美国总统奥巴马(Barack Obama)周一(2月14日)向国会提交了2012财年3.7万亿美元的预算案，他计划在2012财年通过削减或关闭200个联邦政府项目，减少330亿美元的支出。
但对于能源方面的支持，奥巴马计划在2012财年向美国能源部(DOE)提供近295亿美元用于推进美国的能源效率和可再生能源领导力，较2011财年的计划水平高出4.2%，较2010财年实际支出亦高出12%。总统的预算要求是基于到2035年让美国80%的能源来自清洁能源的目标。能源效率和可再生能源方案的预算划拨32亿美元，其中涉及对具体方案的广泛支持，特别是支持可再生能源的技术进步。
预算请求包括：
• 3亿美元的信贷补贴，推广可再生能源和能效项目，支持约30亿至40亿美元的项目
•5.5亿美元用于高级研究项目局，支持有可能提供突破性清洁能源技术的项目
•1.46亿美元用于三家现有的能源创新中心和另外三家中心，用于开发电池和储能，以及智能电网技术和系统，其中将有3400万美元将用于储能方面研究，具体将用于支持以储能为主要研发目标的能源创新中心。
• 1亿美元用于46家从2009年开始运作的能源前沿研究中心
同时，与往年一样，能源部的能源效率和可再生能源办公室将削减本部门的氢技术项目资金百分之四十以上或大约7000万美元。
此外，还削减了化石能源办公室45%的预算或4.18亿美元，这将取消燃料、燃料电池、石油和天然气的研发计划和非常规化石技术的预算。能源部还将取消对化石燃料的补贴和税收优惠，据报道，这将节省纳税人近36亿美元。
An "energy innovation hub" focusing on energy storage and batteries would receive $34 million in start-up funding under the Obama administration's proposed $29.5 billion budget for the Department of Energy.
The energy research hub was one of three proposed by the agency.
Other new hubs would study critical materials for energy as well as smart grid technologies and systems. The three new hubs would bring the number of energy innovation hubs across the country to six, with total funding of $146 million.
The hub proposal was among several in the budget plan to boost funding for energy efficiency, renewable energy and support for nuclear power. The hubs are modeled on the success of three bioenergy research centers that opened several years ago, including the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center in Madison.
During their first three years in operation, research sponsored by the bioenergy research centers led to 66 inventions that are on the path toward winning patent protection, Energy Secretary Steven Chu said.
The energy provisions in the budget can be expected to face stiff opposition.
A House budget plan for fiscal 2011 released Friday would cut funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy, whereas the Obama budget would increase it substantially. Republicans on Monday criticized an administration proposal to end subsidies and tax preferences for fossil fuels, saving $3.6 billion in the next fiscal year.
"Increasing taxes on American energy production when gasoline prices are above $3 a gallon is the last thing the president should propose," said Rep. Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) in a statement. "Making energy more expensive for families and businesses will stunt economic growth, send American jobs overseas and prolong our dangerous dependence on foreign energy."
The House Budget Committee, chaired by Republican Rep. Paul Ryan of Janesville, will begin hearings on the budget Tuesday.