The US president announced USD 28.4 billion as the budget for the DoE in fiscal year 2011. Of that total amount, USD 2.36 billion has been allocated for DoE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). Some of the goals of the proposed budget are to reduce energy use, boost renewable energy sources and further strengthen clean energy research as part of the overall effort to move the US economy to a clean energy economy. The given amounts represent a 5% increase over financing for renewable energy allocated for 2010. This excludes the funds coming from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The new budget brings increases for numerous EERE programs – 53% increase for wind, 25% increase for geothermal and 22% increase for solar energy. DoE's NREL is also supposed to receive USD 50 million under the new budget proposal.

An additional result of the newly proposed budget for 2011 is the sum of USD 500 million for supporting an estimated USD 3-5 billion in loan guarantees for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. Some funding has also been allocate for improvements on the energy transmission system in the country. Another USD 107 million is planned for supporting three energy innovation hubs – fuels produced from sunlight directly, energy efficient building systems and creating a virtual model of an operating nuclear reactor.

The new budget proposal has been "shipped" to Congress, awaiting scrutiny and discussions.

[source: US DoE, image: Pete Souza, White House]