WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid said Thursday the Energy Department should expect a new round of budget cuts for Yucca Mountain, with savings going for geothermal research and other projects.

The Nevada Democrat's comments at a Senate budget hearing signal the launch of an annual campaign Reid wages to pare spending on nuclear waste disposal in an effort to slow the Yucca project long enough until critics can stop it outright.

Every year since 1994, Congress has scaled back the president's spending request for the Nevada program by tens of millions of dollars and sometimes more.

DOE officials have acknowledged the perennial shortfalls have contributed to delays at Yucca Mountain, which is eight years behind schedule.

This year, the Bush administration has asked Congress to allocate $544.5 million for Yucca Mountain, making it a big ticket item that is going to be scrutinized as lawmakers juggle funds for a variety of energy programs, Reid said.

"Some very difficult choices will have to be made," Reid said.

He predicted Congress will restore Bush budget cuts to heating assistance programs and "clean coal" research.

Reid is senior Democrat on the energy and water subcommittee that writes spending bills each year for DOE and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Subcommittee Chairman Pete Domenici, R-N.M., said after the hearing he agreed that Yucca Mountain probably would sustain a budget cut. He did not specify how much.

Speaking to DOE officials who outlined their budget, Reid said he was mystified by the decision to terminate federal spending for geothermal projects.

Nevada is considered rich in the underground heat resource and is a major target for investors.

"It is safe to say that there will be a geothermal energy program" in fiscal 2007, Reid said.