House Approves $1.6 Billion for Super Collider

The House voted overwhelming approval Friday to an Energy Department spending blueprint that includes $1.6 billion for the superconducting super collider, a massive high-energy physics project.

The super collider, which advocates say could lead to breakthroughs in understanding basic matter, would be authorized $147 million in fiscal 1989 and $675 million and $774 million the following two years.

There is no guarantee that the money would flow to the project, which would eventually cost at least $5.4 billion. Actual spending is controlled by separate appropriations legislation.

No Funds for Construction

The House recently approved an appropriations bill limiting super collider spending in fiscal 1989, which begins Oct. 1, to $100 million. None would be available to begin construction of the project.

The Reagan Administration requested $363 million for the project in fiscal 1989, including money for construction. In its votes on both bills, the House has said a decision to build should await the next administration.

The bill, sent to the Senate on Friday by a 290-27 vote, would authorize continued spending on a variety of research and development by the Energy Department, including clean-coal technology and alternative motor fuels.