Dive Brief:

• The U.S. Senate is moving forward with the energy appropriations bill, and The Hill reports initial procedural votes could come today.
• The measure would increase 2017 funding for the Department of Energy by more than $350 million, but the bulk of new spending is related to the agency's defense work. The budget would include about $800 million in cuts for the agency's non-defense work.
• While the Senate appears to be moving ahead with the bill, the White House has raised a red flag over some of the cuts. The Administration released a statement saying the appropriations would "fails to put us on an achievable path toward doubling clean energy research and development."

Dive Insight:

When it comes to energy issues, the Senate is on a roll. A week ago, lawmakers approved broad energy legislation aimed at modernizing the grid and boosting efficiency. Now, The Hill reports the chamber is closing in on an appropriations bill and has already begun working through amendments.

“The Appropriations Committee has held dozens of hearings already, it’s marked up funding bills at a steady clip, and it’s sending good legislation to the floor," Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said yesterday on the Senate floor. "One of those bills is the energy security and water infrastructure appropriations measure before us. This legislation is important for American energy, for American waterways and ports, and for American commerce and safety."

McConnell added the legislation "will also maintain our nuclear deterrence posture by ensuring nuclear stockpile readiness, which is important for national security."

While the appropriations for DOE would be $355 million higher in 2017 than this year, the increase comes from defense-related spending. Non-defense activities would actually see an $808 million decrease. The White House signaled that may be a problem, issuing a veto threat.

"The bill underfunds critical energy research and development activities and fails to put us on an achievable path toward doubling clean energy research and development by FY 2021," the statement read. "Specifically, the Administration objects to the low funding levels provided for the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy."

The White House said funding those programs below President Obama's budget request "would undermine critical activities that support the development and commercialization of clean energy technologies."

While Republicans would be unlikely to heed Obama's warning, The Hill reports the threat has not appeared to sway Democrats either. McConnell has indicated the appropriations bills are among his most important goals this year.