative.

The House committee report proposed a cut of about $9 million from the FY2015 level. The Senate report recommended funding equal to the FY2015 level. Also, both committee reports directed that $2 million be applied to the U.S.-Israel energy cooperation agreement. The House-passed bill adopted the committee recommended level. The Senate report directed further that, within six months, DOE report on implementation and coordination plans between EERE and the Office of Fossil Energy to support research and development of natural gas energy technologies as part of the U.S.-Israel cooperative effort. P.L. 114-113 provided $21 million, which is the same as the FY2015 appropriation.

Facilities and Infrastructure

The Facilities and Infrastructure (F&I) program budget maintains NREL's campus of buildings and facilities. The Facility Management subprogram provides the major support for the Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) at NREL. ESIF is a grid integration research and user facility. As ESIF completes the third year of start-up activities, its high performance computational science center (HPC) is oversubscribed and demand for computer time is increasing. The request seeks an increase of $6 million (20%) to expand the HPC facility, which would nearly double NREL's computer capacity.

The House committee report proposed no change in funding relative to the FY2015 level. The House-passed bill adopted the committee recommended level. The Senate report recommended an increase of $6 million relative to the FY2015 level. P.L. 114-113 provided $62 million, an increase of $6 million.

Additional Reports on EERE Programs, Funding, and Policy

For additional background on selected EERE programs and funding aspects, see

(1) CRS Report R43567, Energy and Water Development: FY2015 Appropriations , coordinated by [author name scrubbed].

(2) CRS Report RS22858, Renewable Energy R&D Funding History: A Comparison with Funding for Nuclear Energy, Fossil Energy, and Energy Efficiency R&D , by [author name scrubbed].

(3) CRS Report R40670, Energy Efficiency in Buildings: Critical Barriers and Congressional Policy , by [author name scrubbed], [author name scrubbed], and [author name scrubbed].

(4) CRS Report R42147, DOE Weatherization Program: A Review of Funding, Performance, and Cost-Effectiveness Studies , by [author name scrubbed].