DC update: 2005 budget request
President Bush has sent to Capitol Hill a $2.4 trillion federal budget request for fiscal year 2005. The recommendation includes an increase of just 1 percent for most federally-appropriated programs, except for those at the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security.
The request for the Department of Energy totals $24.3 billion. Within the agency, funding for programs at the Office of Nuclear Energy totals $409.5 million.
Highlights of this request include:
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University Reactor Infrastructure and Education Assistance - $21 million ($22.8 million was appropriated in 2004) |
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This request supports Innovations in Nuclear Infrastructure and Education (INIE) grants; Nuclear Engineering Fellowships and Scholarships; and the initiation of a Health Physics Fellowships and Scholarships program; |
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Nuclear Energy Technologies - $10.2 million ($19.6 million was appropriated in 2004) |
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The full request for this program would be directed to the NP2010 program. |
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Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems Initiative - $30.5 million ($27.7 million was appropriated in 2004) |
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This request supports Generation IV R&D ($7.5 million); Next Generation Nuclear Plant ($19.3 million); and I-NERI ($2.8 million); |
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Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative - $9 million ($6.4 million was appropriated in 2004) |
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Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative - $46.2 million ($66.7 million was appropriated in 2004) |
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Radiological Facilities Management - $69.1 million ($63.4 million was appropriated in 2004) |
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This request supports the Space and Defense Infrastructure ($33.8 million); and Medical Isotopes Infrastructure ($34.8 million); |
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The recommendation would terminate both the Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (NERI) and the Nuclear Energy Plant Optimization program (NEPO). Elements of the NERI mission would be assumed by other programs.
For Yucca Mountain, the Bush Administration has requested a total of $880 million, the highest amount ever requested for the program.
Congressional hearings on the 2005 request will begin later this month. A more detailed budget outline can be found at www.doe.gov.
