President’s Budget Proposes $27.2 Billion to DOE, $8.3 Billion to EPA
WASHINGTON — The president’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2013 includes $27.2 billion in discretionary funds to the Department of Energy and $8.3 billion to the Environmental Protection Agency, making up 15 percent and 22 percent of the total $3.8 trillion budget proposed budget, respectively.
The Department of Energy’s proposed budget is 3.2 percent more than last year’s, while the EPA’s proposed budget was 1.2 percent below the 2012 level.
The budget is currently under review with the Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which met Tuesday to go over the request.
The budget reflects President Barack Obama’s strategy outlined in his State of the Union address, which aims to fuel the economy with domestic energy resources and support research and development to increase the United States’ role in the clean energy race.
About $3.7 million of the total proposed budget is devoted to applied energy, which includes the Offices of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Nuclear Energy, Fossil Energy Research and Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability.
The budget allots $350,000 to the Advanced Research Project Agency for Energy to support research of batteries, biofuels and electric grid technologies, and about $116,000 to the Energy Information Administration.
Nearly $724,000 is proposed for Mission Support, which includes corporate management, health safety and security and the inspector general’s office, along with funds for provision and regulation.
In addition to the budget, the president has asked Congress to extend certain tax incentives, including the Production Tax Credit for Renewable Energy, the 1603 program and the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit.
“The (Department of Energy) budget request makes strategic investments to promote prosperity and security,” said Steven Chu, U.S. Secretary of Energy. “At the same time, we recognize the country’s fiscal challenges and are cutting back where we can.”
The budget proposal for the EPA increases funding for its operating budget and grants to states and tribes, along with investments in electronic reporting technology, inspections and lab upgrades to implement the Renewable Fuel Standard program and heavy-duty mobile source greenhouse gas standards.
In addition, the budget proposal seeks to stimulate economic growth in local communities with abandoned industrial properties by integrating sustainable development with environmental remediation activities for restoration.