The U.S. Department of Energy on Friday sent a letter to Congress stating it plans to increase spending for the remainder of fiscal 2007 at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden by more than $100 million.

That would mean a 50 percent jump on NREL's current budget of $209 million for fiscal 2007.

This increase includes $20 million to expand the lab's biorefinery facility researching ethanol, $17 million to equip the lab's new Science & Technology facility reseraching ways to reduce the cost of solar panels, and $63 million to design and build a new research building on NREL's campus.

"This funding increase is not just a victory for NREL, it is a victory for consumers and for America's movement towards energy independence," said U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, who has pressed the department for additonal funding at NREL.

A month ago, Bush signed two measures passed by Congress that increased the Energy Department's funds by $500 million in fiscal 2007.

One increases the energy efficiency and renewable energy programs by $300 million, while the other boosts the Office of Science programs by $200 million.

Members of Colorado's congressional delegation from both sides of the aisle have pressed the Energy Department to get NREL at least $100 million from those additional funds.