Energy is among Washington’s top priorities, and the Colorado portion of the U.S. Department of Energy budget will reflect that.
The department forecasts its Colorado operations will receive $985.1 million in fiscal 2010, a 19 percent jump from the estimated $829.5 million in fiscal 2009.
Fiscal 2010 begins Oct. 1.
In fiscal 2008, the Colorado piece of the department’s budget was $757.9 million.
The Colorado budget includes spending on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden and a nearby field office, and to manage oil and gas drilling on public lands.
DOE spokesman Chris Powers said the fiscal 2009 budget estimate does not include the stimulus infusion that agencies received in recent months.
It was announced last month that NREL will receive $110 million and the field office more than $500 million in federal stimulus funds.
The Governor’s Energy Office also saw its budget increase to $50 million from $4 million as a result of the stimulus infusion. It received an additional $80 million for its weatherization program.
The state also is getting $42.6 million in stimulus funding to help reduce energy use and fossil-fuel emissions, and to improve energy efficiency.
Gargi Chakrabarty: 303-954-2976 or gchakrabarty@denverpost.com
