News From the Environmental and Energy Study Institute
122 C St. N.W. . Suite 630 . Washington , D.C. . 202-628-1400 . www.eesi.org
Carol Werner, Executive Director

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Final FY05 Appropriations for the Energy Programs of the 
Agriculture Appropriations Bill
 

November 24, 2004

Saturday, Nov. 20, both the House and Senate passed the Consolidated Appropriations Bill (HR. 4818, H.R. 108-792), including appropriations for Agriculture, Commerce and Justice, Energy and Water, Foreign Operations, Interior, VA-HUD, and Transportation. It was passed in the House with a vote of 344-51 and the Senate with a vote of 65- 30.
 

• Section 9002, the Federal Procurement of Biobased Products Program received slightly increased funding above the Administration’s $1 million request level.  The House had appropriated $3 million, the Senate $1 million level, with a Conference agreement of $1.5 million.
  
• Section 9004, the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program received $1 million, the same amount in both the House and Senate bills.
  
• Section 9006, the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Grant, Loan Guarantee, and Loan Program received full funding at $23 million.  The Administration had requested only $10.77 million.  When the House Appropriations Committee approved the cut, Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and Rep. Stephanie Herseth (D-SD) offered a floor amendment successfully restoring funds to the full $23 million level.  The Senate had appropriated only $20 million. The Conference Report included language specifying that all funds of the program would go to the Grant and Loan Guarantee awards and no funds are to be used for USDA program administration.
  
• Section 9008, the Biomass Research and Development Act received $14million, consistent with the Administration’s budget request.
  
• Section 9010, the CCC Bioenergy Program, a continuous program to reimburse ethanol and biodiesel producers for the purchase of commodities to expand existing production, received $100 million, a $50 million cut requested by the Administration and maintained in the House and Senate versions.
  

• Section 6401, the Value-Added Producer Grant Program, an existing program amended to allow renewable energy systems to qualify for grants, received $15.5 million.  The Administration had requested $15 million.  However, this program had been authorized $40 million/year in mandatory funding in the 2002 Farm Bill.
  
  
  
  
  For further information please contact Alexandra Morel at 202- 662-1885 or amorel@eesi.org.