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Dems support NREL

Bush challenged to back renewable energy with funds

Chris Barge, Rocky Mountain News

Published February 21, 2006 at midnight

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Colorado Democrats said Monday that if President Bush is serious about curing America's addiction to foreign oil, he should significantly increase funding at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden.

That's in addition to the decision, already announced, to restore 32 high-paying jobs at NREL that were terminated there earlier this month.

"I appreciated the president's remarks focusing on renewable energy in his State of the Union address," said Ed Perlmutter, who is running for Congress in the lab's district. "But he needs to put the money where his mouth is and not only restore funding today but increase funding for renewable energy research at NREL."

Bush's visit there today comes two days after Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman announced that those who were recently laid off from the lab are being called back to work immediately.

Perlmutter and other Democrats said the timing of the announcement, coinciding with Bush's visit to NREL, smacked of political maneuvering rather than environmental resolve.

In addition to the layoffs, Congress cut $28 million from NREL's fiscal 2006 budget, forcing the lab to terminate contracts and subcontracts with private companies.

Bush's revised budget restores $15 million in the lab's lost funding for next year as part of his Advanced Energy Initiative.

Peggy Lamm, who faces Perlmutter and Herb Rubenstein in the Democratic primary for the 7th Congressional District, challenged Bush and Congressman Bob Beauprez to restore the $28 million in cuts at NREL, fully fund other renewable energy programs and require new cars to get at least 40 miles per gallon by 2015.

Beauprez, a Republican who is vacating his 7th District seat to run for governor, thanked Secretary Bodman on Monday for restoring the jobs at NREL.

"I've worked hard to try to right this wrong, and I want to thank Secretary Bodman and his staff for helping us ensure NREL is able to go forward and fully carry on its mission as our country's premier renewable energy research facility," Beauprez said.