The White House plans to ask Congress to cut the Department of Energy's renewable energy and energy efficiency programs by a massive 72 percent in fiscal 2019, according to draft budget documents obtained by the Washington Post.
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's (EERE) current spending level is set at $2.04 billion for the current fiscal year ending on Oct. 1. But the Trump administration will significantly lower that amount to $575.5 million for 2019, the Post reported.
The EERE supports the development of sustainable transportation, renewable power, and energy-efficient homes, buildings and manufacturing. Its SunShot Program has significantly reduced the total costs of solar energy.
The reported spending cut comes not long after Trump's decision to impose steep tariffs on imported solar panels and related equipment—a move that experts say will stifle the current solar boom, harm the fastest-growing job sector in the U.S., and drag down clean energy innovation.
We can't afford to cut back on support for renewable energy. Fossil fuels are not only polluting, but limited, and will run out eventually. We need to wean the United States off coal, oil and other fossil fuels for once and all sooner or later - and sooner is better. Therefore, the Trump Administration should INCREASE spending on renewable energy programs, as well as eliminate all solar tariffs. Greater investment in, and use of, clean and renewable energy will truly make America great.
