Head of DOE loan programs asks Congress not to cut funds

Ethanol Producer Magazine By Kris Bevill April 04, 2011

Congress has until April 8 to reach a decision regarding the nation’s budget for fiscal year 2011, or face a government shutdown. Various ethanol-related programs are on the chopping block as legislators seek ways to reduce federal spending.

The head of the U.S. DOE’s loan programs office took the witness stand at a March 31 House Appropriations subcommittee hearing to make his agency’s case for continued funds to provide loan guarantees to renewable energy projects. The DOE’s proposed 2012 budget includes $200,000 in appropriations for its loan program offices and $36 billion for nuclear power loan guarantees. Congress is considering eliminating those funds as part of an effort to reduce federal spending. During his testimony, Jonathan Silver, executive director of the loan programs, told subcommittee members that the programs are critical to expanding clean energy production.

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