Final answer:
The type of Congressional approval required annually for government spending on energy and the environment is Discretionary spending.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of approval required by Congress annually for government spending on energy and the environment is Discretionary spending. This is because discretionary spending is subject to annual review and approval by Congress, as opposed to mandatory spending which is spending that has been authorized by law to continue without the need for annual approval. Items within the discretionary budget can include funding for executive departments and independent agencies like the Department of Education or the Environmental Protection Agency, which could cover energy and environmental programs.