Abby L. Harvey
GHG Monitor
2/2/2015
The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking a slight boost in funding for climate change and air quality programs in its Fiscal Year 2016 budget request, released today. The request would provide approximately $1.1 billion for such programs, up slightly from current funding levels of $993 million. “The FY 2016 budget makes climate action a priority and supports the President’s Climate Action Plan as well as funding the agency’s core work,” acting Deputy EPA Administrator Stan Meiburg said during a press briefing on EPA’s request today. “The President wants to encourage a transition to a clean energy economy and states and businesses across the country are already working to build renewable energy, increase energy efficiency and cut carbon pollution, thereby creating sustainable middle class jobs and displaying the kind of innovation that has enabled this country to overcome so many challenges.”
The $1.1 billion request includes $264 million for science and technology, up from $243 million in FY 2015. Funding for environmental programs is up nearly $90 million from current levels to $530 million. Funding for STAG grants related to climate change and air quality in the request is up $5 million from FY 2015 to $296 million.
EPA Seeking Additional Funds to Help Implement Clean Power Plan
The EPA’s request also includes additional funding to help the agency implement its proposed carbon emissions standards for existing coal fired power plants. The proposed regulation, dubbed the “Clean Power Plan,” would require states to develop action plans to meet state-specific carbon emission reduction goals. The rule, which the budget request states is “President Obama’s top priority for the EPA and the central element of the US domestic climate mitigation agenda,” is due to be finalized mid-summer. To aid in implementation, the EPA is seeking an additional $25 million next year. “State plan development, review and approval will be complex. In FY 2016, the agency will focus existing resources and invest new resources to support states as they develop their plans. Resources will be focused both in the regional offices to provide tailored, state-specific assistance and in headquarters where technical experts will develop guidance and other resources that are sector-wide in scope and address questions that affect overall implementation of the plan,” the request says.
Following the finalization of the rule, states will begin to develop plans. “This is a significant undertaking involving extensive and unprecedented work with states and territories to develop necessary regulatory infrastructure, provide technical assistance, and build capacity to ensure that states can successfully develop and implement their required compliance plans,” the request says.
The sought-after $25 million would be used to address a variety of potential needs by the states. “Of this increase, $17.5 million will be provided to support states’ Clean Power Plan modeling, technical analysis, and training efforts,” the request says. “$7.5 million will be allocated to states for Clean Power Plan activities.” In order to receive these funds, states will be required to submit grant workplans explaining what specific measures they will be using the funding for. This new funding falls under the agency’s State and Tribal Assistance Grants program (STAG), which account for 42 percent of the agency’s total funding.
GOP Congress May Prove Challenging
It remains to be seen, though, how the EPA’s request for additional funding will be met by the Republican-controlled Congress. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), an outspoken opponent against the EPA’s proposed coal plant regulations, announced today that he has joined the Senate Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees the EPA’s budget. “This Administration continues its war against Kentucky coal jobs, our miners and their families and I have vowed to do all I can do stop them. By joining the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, I will help oversee the budget for the EPA. You can guarantee that I will continue to fight back against this Administration’s anti-coal jobs regulations on behalf of the Kentuckians I represent in the U.S. Senate,” McConnell said in a release.
