Once again, Congress avoided a government wide shutdown on March 17 by extending the Continuing Resolution (CR) for a sixth time through April 8, 2011. Although there is the potential for additional CRs beyond that date, the likelihood of this has been significantly reduced by pressure from the Obama administration urging Congress to reach a budget consensus. Thus, as negotiations between the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate continue over the next three weeks, the energy and clean technology industry has a narrow window of opportunity to ensure that the adopted 2011 budget does not contain a provision that was proposed in the fiscal year 2011 House Appropriations Bill, H.R. 1, that rescinds certain funding supporting clean tech companies and investors. Specifically, the energy and clean technology industry has the opportunity to initiate a critical education process within Congress so that future energy technology programs gain support and do not remain a target for fiscal disciplinarians.