The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) would receive $650.8 million "to support improved energy security and rapid development of climate-oriented technology" under President Obama's proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2013, the Department of Energy says.

One aspect of special interest to utilities is the Carbon Capture & Storage and Power Systems program, marked for $275.9 million to support research to significantly reduce coal power plant emissions, including CO2, and substantially improve efficiency to reduce carbon emissions.

As laid out by the agency, the budget would allocate:

• $420.6 million for Fossil Energy Research and Development
• $195.6 million for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve
• $10.1 million for the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve (and includes a $6 million rescission of prior year funds)
• $14.9 million for the Naval Petroleum Reserves and $15.6 million for the Elk Hills School Land Fund.