In March 11 testimony before the Senate Budget Committee, Energy Secretary Steven Chu described his department's plans to allocate the $26.3 billion in proposed appropriations for his department. Energy Department priorities for the near future include financial support for increasing energy efficiency of government buildings and private homes, construction of biofuel refineries, clean coal power plant projects, wind and solar energy construction, and upgrades to the electric power transmission grid.
Ranking Member Judd Gregg expressed exasperation that $50 billion in loan guarantees for nuclear energy construction had been stripped from the stimulus legislation, and accused the Obama administration of reducing financial commitments to the Yucca Mountain disposal site for spent nuclear power reactor fuel materials as a back door method of restricting construction of new nuclear electric power plants. Chu responded that nuclear energy, offshore oil drilling and clean coal power plants all have a place in the administration's plans, but that priority was placed on clean coal technology development because "India and China will not turn their backs on coal" as a source of energy for generating electricity.
Whatever differences there may be between the administration and congress regarding the nuances of energy development priorities, the construction industry will see substantial government investment in energy infrastructure throughout the Obama presidency.
Ranking Member Judd Gregg expressed exasperation that $50 billion in loan guarantees for nuclear energy construction had been stripped from the stimulus legislation, and accused the Obama administration of reducing financial commitments to the Yucca Mountain disposal site for spent nuclear power reactor fuel materials as a back door method of restricting construction of new nuclear electric power plants. Chu responded that nuclear energy, offshore oil drilling and clean coal power plants all have a place in the administration's plans, but that priority was placed on clean coal technology development because "India and China will not turn their backs on coal" as a source of energy for generating electricity.
Whatever differences there may be between the administration and congress regarding the nuances of energy development priorities, the construction industry will see substantial government investment in energy infrastructure throughout the Obama presidency.
