936 HISTORY OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 



Once again, in 1978, the subcommittee and full committee en- 

 dorsed sharp increases in solar, geothermal, and conservation R. & D., 

 with additional emphasis on byconversion of organic waste and other 

 materials to energy. 



When Secretary Schlesinger appeared before the full committee to 

 present his first DOE budget on January 25, 1978, many members 

 quizzed him sharply on proposed reductions in administration support 

 for solar energy. Frey led off by noting that the solar budget request 

 had actually declined from $389 million in the prior year to $373 

 million in 1978: 



Looking at the total solar budget, there just really doesn't seem to be any push 

 to it * * *. Mv time is up, but I hope it isn't up for solar energy. 



Harkin, Gore, Wirth, and other committee members took up the cry 

 for more emphasis in the solar area. When the McCormack subcom- 

 mittee assembled for its more intensive review of the administration 

 proposals in 1978, the subcommittee criticisms were sharper and 

 more insistent. Goldwater, who had always cautioned a careful and 

 fiscally responsible approach, expressed his disappointment with the 

 solar energy proposals: 



The solar budget we have been provided with contains little in the way of new 

 issues, and brings into question our commitment to make solar energy a reality * * *. 

 Similarly, I am distressed with the maneuvering underway with regard to the Solar 

 Energy Research Institute * * *. The watchword seems to be defer, study and delay. 

 We are not going to solve our energy problems with that kind of approach. 



Gore commented: 



Congress is far in advance of what the administration is willing to propose * * *. 

 This budget, without stating it too strongly, evidences a tragic lack of vision and a 

 lack of leadership. 



Ottinger accused DOE of dragging its feet in the solar area: 



People in the research labs and people in the universities and the people in 

 independent industry are really moving on the solar front a good deal faster. I don't 

 have the feeling that DOE is even keeping up with what is going on, on the outside, 

 to say nothing of pushing the industry. 



Wirth noted that in the face of the sharp sense of urgency in the 

 committee, and the obvious impatience to get more done, the cut in 

 solar technology was "a real disgrace to this administration." 



WYDLER CONDEMNS SOLARMANIA 



When it came time to mark up the DOE authorization bill in full 

 committee on March 14, 1978, Wydler had replaced Goldwater as the 

 voice of caution on solar energy: 



I hate to be the one that throws cold water on solar energy, and I do believe 

 that it will provide some measure of energy for our Nation in the years ahead, and 



