President Barack Obama has sent a $4 trillion budget to Congress that includes a $4 billion fund to support state’s efforts to “go above and beyond their carbon pollution reduction goals.”
The EPA would administer the proposed Clean Power State Incentive Fund.
The president’s 2016 budget also proposes other funding to reduce the impacts of climate change, including $239 million to the EPA for efforts to cut carbon pollution and other greenhouse gases through standards, guidelines, and voluntary programs.
The proposed EPA 2016 budget of $8.6 billion is $452 million above the agency’s enacted level for 2015. This includes $2.3 billion provided through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, of which $50 million is included for technical assistance, training, and other efforts to finance drinking water and wastewater infrastructure improvements.
In support of the White House Executive Order to Improve Chemical Facility Safety and Security, the EPA is requesting $27.8 million for the State and Local Prevention and Preparedness program, an increase of $12 million above the FY 2015 enacted level. The agency says this will allow it to continue to improve the safety and security of chemical facilities and reduce the risks of hazardous chemicals to facility workers and operators, communities and responders.
The proposed budget also includes funding for the EPA’s chemical safety programs: $667.9 million, an increase of $47.4 million over the 2015 budget, to develop new computational tools and better manage chemical hazards and risks.
