Department of Energy Receives Record Research Funding in FY 2020

Congress closed out 2019 by reaching agreement on an appropriations minibus, H.R. 1865, which includes Energy and Water Development Appropriations and seven other final Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 spending bills. The final FY 2020 spending agreement for the Department of Energy (DOE) includes $37.08 billion (+$2.9 billion over 2019 and just over $7.0 billion above the President’s Request). The legislation provides a major boost for key Department of Energy Research and Development (R&D) programs, including a strong increases for renewable energy, energy storage, and nuclear energy.

Key DOE agency top lines include:

• Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy - $2.84 billion (+$469 million over FY19)
• Cybersecurity, Energy Security, And Emergency Response - $156 million (+$36 million)
• Office of Electricity - $190 million (+$34 million)
• Nuclear Energy R&D - $1.49 billion (+$160 million)
• Fossil Energy R&D - $750 million (+$10 million)
• Office of Science - $7.0 billion (+$415 million)
• ARPA-E - $425 million (+$59 million)

The bill is accompanied by conference report language specifically directing DOE to “maintain a diverse portfolio of early-, mid-, and late-stage research, development, and market transformation activities in each applied energy research and development program office.” The Appropriations Conference Committee report language also directs DOE to develop a plan to address staffing and hiring issues at the agency, an issue that Senate appropriators had previously noted as problematic for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in particular.

For the text of H.R. 1865, visit: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1865.