The Senate has approved a $61.5 billion fiscal 2025 Energy-Water spending bill, which includes significant funding for clean energy and water programs. This is a stark contrast to the House Republicans’ proposal which included significant climate cuts. The bill was unanimously approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee. It includes funding boosts to a range of defense and nondefense programs, including the Department of Energy, Army Corps of Engineers, and Bureau of Reclamation. The Department for Energy (DOE) would receive $17.74 billion for its nondefence activities, an increase of around $300 million over fiscal 2024, and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the agency’s premier clean energy program, will receive $3.46 billion under the Senate proposal. However, a proposed increase for environmental cleanups, including for nuclear contamination, was not widely debated.
Solar Dominates US Energy Capacity Growth
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has published data showing that solar accounted for over 75% of US electrical generating
