open competition for fixed price contracts," according to the department's budget request. The $5.6 billion sought for ongoing Environmental Manageing funded, the Fossil Energy secThe Department of Energy's ment programs at DOE sites is tion of the budget includes a 23.7% (DOE) $18 billion budget request the same amount appropriated increase for "advanced clean/effifor 1999 significantly boosts fundlast year. Although the departcient" coal power systems as well ing for research into energy effiment continues to focus on a 10as a 34.1% expansion in programs ciency and climate change abateyear plan to clean up and close as devoted to advanced coal research ment. Funding for traditional many sites as possible by 2006, it and technology development. "environmental quality" cleanup would devote 21.7% less to sciprograms remains relatively flat DOE is still manufacturing nuence and technology projects for in the new budget. clear weapons for its National developing new technologies to Security programs (an area that "This budget is about science, aid that effort. This decrease rereceived a 7.4% spending hike), technology, and energy for our flects the completion of several and it continues to be concerned future," said Secretary of Energy key demonstration and installawith nuclear power (nondefense Frederico Pefia when introducing tion projects, according to budget nuclear energy would earn 20% the department's budget request documents. Funding requested more funding in next year's budin February. In accordance with for environmental health and get). But the largest share of President Clinton's State of the safety programs is down 4.8%. DOE's overall spending (37%, or Union promises to reduce green$6.7 billion) is earmarked for prohouse gas emissions, the efficient In DOE's Science & Technology grams that fall within Environenergy and renewable resource program area, the requested allomental Quality program areas. technology programs in the decation for Biological and Environpartment's Energy Resources area mental projects—which also inMost significantly, the received a 32.7% funding hike in cludes funding for the human $500 million requested for "prithe budget. When considered in genome sequencing effort—is vatization" efforts to "expedite constant 1998 dollars, the $1.15 bildown 3.3%. Nonetheless, the total Environmental Management lion request for these technologies of $392 million includes $11 milcleanup activities" is more than is still far less than the amount inlion for the new Climate Change double the amount appropriated vested in the 1970s. It is nonetheTechnology Initiative. The U.S Glolast year. The goal of this program less the highest request in four bal Change Research Program's is to reduce the cost of cleanup years. DOE's stated rationale for $113.2 million allocation has also "by encouraging free-market this increased funding is to "reduce been increased by 4.4% over last forces to set the 'price' through air pollution [and] improve year's appropriation. The U.S. energy security" in addiEnvironmental Remediation tion to addressing global cliDepartment of Energy's Energy program's $67.4 million mate change. budget is but a 1.7% inEfficiency and Renewables Programs crease over the 1989 approFunded renewable % increase priation and includes funds projects would include efRequest over Fiscal for the new Environmental forts to develop photovol($ millions) Program area Year 1998 Molecular Sciences Laborataic energy systems (boasttory as well as the Natural 78.8 Photovoltaic energy 20.3 ing a 20.3% increase this and Accelerated Bioremedisystems year), wind energy systems ation Research program. 22.5 (up 33.7%), and biomass/ Solar thermal energy 36.2 systems biofuel systems (up 52.6%). Although all aspects of There is also a 441.3% in89.8 Biomass/biofuels energy 52.6 the federal budgets are systems crease for what would besubject to change before come a $4.0 million pro43.5 33.7 Wind energy systems Congress votes on them, gram to develop advanced the way in which the 1999 38.2 Other solar energy 274.6 turbine technology for hybudget has been drawn up 33.0 Geothermal 13.6 dropower that minimizes places it in a particularly Hydrogen research 24.0 50 environmental impacts. precarious position. Critics Hydropower 4.0 441.3 point out that funding for In the energy conserva38.5 -10.2 Other renewable much of the new spending tion area, DOE has eartechnologies and is dependent on anticipated marked $152.7 million (a adjustments receipts from last year's set30.8% increase over last year) 246.1 Transportation energy 27.3 tlement with the tobacco for the Partnership for a New conservation R&D industry. Some members Generation of Vehicles, a 166.6 Industry energy 22.3 of Congress have indicated project with the goal of deconservation R&D that they do not agree with veloping an 80-mpg family Other energy conservation 360.8 37.0 Clinton's use of the tocar by 2004. Although and adjustments bacco funds in the budget. "clean coal technology" 1145.8 Total 32.7 —KELLYN S. BETTS programs are no longer be-
Energy efficiency research gains in Department of Energy's 1999 budget request
APRIL 1, 1998 / ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY / NEWS • 1 6 7 A
