Wednesday
Mar032010
Energy Secretary: New Budget Will Help Environment, Secure Nuclear Cache
Staff Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at 3:57PM
By Laurel Brishel Prichard University of New Mexico/ Talk Radio News Service
Energy Secretary Steven Chu said Wednesday that his department's proposed budget for fiscal year 2011 will propel the United States' production of clean energy and provide additional security for the nation’s nuclear cache.
“The budget request makes much-needed investments to harness the power of American ingenuity,” said Chu during his testimony before the House Committee on Science and Technology.
The $28.4 billion dollar budget proposal would make profound leaps in expanding research for clean energy by investing $878 million in renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, water, hydrogen, biomass, and geothermal, according to Chu's prepared remarks.
“These sources of energy reduce the production of greenhouse gas emissions and continue the pursuit of a clean energy economy built on the next generation of domestic production," Chu said.
Chu noted that the Department of Energy has also set aside $7 billion to be put towards the security of the U.S. nuclear cache. The funds would be channeled to programs to help fix the nuclear infrastructure, hire unskilled members to join the nation's nuclear employment branch and renew national labs across the country.
“Even in a time of tough budget decisions, we must make this investment for the sake of security,” said Chu.
According to a statement released by Chu, the DOE hopes to work with worldwide partners to secure the unaccounted nuclear material internationally within four years.
Energy Secretary Steven Chu said Wednesday that his department's proposed budget for fiscal year 2011 will propel the United States' production of clean energy and provide additional security for the nation’s nuclear cache.
“The budget request makes much-needed investments to harness the power of American ingenuity,” said Chu during his testimony before the House Committee on Science and Technology.
The $28.4 billion dollar budget proposal would make profound leaps in expanding research for clean energy by investing $878 million in renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, water, hydrogen, biomass, and geothermal, according to Chu's prepared remarks.
“These sources of energy reduce the production of greenhouse gas emissions and continue the pursuit of a clean energy economy built on the next generation of domestic production," Chu said.
Chu noted that the Department of Energy has also set aside $7 billion to be put towards the security of the U.S. nuclear cache. The funds would be channeled to programs to help fix the nuclear infrastructure, hire unskilled members to join the nation's nuclear employment branch and renew national labs across the country.
“Even in a time of tough budget decisions, we must make this investment for the sake of security,” said Chu.
According to a statement released by Chu, the DOE hopes to work with worldwide partners to secure the unaccounted nuclear material internationally within four years.
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