US 2012 budget prioritizes renewables, nuclear
U.S. President Obama’s $29.5 billion Department of Energy (DOE) budget for fiscal year 2012 cuts back on subsidies to fossil fuel energy and increases funding for renewable and nuclear energy technology research. It also calls for a $1.3 billion cut to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In the proposed budget is $341 million for biofuels and biomass R&D and more than double the previous investment in geothermal energy, up to $102 million. The budget also includes $853 million to support nuclear energy, including research and development of a variety of nuclear technologies. About $125 million will be spent on developing small reactors through the Reactor Concepts RD&D program, which is a substantial increase over the $39 million set aside in the 2011 budget. The increases will be funded primarily through the elimination of tax subsidies for the oil and gas industry and a 45% cut in fossil energy research programs.