"Trump Budget Risks Harm to U.S. Energy Future: 7 Former DOE Officials

"Republicans and Democrats alike say the budget would hurt all types of U.S. energy and electricity reliability. Business leaders are worried, too."

"Seven former heads of the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy — from both Republican and Democratic administrations—teamed up on Thursday to warn Congress that the Trump administration's budget could do 'serious harm' to America's energy future.

"The U.S. Department of Energy is the single largest funder of clean energy innovation in the United States," they wrote. "Our nation will be hindered in the global energy market without a strategic and well-funded DOE research portfolio, including basic science, energy efficiency, renewable energy, nuclear energy, fossil energy and electricity reliability."

EERE, which oversees the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, leads the nation's research and development into clean energy technology and sustainability, while aiming to increase the generation of electricity by renewable sources. It helped drive the expansion of rooftop solar panels, electric vehicle batteries and LED lighting, supports funding for innovative energy technologies, and has set federal appliance and efficiency standards that will save consumers nearly $2 trillion between 1987 and 2030."

Sabrina Shankman reports for InsideClimate News June 8, 2017.

SEE ALSO:

"Trump’s Plan To Cut Basic Energy Research Finds An Unlikely Opponent: Oil Executives" (Washington Post)

"US Bucks Trend Amid Increases For Clean Energy Research" (AP)