Whitfield Questions Moniz on DOE Budget and Paducah Plant

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield (KY-01), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power, on Wednesday held a hearing examining the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Fiscal Year 2017 budget request. The budget included a nearly 10 percent boost in overall funding levels, much of which will go to fund President Obama’s clean energy initiatives.

“This budget continues to reflect the President’s priority and treat climate change as DOE’s overriding concern,” Chairman Whitfield said. “Access to affordable and reliable energy is key to stimulating economic growth and strengthening our global competitiveness and it should be a priority for this agency. In contrast, putting climate first increases energy costs, restrains growth, destroys jobs, and reduces household spending power, especially low-income households. We can do much better than this budget; we must prioritize affordable energy, economic growth, and jobs.”

During Chairman Whitfield’s questioning of Secretary Moniz, he also discussed the importance of funding and contract continuity at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. With the current cleanup contract for the plant set to expire in July 2017, it is vitally important for DOE to move expeditiously in issuing the next contract to provide economic stability to the local community.

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