Hundreds Of Millions In Solar Research Funding Waiting For Actual Budget Bills From Congress

[hatrack]

New solar-energy research pushed by President Bush last year is on hold in Colorado labs because the last Congress failed to pass several budget bills. Funding for a proposal to build a $300 million underground laboratory near Empire could be delayed for a year. And federal research groups across the state have frozen hiring, limited travel and delayed computer updates.

From the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Boulder, scientists are spending conservatively as they wait to see how the new Congress appropriates funds.

In December, the outgoing Congress passed a "continuing resolution," which holds budgets at about 2006 levels through Feb. 15, said Drew Nannis, spokesman for U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo.

Later this month, Congress will probably continue the resolution through the end of September, Nannis said, but it may make some exceptions for programs expecting major increases.

EDIT

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_5014421

[Subdivisions]

1. I'm particularly interested in the progress of all alternative

energy sectors, but especially in solar power research. I hope our new Congress places the proper propriority on this and other climate and environmental issues that have been long left unaddressed.

[Ready4Change]

2. Let me get this straight:

I recall Bush going to Colorado for a photo op regarding the importance of the development of alternative energies. It got pre-emptive press as a boondoggle because, it turned out, the funding for the facility he was to visit had been massively cut, and most of those people were about to lose their jobs. So, miraculously, their funding was restored for his visit.

Now we find that a alternative research facilities in Colorado (the same ones?) have had their funding tied up in Congress?

Why on earth aren't more heads from this administration rolling? It is so fricken, blatantly, right in our face OBVIOUS what shams they all are?