A while ago I wrote about Bush cutting funding for the National Renewable Energy Lab, while at the same time highlighting it as a step towards our renewable future. I also postulated that without the rubber stamp congress of yesteryear that this budget cut would be temporary. Well it seems I was right.

I have no idea why Bush thought it would be a good idea to cut funding to the lab that presumably would be needed to meet the goals Shrub himself laid out in the State Of The Union. Could it be that the government is run by a bunch of old oil men? No I am sure that has nothing to do with it. I am just glad the congress kept him honest.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory will get $107 million more in the current budget year, Sen. Ken Salazar said Friday.

The extra money amounts to an increase of more than 50 percent in the lab’s budget, said Cody Wertz, a spokesman for Salazar. Before the boost, the budget was about $200 million, but the exact figure wasn’t immediately available.

The Energy Department will give the lab $20 million to expand its Integrated Biorefinery Research Facility, $17 million to equip its science and technology facility, and $63 million to design and build a research support facility.

An additional $7 million will go for operational costs.(via)