Hot off the Trump Administration announcement that it would impose tariffs on all major PV manufacturing countries, the administration appears poised to ask for 72% cuts in funding for the Energy Department’s renewable energy and energy efficiency programs in 2019.  Current funding is at $2.04-billion, with the reduction calling for a budget of $575.5-million and staff reductions from 680 to 450 or 34% of staff. The budget request makes clear the administration’s focus on fossil fuel energy sources and nuclear. In 2017, the Trump Ad-ministration had indicated a goal of significantly increasing the US nuclear weapon capability, which falls under the DoE purview.  NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory), is likely to be significantly affected by cuts as its primary funding mechanism is the DoE.

Though NREL has suffered through budget cuts throughout the years, reductions recommended by the Trump Administration would be the most significant if approved by congress.

NREL’s predecessor, the Solar Energy Research Institute or SERI, was established by President Gerald Ford, a Republican, in 1974 when he signed the Solar Energy Research and Demonstration Act.

In 1977, President Jimmy Carter, a Democrat, established the Department of Energy and NREL began operations in Golden Colorado.

In 1991, President George H. W. Bush, a Republican, designated NREL a national laboratory.

Comment: Presidents suggest budgets, congress passes budgets, and in the mix, there will be adjustments and changes.  This isn’t the first time that the Trump Administration requested significant cuts to clean energy research. The budget request to congress for 2018 was originally $636.1-million, representing a two-thirds cut in funding for clean energy research.  As for various reasons and congressional impasses this did not happen, the budget of $2.04-billion stands until October 1.  It’s up to congress now. Both Republicans and Democrats like solar and solar jobs and they particularly like it when there are solar jobs in their states. It is contradictory to impose tariffs touting a return to US solar manufacturing strength (as unlikely as this may be) and then impose tariffs that cut the ability to nurture manufacturing startups.

Lesson: The lesson is clear, when Trump said he didn’t believe in climate change and supported coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear power he meant it. When it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck and waddles like a duck – it’s a duck. Seriously, it’s not a canary it’s a duck. The Trump Administration ended the CPP. The Trump Administration is systematically gutting the EPA, removing environmental protections and removing protections for national monuments such as Bears Ears and Grand Staircase — wonders of nature that cannot be replicated. The DoE recommended a price resiliency rule. The administration-imposed tariffs on solar module imports. The administration is ignoring utility and individual state activity that makes it clear that the trend is towards implementing solar and wind.

Again, clearly a duck.

Mr. Trump does not care about bucking the clean energy trend no matter the fallout. However, again, Mr. Trump cannot make budget cuts without congressional approval.