Trump administration draft budget slashes DOE and EPA funding in favour of nuclear

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Department of Energy spending is scheduled to go down 18%, with EPA funding plummeting by 31.6% and over US$2 billion. Source: Flickr/Tonymadrid Photography

The latest draft of the Trump administration’s 2018 federal budget calls for cuts to clean energy and environmental-related departments, while providing a boost to nuclear power.

From the campaign trail, Trump had pledged to get rid of “burdensome regulations” and the draft budget reflects that in light of the president’s views on clean energy and climate action.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

The leaked Department of Energy budget cuts aptly foreshadowed what the administration had in store for the nation’s clean energy, and science-focused departments.

The budget features an overall cut to the Department of Energy (DOE), but an 11.4% financial boost to its nuclear weapons budget. All other DOE energy programmes such as the SunShot Initiative, will get an 18% budget cut. This would reduce funding for the Department’s science and research limb – affecting pioneering clean energy research labs such as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). 

Source: Draft budget via The White House

“We were disappointed to see the administration’s proposal to slash programmes that promote American-made clean energy,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), in a statement. “Clean energy research programmes have been priorities of both Republican and Democratic administrations and Congresses and the investments have paid off many times over.

“Renewable energy innovations in rapidly commercializing technologies ranging from inverters, to storage, to advanced infrastructure have vast promise for American industry, as solar energy becomes an increasingly large part of our nation’s energy portfolio.”

The EPA

Source: Draft budget via The White House

Similarly, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is destined for cuts under the budget proposal – actually the hardest hit department with a 31.6% decrease on its current budget – stripping it of US$2.7 billion.

The EPA is principally responsible for environmental spending and climate action initiatives – both of which have been a prime target for Trump even before he took residence in Office.

“I will also cancel all wasteful climate change spending from Obama-Clinton, including all global warming payments to the United Nations,” said Donald Trump during a pre-election stump in Michigan on 31 October last year. “These steps will save US$100 billion over eight years, and this money will be used to help rebuild the vital infrastructure, including water systems, in America’s inner cities.”

The EPA was created in fact to protect the environment and US water and air standards by enforcing regulations passed by Congress for subsequent state compliance. Its most notable work is the Clean Power Plan that was designed to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 32% on 2005 levels by 2030. The initiative has been stalled by the Supreme Court since February 2016, with Trump securing a freezing order on litigation at the start of this month.

The percentage cuts featured in the administration’s ‘March skinny budget’ remain unchanged; signalling that the administration was not dissuaded by pressures asserted from Democrats and environmental lobbyists who called for the government to protect environment and clean energy funding.

However, when the March proposal went to Congress, it did not approve the cuts. Regardless, Trump marches on with the same cuts outlined in this latest proposal. The overall budget is still subject to final approval from Congress; of which many Democratic members have already indicated a strong dissent on social media. 

The EPA cuts alone would close 50 agency programmes and eliminate 3,200 agency jobs.

If enacted, the budget would fulfil a key campaign pledge from Trump, who has voiced his disdain for the “unnecessary” environmental and renewable energy regulations implemented by the previous administration. 

21 May 2024
Napa, USA
PV Tech has been running PV ModuleTech Conferences since 2017. PV ModuleTech USA, on 21-22 May 2024, will be our third PV ModulelTech conference dedicated to the U.S. utility scale solar sector. The event will gather the key stakeholders from solar developers, solar asset owners and investors, PV manufacturing, policy-making and and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out the PV module supply channels to the U.S. out to 2025 and beyond.
8 October 2024
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
PV Tech has been running an annual PV CellTech Conference since 2016. PV CellTech USA, on 8-9 October 2024 is our second PV CellTech conference dedicated to the U.S. manufacturing sector. The event in 2023 was a sell out success and 2024 will once again gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing in the U.S. out to 2030 and beyond.

Read Next

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
April 10, 2024
Dallas, Texas USA
Solar Media Events
April 17, 2024
Lisbon, Portugal
Solar Media Events
May 1, 2024
Dallas, Texas
Solar Media Events
May 21, 2024
Napa, USA